Loneliness in a crowd: Why so many Indians are struggling silently

In a country as populous and socially connected as India, loneliness seems like a contradiction. Indians live in joint or tightly packed nuclear families, attend festivals all year round and receive hundreds of messages on WhatsApp daily. Yet, beneath this appearance of connection, a growing number of Indians are grappling with an invisible and deeply painful emotional state of loneliness.

Loneliness is more than just being alone: it’s a subjective, internal experience when the quality or quantity of one’s social relationships does not meet their emotional needs. Neuroscience shows that loneliness activates the same brain regions triggered by physical pain. It is unlike solitude, which can lead to peace, creativity and self-awareness.

This distinction is important. Someone can be alone and content, while another may be surrounded by people and feel lonely. Chronic loneliness can alter how human beings perceive themselves and others, reinforcing cycles of anxiety, self-doubt and social withdrawal.

Urban epidemic

In India’s crowded cities, a global survey by ipsos found that 43% of urban Indians report feeling lonely most of the time, placing India among the top three countries in terms of reported loneliness. We appear connected but lack meaningful emotional contact.

This disconnection spans generations, gender, economic class, and geography. Urbanisation, long working hours and constant digital connectivity...

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