Visited India after a year abroad, and now my dad has called me a “deshdhrohi” (traitor) over an argument about the news

[u/Life_Ask9049]

I live abroad and only get to come back home to India once a year to visit my family. I look forward to spending quality time, catching up, and just relaxing with my family.

Lately, though, my dad has been glued to the TV news, especially the coverage regarding the CJP protests. He is totally into the pro government narrative. You guys know the usual script.

Yesterday, the TV was blaring, the rhetoric was toxic. I pushed back slightly and asked him to look at things a bit more critically or at least turn the volume down.

It instantly escalated into an argument. The whole evening was ruined, my mood is completely wrecked, and it honestly made me question why I even bothered booking tickets to come back.

The worst part? My own father called me a *deshdhrohi* (traitor) just because I didn't echo his TV-fed talking points. I’m only here for a short while longer, but the house atmosphere is so heavy right now.

[u/Sassy_Otter1]

Before you leave for abroad do tell him that at the end he will be turn out to be the deshdrohi who collectively pushed this country backwards with like minded hypnotized morons.

[u/kachamangobite222]

Uncle is correct vote bank of bjp

Same is also with my father

[u/Firemonk24]

This has started happening way to much, that word is loosing meaning unfortunately

[u/Ok_Gab-LEs-ru]

Bro trust me there's no point in arguing. If you go and reddit, you'll realise that most GenZ's are encountering this issue. Parents are getting extremely defensive and borderline abusive if we say anything against their human god sitting on top of throne.

[u/SenseAny486]

I had a big argument with my father regarding the same. I accused him of having a good life while he pushed me into this fascist state where I can’t even have financial growth.His reaction was to call me ‘a traitor’

[u/Intrepid-Lemon-6608]

No point arguing with your dad. That entire generation is pretty much a lost cause at this point.
Just make sure you come to cast your vote during elections. That’s the only way.

[u/hatsunemiku19]

leave your dad /s

[u/thinkalot2017]

I have similar problems. Everyone seems to have drunk the Koolaid while I was gone. Luckily, I don't have to live back home

[u/professor2024]

Your dad’s possessed. Like a lot of dads in upper middle class Delhi. Just avoid any kind of political discussion/argument/narrative for a few days- weeks may be? Months? Who knows?!

Just try keeping your sanity.

Hopefully he’ll realize his extremism is unwarranted.

[u/smolcatsafficianado]

With my parent, I love them ik they love me and ik they will not change. So I try to keep things as much positive as they can be. That being said my parents are chill themselves. They are pretty cool and give me enough independence to not cause major friction.

[u/Ok_Gab-LEs-ru]

I understand its hard tolerating this nuisance but you dont have an option. Just politely ask them to spend more time with you. If that stupid Aaj Tak is what they want to watch then let it be. Just go back to your room and enjoy your lone time instead of arguing with old blind folks at home. Just give up.

[u/LemonFrequent2036 → u/Ok_Gab-LEs-ru]

Haha!! Same thing happened to me. My MIL wanted to watch aaj tak everyday morning. One day I said “kya dekhte ho, sab jhuth bolte hain”.

Hangama Mach Gaya ghar main. She called my BIL to book her tickets to go back..

[u/keepatience → u/LemonFrequent2036]

bade kaleshi ho tum

[u/ekdamfake]

So what do you want from me? Bad mouth my father or your father?

Lmk happy to help.

[u/Super-Talent12345]

Just put on the channel from the opposite end of the spectrum and let it run at full voice from your end. More you do it, the less they will do. That is what I have been doing and seems to work in my case.

[u/YesterdayLopsided308]

Welcome to the club

[u/socrates-68]

Yeah that totally happened

[u/trojen_thoughts]

[u/ThinkingIndian]

Buddhas are the biggest problem of the society. Most dishonest, toxic and corrupt

[u/Own-Package2993]

Yeh vote chori nai hai desh mein max logon aise hi hypnotize kia hua hai corporate mein kaam karne wale pade likhe log andhbhakt hai. Less educated ya un educated mass ka to kya hi haal hoga. Plus jinke ghar pe burjurg log yeh tv news dekhte hai wahan to next level ka bura haal hai

[u/Internal-Mountain908]

I'm wondering if all dads are like that.

[u/redittapp]

He won't be around forever, cut him some slack. But have a man to man talk with him about what you feel, and remind him that there is no compulsion for you to visit if the atmosphere is bad.

[u/SmoothArmadillo6884]

Aapki galti Hai earphone Laga lete ya Ghar Se Bahar chale jaate Jab pata hai ki kya hi result aana Hai badalna to kuchh Hai nahin pita ji ka mood mein Na unki soch mein

[u/Success25100]

Your dad is right. You are wrong. Nothing wrong in accepting the truth. He wishes well for you.

[u/Sad_Function8758]

You know what sometimes it’s better to not come back , I had a friend called me antinational, andhbhakt just because I posted Indian express news on EVM on my story .
Guess what , we are not friends anymore .

[u/Swimming_Trifle_5176]

Our dad's and moms have been through traumatic experiences you cannot just errase those memories. 2nd and 3rd generation Kasmiris still don't know what happened with their parents and grandparents. Same with sikh people they went through so many genosides my dad left Delhi after sikh genocide in Delhi . All of you in comments are soo insensitive towards your own parents. You people think about your own mental health turn off that tv and ask them what happened when they were young . It's good my dad told me everything my mom told how was it to live through riots in Meerut. What to do when something like that happens. How to do rationing when it's a war . What's a blackout . Last time when the war started in 2025 me and my wife we had months of ration . You parents are not stepping stones that you step on there opinions and climb up and the turn back and say why they are behind. So many people saying such bad things to their own parents as if you are the only one who knows everything. Or this could be a well organised movement to disalign kids from their parents because everyone is saying the same thing how can it happen that non of the parents never tried to tell their kids what they went through. War in 65 then 71 then riots , emergency. Prime minister's getting assasinated one after another . Bomb blasts in Delhi, attack on parliament. None of your parents didn't tell you nothing or does it not matter? I am glad I left Delhi and moved to the mountains I feel safe here . I am glad my parents never forget what happened with them neither did they let us me and my sister forget what happened my dad also left Delhi after sikh riots.
Wtf is wrong with you ? Teach your kids what to do when riots occur how to stock ration during a war if you really wanna vote left .