Unspoken 'Toxic Culture' in Indian Corporates

Four years. Three unicorn startups. Multiple cities. And yet, here I am, sitting at my desk, wondering why *this* part of corporate life feels like navigating a maze blindfolded. Let me vent—because maybe I’m not alone? 1. “Hindi hai, bro? Cool, let’s switch.” Imagine walking into a meeting that starts with a polite “How’s your day?” in English, only for the next 30 minutes to dissolve into rapid-fire Hindi. Jokes fly, ideas bounce, and you’re just…nodding. Not because you agree, but because you’re lost. You’re South Indian, Northeast, or from a region where Hindi isn’t your mother tongue. You’ve *tried* learning it—really!—but fluency? The slang? The casual wit that makes everyone laugh? It’s like trying to catch smoke with your hands. The worst part? The bonding. Chai breaks, lunch tables, even Slack threads—suddenly, you’re the outsider in your own office. Colleagues bond over shared references, memes, and inside jokes you can’t decode. You smile awkwardly, laugh a beat too late. It’s not malice; it’s just…*habit*. But when promotions hinge on “culture fit,” how do you fit into a culture that feels linguistically gated? 2. “No Smoke? No Drink? No Seat at the Table.” Here’s the other “unofficial rulebook”: smoke breaks = networking gold. Every hour, the balcony fills with folks puffing away, discussing projects, venting about managers, or just…chatting. You don’t smoke? Congrats on the healthy lungs! Now enjoy staring at your screen while career-critical conversations happen without you. And office parties? If you’re not clinking glasses, you’re a ghost. “Why aren’t you drinking?!” becomes the anthem of the night. Decline politely, and suddenly, you’re the “boring one.” The FOMO isn’t about the alcohol—it’s about the camaraderie that evaporates when you’re not “one of them.” So…Is It Just Me? I’m not judging anyone’s choices. Smoke if you want. Drink if you like. Speak whatever language feels like home. But when exclusion becomes the collateral damage of these habits, it’s exhausting. You start questioning: Is my career growth tied to my ability to chain-smoke or crack jokes in Hindi? To anyone else sitting silently in meetings, faking laughs, or skipping parties to avoid the peer pressure—**I see you**. This isn’t about “snowflake syndrome.” It’s about workplaces feeling like high school cliques, where your worth hinges on things that have *nothing* to do with your skills. **TL;DR:** Corporate India’s unspoken rules—Hindi fluency and smoke/drink culture—are isolating for many. If you’ve felt this, drop a comment below. Let’s normalize inclusivity beyond language and lifestyle choices.