In TERF island during last election there were a surprising amount of Labour supporters who just as enthusiastically supported Modi. It was weird.

Yeah India does have a lot of issues with misogyny. I have distant family there too. It’s especially dangerous/unheard of for women to travel or live alone in some parts. It doesn’t look like the social conservatism will go anywhere in the near future, especially in the rural parts where most people live.

...but the white women staring also originates from colonial beauty standards. Even to this day the biggest Indian celebrities (cricketers and actors) endorse and advertise skin lightening products, bleach their skin etc. Most of Indian film history was dominated by white passing actors with very pale skin and dark skin was used for comic relief/portray evil etc. Rich families arrange marriages for their kids with people with whiter skin tones. It’s wild.