Shradha Sharma, the founder and CEO of YourStory, one of India’s leading digital media platforms for entrepreneurs, has found herself at the center of an unexpected controversy not for business, but for posture.

In a viral social media post, Sharma alleged that she was “humiliated” at House of Ming, the fine dining Chinese restaurant inside Delhi’s Taj Mahal Hotel, after a manager asked her to change the way she was sitting. Sharma, who said she was seated in a Padmasana (cross-legged) position while dining, described the experience as “deeply insulting” and reflective of “lingering class divides” in Indian society.

“A common person who works hard, earns money, and comes to a hotel with dignity still faces humiliation,” she said in an emotional video shared on social media. “And what was my fault? That I sat cross-legged something we all do naturally in India.”

The Incident

According to Sharma’s account, she and her sister visited the iconic restaurant for a Diwali dinner. During the meal, a staff member approached her, stating that another guest had complained about her sitting posture. “He said, ‘Please put your feet down,’” Sharma recounted. “I was taken aback. I was sitting decently, wearing a salwar-kurta and Kolhapuri chappals, not doing anything inappropriate.”

Her remarks struck a chord with many Indians who saw the incident as a symbol of class-based gatekeeping that persists in luxury spaces. “Why should someone’s comfort or cultural way of sitting be judged?” one commenter asked. Others shared similar stories of feeling “out of place” in elite restaurants and hotels despite paying customers.

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A post shared by Shradha Sharma (@shradhasharmayss)

A Divided Public Reaction

However, the reaction online has been polarized.

Supporters argued that Sharma’s experience underscored how Westernized notions of etiquette continue to dominate India’s hospitality industry. “If Padmasana is part of our culture, why should it be seen as inappropriate in our own country?” one user wrote.

Critics, on the other hand, defended the restaurant, pointing out that fine dining establishments operate under specific codes of decorum. “There’s a difference between comfort and class,” another user commented. “You have the money to dine at Taj, but basic dining etiquette still applies.”

As of now, the Taj Group has not issued an official statement on the matter.

Culture vs. Code: The Broader Debate

Sharma’s experience touches on a larger conversation about how India defines sophistication and class in a rapidly changing society. Fine dining in India has historically been shaped by colonial and Western influences, where certain manners from cutlery use to posture are seen as markers of refinement.

But as more Indians from diverse socio economic backgrounds enter luxury spaces, these norms are being questioned and reinterpreted.

“Hospitality in India is at a cultural crossroads,” says a senior hospitality consultant who requested anonymity. “Hotels like Taj are global brands with standards modeled on Western fine dining, but they also operate in a market where Indian guests increasingly want to feel at home not judged.”

A Personal Yet Symbolic Moment

For Sharma, who has spent years championing India’s entrepreneurial spirit and stories of self-made success, the moment was more than personal.

“Mr. Ratan Tata himself invested in my company,” she said in her post. “I’ve always respected the Taj brand. But today I felt small, disheartened that such a thing could happen there.”

Whether viewed as a breach of etiquette or a reflection of class prejudice, the episode has sparked a national conversation on inclusivity, respect, and evolving definitions of “appropriate behavior” in public spaces.

And in that sense, Shradha Sharma’s cross-legged moment at House of Ming has become something larger a reminder that in India’s climb toward modernity, tradition still seeks its seat at the table.