Norwegian man, who was abandoned by parents in India and grew up in Mumbai slum, reveals the number one lesson he learned: ‘I will never say no…’

Although he’s Norwegian, he sounds like a regular Indian. In his YouTube channel Unexpected Paths, Lasse Lund shared how he ended up in India with no family. He revealed that he and his parents travelled to India when he was a kid. But he was eventually forced to live on the streets of Mumbai after his father returned to Norway and his mother was jailed for overstaying her visa.

“I was stuck on the streets, surviving being a tourist guide..” he revealed. He also said that he had zero schooling.

Before reaching adulthood, Lasse received assistance from the Finnish embassy to return to Europe. He now holds citizenship in both Finland and Norway.


However, according to Lasse, his transition back to Norway was anything but easy. He expressed frustration with both the Finnish and Norwegian authorities, claiming they did not offer enough support to help him rebuild his life after the move.

Lasse explained that he arrived with little education and few resources, making it difficult to establish himself and adapt to a new environment. He argued that the lack of guidance and practical assistance during such a crucial period left him struggling to find stability and navigate the challenges of starting over.

He took an interviewer around the slums where he grew up in a video shared by his channel.

After he was left to fend for himself on the streets, he revealed he slept sometimes on the roads, in temples, dargahs. “I was literally homeless in Mumbai..” he said. He stayed at Sio Dharavi, the second biggest slum in Asia.

He said that while he lived in India, it was the people from the slums who came to his assistance. “Were it not for them I would probably have been trafficked and my kidneys removed..” he quipped.

He revealed a driver named Rahul bought him clothes while he was living in the streets, how to hustle and be a tourist guide and how to make money.

Rahul told the interviewer that Lasse was an “all rounder” and used to interact with everyone, he was welcomed everywhere. Lasse also opened up on “begging gangs” who occupied their own corners in the city where they asked strangers for money and if any other beggar infiltrated their space they would get beaten up.

He also absorbed the culture of being gracious to people who ask for food and drink. “I also went hungry once, I will never say no to people who ask me for food and drink… it’s part of my culture growing up here, everyone was very nice when it comes to food and drink, no one says no, no matter how poor you are… food is something you never say no to..” he said.

Lasse’s story left many social media users astonished, although some questioned the authenticity of his claims. Much of the discussion centered on his distinctive way of speaking, which several viewers found intriguing. One commenter remarked that his accent sounded like a unique blend of Norwegian and Indian English. Another observed that his speech carried characteristics often associated with English spoken in Mumbai, suggesting that his years of living in the city may have influenced the way he communicates.