In the Indian context living alone means living away from family. A person may live away from family but may not be alone or even independent, if surrounded by friends and relatives. There is also a difference in living by one self in another city in India and abroad. Abroad you may be truly alone and have to be independent. It depends on a person how she/he feels like and copes up while being alone.
I live by myself in Delhi. I have been away from family for 4 years but have begun staying absolutely alone only a year back. Its scary because of perceptions about a single woman living alone and perceptions of Delhi as unsafe for women. Living alone can be rewarding- it teaches a person how to deal with situations independently- physically, mentally and socially.
