Indian Talent, Global Content
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Indian Talent, Global Content |
Non Resident Indians Returning to India
The truth is India is an enigma even today; what her infinite folds hold is a mystery. Her charm and beauty are there for all to see and in all she has to offer. She has the best and the worst; it is perhaps her legacy as one of the oldest civilizations – of giving the world her best and asking very little in return. This is best realized by people who have left India in search of greener pastures, in pursuit of better education and/or career. A few years ago, NRI could have very well been used as an acronym for Non-Returning Indian. But that scenario is slowly changing. People went abroad to hone their skills; put their brains to better use elsewhere, and make a quick buck. This was aided by the relatively slower rate of corporate growth in India. People went abroad, studied, worked, earned, lived, and in a few years, reached a level of satiety wherein the lure of work and money could not keep them hooked to the new land any longer. The reward for hard work can be very gratifying, but comes with a shelf life, which is not very long. This feeling of loneliness is the single most important factor that draws NRIs back home. The emphasis that materialism is not the sole means to happiness has always been prevalent in India. Happiness is best savored when living among family and friends. Every single NRI would vouch for the fact that they miss the proximity to family and/or friends. The personal interaction abroad happens at a very different level, most of it professional, and can never be gratifying for the Indian who is used to living in a close-knit family/friends circle. Man is a social animal, and a social life is very much important, not only for recreation but also for the all-round development of the individual. NRIs feel they are totally deprived of this. Despite the initial satisfaction that they get from professional achievements, the desolation that sets in makes them long for “something more intimate.” The urge is perpetually magnified until it finally lands them back in India. The cultural differences seen abroad also add to this. There is a certain level of madness to the life in India; the festivities, the grandeur, the slower pace of life, the various social engagements, civic involvement, and so on, which have their own charm. These might be annoying to the people here, but they spice up life, which would have been mundane otherwise.
India booming This is a boom that covers all arenas; political, economic, social, healthcare, education, infrastructure, et al. The most influential of all has been the manifold growth of the Indian IT sector in the past 15 years. From being a back-office unit serving clients worldwide to where it is today, the journey has progressed at an alarming rate. There has been a steep rise in the number of mergers and acquisitions by Indian IT companies. These units are on the lookout for people who have either studied and/or worked abroad and are willing to work in India. NRIs thus stand a chance of availing excellent job opportunities and enjoying heavier pay packages. The added benefit here would be of the lower cost of living here compared to abroad. Agreed that the rate of inflation in the country is constantly going northward, but it will still take a long time to reach what it is in, say, the US. Though technology has reduced the distance and the time required for communication, there is still nothing that can replace meeting someone in person. Better education for kids was a major ground for people to go abroad. The reason for a change in this trend is actually twofold. Firstly, the many minute menaces in educating kids abroad, including racism in schools and the early exposure to a liberated social life, to name just two, can be very “intimidating” for parents. The outcome of a lack of guardians, combined with a very differently constructed society, which is realistically depicted in quite a few movies, (Mitr and The Namesake, for instance) is a major cause for worry. Parents would rather have their kids grow up in the company of family and/or friends, than see them struggle in pursuit of their individual identity. Secondly, the education system in India has realized the need to improvise and is aligning itself with global practices. Foreign institutions are getting into partnerships with Indian institutions and/or companies. The result is the emergence of tech-savvy schools with students carrying e-wallets in WAN campuses sitting in classrooms with LCD screens and later visiting digitized libraries. The impact of such an advanced mode of education is there for all to see. Such an education empowers individuals to become efficient and take up challenges anywhere. Small-time Indian institutions are also improving teaching faculty and focusing on all-round development of the individual. Moreover, education in India is relatively inexpensive compared to abroad, and it makes perfect sense to spend the same money here for education in a high-grade school, than to spend a huge amount for an average institution abroad. Gone are the days when people had to watch foreign locales in movies and admire picturesque scenes and modern technology. India is fast progressing towards an era, where metros and malls will be the order of the day. Competition and need have reduced airfares to such a level that today trains and buses no longer remain the main modes of transport across the country. Most of India is connected, and travel time is reduced to a large extent. The global market is just around the corner. And this trend is not reflected in the major cities alone. Small cities like Kanpur, Pune, Mysore and Coimbatore are also changing fast. When compared to major cities, these have an edge in terms of lesser levels of pollution, reduced congestion, and better real estate options, thus becoming favored destinations for people wanting to settle down in India. Moreover, India has become a popular travel destination for all seasons. Be it beaches or deserts, hill stations or palaces, adventure sports or the wilderness, there is something for everyone here. The negative aspects of being an Indian abroad also add to the urge to move back to India. The biggest cause for concern is racism. One is always viewed as a second-class citizen abroad, and the degree of racism could vary in severity, person, and the place of course. This can be very demeaning and the loss of dignity which sets in definitely affects studies and/or work. Indians do not and cannot get involved in local social issues. They are usually politely, but firmly brushed off. The message Indians get is akin to, “Be seen but not heard” In India though they can have a greater sense of involvement and will be heard. Interestingly, people who have returned from abroad have a higher level of civic involvement than the locals. Another reason for returning to India could also be the so-called terrorism threat that is looming large over several countries. Living closer to family brings a sense of mental security. Should calamity strike, at least, there is somebody to take charge of things in the immediate post-traumatic period. Ridiculous as it may sound, there is a section which believes in flaunting its “foreigness”. These individuals, who are supposedly called “brown Americans”, tend to dominate in their work places here, acting as “know-it-alls,” which usually isn’t the case. Some of them also feel that no exposure to the world outside India is derogatory and unappealing. Though a minority, a small group of NRIs has returned because of their inability to follow rules abroad. As previously stated, there is a level of madness to the life in India, which can be very difficult to give up. Life abroad can be too perfect and rule-bound, and may not be very easy to adhere to for Indians who are used to “squeezing in” into even the not-so-long queues. Lastly, and not to forget, India is patriotism. There are quite a number of people who feel they should do their share for the betterment of their homeland and its people. The number of this group is increasing by the day. It is becoming quite common to return to India after a stint abroad to help improve conditions here. India is growing rapidly in various facets of life. The NRIs have realized this and the fact that they need not go elsewhere in search of a better lifestyle, education, career, or whatever else. Everything is as good in India as is abroad; the extra incentives make it better. To conclude, I just finished reading an article titled “Great Indian Fetish” in a daily which boasts of how things which are “nowhere close to Indian” are promoted outside as “authentically Indian.” Only people who have lived and experienced India realize what authentic India is. They realize that “If you want to experience India, you simply have to go there. You cannot pick it off the shelves in sachet-clad doses.” After all, home is where the heart is! Chillibreeze's disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article.
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