"Initially Finding India Encouraging, Yet Disappointed Later: NRI Departs After Observing Real-life Conditions"
In the bustling digital landscape of social media, a conversation has emerged, centred around the experiences of Indians who have lived in the United States and the complexities of returning to, and leaving, their homeland.
Rajeshwari Iyer, an individual who spent several years in America, returned to India with hope and a sense of duty, intending to build a life and contribute. However, upon her return, she found the ground reality to be different, citing issues such as high taxes, rampant corruption, and limited professional growth. Despite her initial intentions, Rajeshwari Iyer left India once more, expressing her disappointment with a society that she felt was rooting for its own collapse. Yet, she maintains that India will always be in her heart.
The discussion on social media includes a diverse array of perspectives. Some users, like Rajeshwari, have experienced the allure of professional opportunities and better infrastructure abroad, leading them to return to India for familial ties or entrepreneurial prospects but later leaving again. Others, despite having traveled to 30+ countries and lived abroad for extended periods, still feel the most comfortable at home in India.
One user, who built a successful business in India with offices in 4 other countries, chose to return to India again, despite having lived abroad for long periods. Conversely, another user who counters Rajeshwari's perspective, argues that if her parents thought like her, she would not have known the wonder that is India.
The pattern of return and departure reflects a complex interplay of globalization, economic ambition, cultural identity, and shifting migration policies. While many return to India for personal or patriotic reasons, the lure of professional opportunities and better infrastructure abroad frequently draws them back out.
Economic factors play a significant role in this pattern. Despite India's rapid economic growth and booming startup ecosystem, many Indians find that their career growth, salaries, and research opportunities remain more attractive abroad, especially in the US. Those who return to India for entrepreneurial ventures or family reasons may leave again if they perceive the US offers superior professional or financial prospects.
Family and social considerations also influence this pattern. Return migration can be driven by a desire to be closer to family or cultural roots. However, social or lifestyle adjustments such as quality of infrastructure, education for children, healthcare, and work-life balance often prompt a subsequent departure from India back to the US or other countries.
Immigration and legal issues also play a role. Uncertainty in immigration policies both in the US and India, such as visa challenges or citizenship laws, can influence Indians to alternate between residing in India and returning abroad.
Political and civic engagement also shape this pattern. Indian Americans born in the US exhibit high civic engagement, whereas foreign-born individuals maintain strong cultural ties but face different social integration dynamics, influencing decisions on whether to remain in the US or return to India.
Wealthy Indians often seek "golden visas" in countries like the US, Portugal, or the UAE for tax or security reasons. This creates a pattern of transnational mobility where returning to India may be brief or strategic.
The conversation on social media is ongoing, with some insisting that India is becoming a 'developed' nation, while others agree that leaving the country is the "best decision" at this time. The complexities of return and departure for Indians living between two worlds continue to be a topic of interest and debate.
- Rajeshwari Iyer, who built a life in America, found upon her return to India the reality to be different, citing financial issues such as high taxes and limited professional growth, leading her to leave India once more.
- In the realm of education, some users, despite having lived abroad for extended periods, still value India's cultural identity and feel most comfortable at home.
- Economic ambition and migration policies contribute to the transnational pattern of return and departure, with many Indians leaving India for better financial prospects in the US.
- Personal growth and civic engagement also play crucial roles in decisions to return or remain in the US, as Indian Americans born in the US exhibit high civic engagement, while foreign-born individuals face different social integration dynamics.
