New Delhi Times - Gaurav Bhatnagar reporting from New Delhi, India

Hi Gaurav,

Great to hear that. We contemplate a return to delhi within 2 years, although it may sound too distant, given a family of 4 we have more planning on our hands. Looking forward to your experiences

Hi!
This is an excellent idea. We plan to R2I to Delhi in 2005 as well. We have been here for 15 years now.
We have an apartment in Gurgaon that we bought 3 years ago for Rs. 27 lakhs. Looks like the Gurgaon real estate scene is approaching close to what Bangalore is. They say though the NH4 or 5 dont know the number exactly expressway, near IGI Airport is responsible for the catastrophic inflation.

Infrastructure still continues to be quite bad in and around G'gaon. I read in TOI every day. Power water, burglaries etc increasing.

No sure about tech jobs and life in general there.
Would love to hear more from you.
Keep us all posted
Thanks
Nita

Yes real estate costs have really sky rocketed of late. The quality of life has improved a lot. I have visited Delhi almost yearly and each year I went I felt there was a marked improvement from the previous year. The new metro system was actually completed ahead of schedule! So there is still hope! :)

Gaurav we have been visiting India yearly as well for the past 10 years, and I too have seen the metropolis just transform in front of my eyes.
I have'nt ridden the metro though, that is reserved for when I visit next year:-)

How the kids will adjust to schools there worries me the most, followed by day-to-day hassles over water and power. I feel its easy to say "we were born there and raised there etc etc" but actually waking at 4 AM in the morning to fill water or struggling to make roti in candlelight each nite is not easy.

Hoping and praying for the best for all those who have taken the plunge and for all those who plan to take the plunge
Bye
Nita

I attended a forum on problems that people face on returning to India. Somebody had moved to India with an 11 year old daughter and she had adjusted well. His advice was that kids should be well versed with the mother tongue. That helps in adjusting to life in India a lot.

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Hi Gaurav:
Have you considered a career as a writer? Not all the industries booming in India are in technology and commerce? Indians writing in English is also a high growth Indian enterprise.

Anyhow, I wrote to say that I have lived in the US for over 32 years - no, I am not that old - and I am planning to return to India to "do nothing." Since I do have a couple of bucks stashed away, my family would be fine and we could live the kind of filthy rich existence in Delhi that typifies the huge divides you find in Indian society.

What I want to "do," as an R2I, is make up for all the lost time when I went to the office at 4 AM, on a Saturday, and put in a 12 hour day after a 60 hour work week that I had just finished Friday night. As long as I live here in the States, I will continue doing the same. To me the States, though my home, is still about achievements. Here I don't live a life, I do things. I think I have to basically derail myself and relocate to a place which to me has always been about family and friends. No, this is not nostalgia from 32 years ago. I visit India pretty regularly and know that the people-centric culture is still thriving.

What do you think my friend? You are a young guy but I think you have a lot of perspective on things.

Hi Gaurav,

It was really great to come across your blog on the net...

Let me tell a few things about myself first. I am a CA, CIMA(UK) qualified 26 guy. I have recently moved to London... I have a fantastic job here but i do not wish to stay here very long...

What I felt here is all Indians/asians are living here with clutching there dream to go back home some day... I am sad to say that very few actually manage to do so... And so, most of people end up spending there lives physically living aborad while mentally staying in India...

I think the question is not just whether one should return to India or not, but it is a bigger question as to what is the purpose of our life, our existance as a living being?

It is really confusing to find the existance of life... and unless you come across a concrete fool-proof answer to the purpose of life, the life becomes utter suffering...

I am really torn between staying here and going back... I dont even want to stay here for a week if i could not assure myself that i would go back in 2-3 years... however there is no mechanism which can essentially ensure it, particularly because i have a long term visa...

U see, i have not like comfortable life here... more so because i am worried that i am soon start liking it....

pretty confusing isn't it? any thoughts ?

I would like to request all r2i'ers to share their thought process as to how they convinced themselves about going back to India...

Excellent idea to keep a blog of your experiences, would you please reiterate your experiences to in our forum. We are in the same boat as you and all our readers as well at http://returningtoindia.com

Hi Gaurav,

I am returning next month. I need advice on what should I do to my US bank accounts?

thanks,
Saurabh

Hi Gaurav,

Liked your Blog. I've been living in the UK for 17 years, got an MBA, etc & six figure salary in the city, but seriously contemplating moving back to India as I dont have a social life whatsoever & Inspite of my salary I just cannot save any money. Any suggestions, should I do it? My wife isnt very keen as we have a young child, but I want to start my own business....

HI Gaurav,
Great story about your experiences. I am uk born and I am thinking of shifting to India with my wife and 2 children. I have my own business in UK and earning good money, but we seem to have no life.Do you think I should take the risk, my family are not too keen. Also Ranj I would like to talk to you my email id is aniltewari6@aol.com

Hi
i loved your comments and i am sailing in the same boat...i been staing in canada for six year and i always want to go back to my land. I said my land cause that's how i feel about india after all this year .I leave india for better oportunity but i am not happy here. All this time i been feeling that something is missing or something is not right... I did try last year to get a job in india while i was there but i was not sucessfull ...cause i have 2 kids and no back support i have to do everything by my self i want to go India with a job cause i have to think about security...and as everybody is saying job market is big and there are lots of jobs...maybe i did not try in right direction and that must be a reason that i did not got a job while i was there so if you have website for jobs or right way to do this please let me know...by the way my field is finance...looking forward to get some information...

thanks

Hello,

Seems I am not alone. Been living in US for almost 9 years and since begining I am physically in US but mentally always in India and too in New delhi where I grew up. I miss those small small things, even garbage or dust (which people are very much worried about, I don't know why). I have 2 kids (9 year old daughter, 5 year son) and me and my wife are only stuck on issue of raising kids there. Specially how my daughter will cop with amount of studies and less extra curricular activities. It's may be not so grave fear since hearing these days schools in India are introducing all those activities (like in US) but still they are limited to International schools. Anybody here in this forum can guide/narrate there/friends experiences they faced with elder/small kids when they R2I. We would highly appreciate that.

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I have been outside India for 6 years. I have recently returned from India and am in the same boat. I sometimes feel, I should go back and sometimes, I don't. My whole family is in India. I earn a good income in Canada, have a huge house, but no life.

Reena (my wife) and myself have been thinking about going back. She was a doctor in India but here she cant practise.

We are confused as to how to decide and make a descison. Every time I think of India and family, I feel like going back. But then I start thinking about life there, it brings me down.

We are waiting for soemthiong(unknown), who will make a descsion for us or give us at least some guidance which might help us make the descsion.

Any guidance, help, thoughts are very much appreciated.

My email

maheshag123@hotmail.com

I am appalled that your wife cannot practice medicine here in Canada. Anyway, I encourage you to make friends in your community, and start enjoying your lives. Really -- you have just 2 choices: return to India, or make a go of it here. If you decide to stay, then make the best of it! Join social clubs and other groups. You WILL meet people you like! Being far from home and loved ones IS difficult -- but enjoying your lives is paramount!

Good luck!

hi!
Me and my husband have been living in london for last 3 years. we r going back to delhi next friday and are looking forward to it. i m excited but a bit anxious as well, mainly coz of the weather. will write again to share our indian experience.
ta!

hi!
Me and my husband have been living in london for last 3 years. we r going back to delhi next friday and are looking forward to it. i m excited but a bit anxious as well, mainly coz of the weather. will write again to share our indian experience.
ta!

I have been in US for the last 9 years. It seems if i live in US i loose all my hair. When i am in india i grow my hair back. Should i move back to India for my hair ....? BTW i am still single and looking to find a girl as well...

Hi everyone out there,
It seems going back to India looks like an immense project and I agrre it is. But take the plunge and things will fall in place. Saying it from experience as we have been back in India for the last three and half years. spent 11/2 in Gurgaon and the rest in bangalore. Life is wonderful if you can look beyond the disorder. Best part is most people you will assoiciate with will be expats who have gone back and trust me people will help you wtth every informations you need. My daughter was in 4th grade when we relocated and it was hard the first few month, give yourself six months, and now she loves it going to 8th this year. They are not the issue , we are as we project to be very critical with our own land in front of them. US was home, so why should it be hard to make India home. If you are sent by the company on the job wouldnot not try to fit in and make use of the time whereever that is. Try to get a company transfer or an expat job so you get to feel India better, if that is an option. Good luck. Any informations you need I will be happy to help.
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