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

I blogged about the same topic sometime back: http://blog.chachra.us/2006/10/26/working-in-india/

amen to that

Yeah you are right. After my mastesr, when I returned same time 2 years back, people asked me if I didnt manage to get a job outside India. Haha.
Things seem to be changing, but I am not sure if the speed is good enough to call it a reverse brain-drain. I think going to the US is still the number one choice for the majority. I think the biggest reason why people are coming back is that MNCs are giving high-profile jobs to their IDCs and the biggest reason is the competitive advantage of cost. But, the way salary is rising, I think those jobs would stop coming to India and the R2I would again become something to be amazed about phenomenon

Great points Gaurav. Return To India (a.k.a reverse brain drain) is an interesting phenomenon, especially for those educated in the west, looking for some real challenges. However, the big question is : Is this a passing fad that might change once Immigration policies in the west open up?

I guess you're getting to happy to soon,the number of people you're talking of here is just a drop in the ocean.

More than 90% of the Indian youth would still prefer to work abroad,cause that's where you actually get to learn and experience. Everything's to easy and casual in India

There is still long way to go. There is only small percentage of people coming back to India. The percentage can be even more if some basic things can be improved in India like govt missionary, corruption, standard of living and other basic amenities. And there are only two way this can happen:
1. Radical change in political philospy - Near to impossible
2. Change in social societal behavior - Possible, but would take lot of time..

There is amazing amount of reverse brain drain happeing right now. And its just not the brain drain- even there is lot of knowledge transfer happening from the US to india. When google etc opens an office in india - it just teaches indians how to program such a massive programming system :).

Could never think that capitalism can be so good and equalizing

In places like Bangalore, there is a large percentage of R-NRI's. There are also a ton of foreigners who are taking on plum expat assignments to move here. So the reverse brain drain is already happening.

Kris mentioned that most of the youth would like to goabroad and work. That is sadly still true, but in addition to getting experience in the US, it's the fascination of the "foreign" shore, the "foreign" experience. e.g. The same chocolate seems to taste a whole lot better when it's brought from the US, than from the local store.

Vishesh mentioned that the percentage returning can be increased if basic amenities are improved. It's interesting, but in Bangalore, these things are happening. As someone who's come back after 18 years, I see the change. It's chaotic but it's there. Interestingly, a large number of RNRI's are causing the change from activism to joining social causes to contributing their efforts and energies in other areas. It's a very positive and cool outcome.

My husband and I have been in serious debates if we should return to India...and of coure to be Entreprenuers.
I think I did a grt job by googling NRI returns to India :)
I think seeing so many ppl return to India will definately boost our confidence and fight the ridiculing relatives. Oh how I wish they cease to exist :)

Good blog!!

What a fantastic blog!! I live in London and have been away from India for almost nine years now. Been tempted to return sometimes. This kind of a blog is gold dust for me. Wonder if anyone could comment about differences in the work-life balance between Europe in India? I work for a management consulting firm. We put in between 50-55 hours of work a week usually, get 28 days paid holiday here and most weekends tend to be free. Is this a realistic expectation when working for a MNC in India?? Concerned about quality of life issues if I move back there.

Hey Gaurav,

I happenned to stumble across your blog. It was amazing to read how much I could relate to what you have been expresing over the months since you came back . I too returned to India after 17 years abroad , last 7 yrs being in the US.Yeah.... the same college degree and then a job stereotype :-) I have returned 5 months back and I know this is a decision that I will never look back upon. The economic gravity has shifted. Even if people study outside, in 10-15 years time, people will be forced to vie for an India visa ! You can read my homecoming at sonaisworld.blogspot.com.

Cheers!

Hello,

I returned to India last feb after living in US for almost 7 years.

Although I am still settling in, and having issues with finding a match for myself here, I dont think I made the wrong decision.

I do look for connection with Indians who have lived out of India and I travel a lot but home is home!

It is very encouraging to read the positive comments about India. I have lived abroad for 13 years now (UAE, US, Canada). I am a TV journalist with two kids ( 4, 1). I have been amazed with the progress in India. I recently visited Kolkata where I was stunned by how things have changed. We are very keen to come back. Just wondering how the quality of life in New Delhi (that's where most TV news channels are) would compare with life in Toronto.

I Salute who are going Back to India or who already are back to India.

I Salute who are going Back to India or who already are back to India.

Hello,

I disagree about your comments but very amazing to read your blog.
I am totally deaf since birth from bangalore I graduated MS in Computer Science form Texas.
If I return to india It will be very very difficult for me to find suitable job in India because of my deaf and dumb For example- In indian Government, they hire very limited no. of Disabled people to the extent of only 40% disability but dismissed upto the extent of totally deaf and dumb. However, Deaf and Dumb people are having very weak economic background and will be forced to get beggar Job. There is no excellent accomodation/facilities for deaf people available in India. What do I do for returning to India ????

Regards,
Rajan.

I remember growing up our neighbors in India. They were a family who came back to India from the US in the mid 70's. They were a great bunch of folks but no matter when you met them they would only talk about their great past life in the US. Even 10 -15 years after they had come back they would still talk about the US. Eventually I recall the parents in the family moved heaven and earth to send their kids to the US for higher studies (one of them could not make it) with the hope that the kids will eventually settle down in the US for good. Talk about life coming around in a darn full circle.

So, What is to be said about people going back to India? Should we call them die hard patriots or should we call them visionaries who see something big down the road and want to make a contribution to India's resurgence.

Its seems unfortunately however that most (not all) who are talking about going back are western society misfits. These are People who just a few years back moved heaven and earth to move to the west only to find out within a short period of time that the west was not for them. They just could not fit in or rather never tried to fit in.

Remember The west has a lot to offer. It has its issues but regardless it is one heck of a place to live in. But many folks just refuse to see it. Sure there is some progress in India and its is good but there are also 1 Billion mouths to feed in a country that is 1/3 the size of the United States.

Does India really need you? Why do you want to pile on? Do you really have something genuine to contribute. Ok so what happens if this boom fizzles or slows down? Will you then put your tail behind your back and get back to the west (if you can that is). I think if you have a great business idea that can provide employment to more than a dozen people you should go. If you think you are going to go back and do the 9 - 5 grind and be happy in India, I bet it wont be a walk in the park. If you are so darn attached to India, just make more frequent trips back home or better yet take a sabbatical and go live there for 6 months, why do you want to relocate completely.

Overall I am just appalled with the grass being greener on the other side attitude. People just forget to make the best of what they have and then crib. The same people will start cribbing 1 year into their stay in India.

Rajan, your comments are quite appropriate and valid. But also keep in mind that it is not easy for us Indians to get a sense of belonging in the West. I live in US and do feel the missing connections. My little daughter growing up here in US feels more comfortable amongst Indian kids, though she has almost no exposure to India. So I think it is not as objective as you put it. End of the day, the best would be a quality of life of US with an Indian background, something that we try to emulate when in US. I guess when we start missing the Indian background, we have tendency to ignore what we have and look at the grass as greener on the other side. It should not be mistaken as foolish, this is just a matter of heart, not mind. So objectivity is clearly lost, but thats how it is meant to be. It is not uncommon to talk about glorified life in India when living in the US, so talking about glorified life in US when living in India is not out of line. Also, we try to live an Indian life in US and find nothing wrong with it, so doing the other way round should not be bad after all.
Regarding the move to India, I think there are a few basic reasons that I think about.
a. Missing contact with Family (Parents and Siblings)
b. Feeling a sense of belonging with the culture and people, or a feeling of comfort with surroundings
c. Potentially stronger education for kids. After all, US especially is a place where foreigners have succeeded because of their past and their competitiveness. If one feels that after living in US for sometime, he/she has a better perspective of education and can bring in US values to the Indian system, there is nothing wrong with the concept.
d. Finally, I think that there is a sense of accomplishment and a will to do things that you may have wanted to do when living in India . Fullfilling this dream is another aspect that may push someone to R2I.

Hi!
I am doing a story for a national daily on how more and more NRIs are coming back to India. I am in Delhi and am looking to talk to people who have relocated to India, about their experiences here, and the motivations for coming back.

I myself just moved to Delhi from NYC.

If any of you would be willing to talk about ur experiences, drop me a line with your phone number, where you relocated from and to which city, and which year did you relocate; and I will touch base.

Also, we might need to take pics. of some of you for the story, lemme know if that would be fine.

Thanks

Brain drain may vary from person to person .as per my view bd is not as bad as hot have make it , their is no harm in going abroad ,it becomes harm to us when we are comp. setteled their ¬ coming to home town.

ha! gives me hope.am returning to india after finishin my ms in vlsi from usc (trojans).
plannin to take the flight next week.

I have known people who are happy to be back and those that are not. What is happening in India today is a cause for celebration and despair. The Economy is growing at a reasonably good pace. The prices and services are within reach. Employing domestic help is easy and convenient. Generally people are friendly. On the other side,strange new developments are taking palce. Corruption has increased many fold and has spread to almost all wings of Government dealing with public. There are frequent work disruptions with Bandhs, Rasta rokkos , burning of vehicles by political and communal forces. Every neighborhood has spawned a group of politicians and their henchmen, who are looking for opportunities to fleece and cause nuisance. The traffic is chaotic with no rules being followed or enforced.There would not be waiting lines but jostling with your elbows. One has to fight for survival here.
Any change will be a shift from orderly to disorganized and chaotic life. Politicians and beurocrats spend enormous funds of the Government for study tours , conferences etc abroad, but they never make any attempt to change even a small thing. This a country with too much of democracy and little order.

I have known people who are happy to be back and those that are not. What is happening in India today is a cause for celebration and despair. The Economy is growing at a reasonably good pace. The prices and services are within reach. Employing domestic help is easy and convenient. Generally people are friendly. On the other side,strange new developments are taking palce. Corruption has increased many fold and has spread to almost all wings of Government dealing with public. There are frequent work disruptions with Bandhs, Rasta rokkos , burning of vehicles by political and communal forces. Every neighborhood has spawned a group of politicians and their henchmen, who are looking for opportunities to fleece and cause nuisance. The traffic is chaotic with no rules being followed or enforced.There would not be waiting lines but jostling with your elbows. One has to fight for survival here.
Any change will be a shift from orderly to disorganized and chaotic life. Politicians and beurocrats spend enormous funds of the Government for study tours , conferences etc abroad, but they never make any attempt to change even a small thing. This a country with too much of democracy and little order.

After 15 years in the USA, I am seriously thinking of returning to Kolkata. I have a 13 year old and a 8 year old who are ok with the idea. I completely agree with Balaji (or was it Ravi?!!) that some of our children are more comfortable with Indian kids here. Also, being a teacher in the US I am of the opinion that, to be globally competetive, my kids will be better of getting the rest of thier secondary schooling in India. The core curriculum standards and NCLB is doing nothing for the kids and is just exposing them to an Euro-centric less-than-desirable content. It is not the question of the grass being greener but simply weiging one's priorities and needs. Every nation has a set of uniques challenges.