I began to chronicle my experiences after we completed five years of our return to India which also coincided with the second wave of the pandemic and lockdowns.
The five years have been extremely eventful professionally
and personally. While Suja and I occasionally reminiscence over the life “back
in the US,” we don’t carry an American flag on our sleeve. I say that
metaphorically and literally. Like the time when an Indian American couple
brought their 6-year-old daughter in a cute ‘American Flag’ themed skirt and
dress set to the US consulate in Chennai while renewing their American
passports; literally carrying the American flag on their sleeves.
The great thing about an OCI moving back to India is that
for all practical purposes, you are considered Indian – and one hardly ever
flaunts the foreign passport while in India.
The move hasn’t been without its share of setbacks and
challenges. For one, finances are at the front and center. Notwithstanding the
fact that I was able to land a well-paying job in the tech sector, my net worth
is not as much as it would have been if we had continued our American dream.
I have diversified our savings in India, primarily investing
in the mutual funds. We still live in the house my dad built, which is now
mine, all paid off. I continue to spend a bit on its upkeep and take pride in
the small garden and the four coconut trees. I also monitor my portfolio in the
US remotely and have been ploughing excess cash into prepaying the mortgage on our
American home. The mortgage should be paid off by the end of the year, yielding
me some spare income in USD.
While finance and savings are just one aspect of life, it
does weigh in on many decisions on returning to India. More than a few friends
who tried an ‘immersion move,’ couldn’t sustain the rigor of Return to India
and moved back within a few months or during the first year. For some it was
the lack of a job or the work culture or even the unsaid factor – that one
would be earning in Indian rupees and not US Dollars. Of course, the most common
excuses include the spouse or kids unable to ‘adjust.’ I find that excuse
rather flimsy since kids generally echo the observations of their parents. If a
parent is constantly voicing strong reservation about the Return-to-India, kids
are bound to take the cue.
Perhaps the greatest pillar of strength in this transition is Suja, who not only championed our move but helped me focus on the logistics while navigating all other aspects of the transition. While managing the transition, Suja also helped Vijay navigate the change at home and school.
Post pandemic world - After Dad
The primary motivator for us to move back to India was to be
around for aging parents, especially given my dad’s declining health. Dad
passed away a couple of years ago, but not after Vijay got to spend quality
time with him.
Looking back on the past couple of years with the pandemic
and lockdowns when scores of NRI parents struggled to manage on their own while
kids abroad were simply unable to travel, it just reaffirms our timely decision
and how we were able to be around during the crucial time.
Of course, I don’t expect my RTI blueprint to be applicable
to all readers. For one, there is an entire informal cottage industry of
caregiving services that has sprung up in India. Ecommerce and remote collaboration tools that
gained popularity during the pandemic also have practical uses. Many
non-resident Indians try to find a reliable service provider or domestic help,
and are able to manage remotely with daily WhatsApp and Skype calls, all the
while pursuing the American dream for their kids.
What does this mean to you?
The intent of sharing my experiences and anecdotes was to
give you a glimpse into the contemporary life in India.
Life in India has moved on since the time you migrated out.
While many aspects of life have modernized, the basic issues remain – traffic
and pollution in urban India can be a nightmare. There is still chaos in urban
neighborhoods with parking issues, cows and stray dogs jostling in narrow
streets. The sooner you accept these basic ‘facts’ and look beyond them as
minor inconveniences, the faster you will be able to adjust.
Money can buy creature comforts – even in India
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