For many Non-Resident Indians, returning to India after living abroad for years or decades is a dream. It is the thought of going back to their roots, reconnecting with family, and settling down in the land they once called home.
But recently, one social media post has raised an interesting question, when NRIs say they want to “return to India,” are they really hoping to return to the physical country, or are they longing to return to a time from their past?
What does the post explain?
NRI noted that for many, the desire to return is tied to nostalgia. The post talks about how those who left India in their 20s or 30s often romanticise their life back then, remembering carefree days, the comfort of home, and the closeness of community. These memories shape how they think of India.
However, the country has changed a lot since then. While India has made improvements in areas like highways, electricity, and urban development, other important services, like schools and hospitals, have not improved at the same pace.
There may be shiny new buildings and better roads, but access to good schools and hospitals is still a problem for many.
“India has changed much after that, for better or worse,” the post says. “There is more infrastructure, but also more population. Roads and electricity have improved, but schools and hospitals have not kept up.”
This gap between physical growth and improvements in services makes many wonder, will life in India be as good as we expect when we return, or will the reality fall short of our memories?
‘You all guys start comparing life and don’t drop US habits’
Netizens also expressed their opinion on the post. A user noted, ” You guys start comparing life and dont drop US habits ….i lived in India for 1 year to see if i can move back and i loved every bit of it ..i started driving ..got my license …helping my dad in business …its like i never left and started where i left off and mind you i left 20 years ago.”
Another noted, “Extremely accurate description of how I feel about this whole thing! The air pollution is what’s preventing because it’s so bad I’ve had a hard time imagining living like that with something as basic as air.”
“Spot on! I enjoy meeting my friends, with whom I stay in touch regularly through calls and WhatsApp. Other than that, I find less and less to appreciate each visit, which is primarily to urban India. My hometown of Pune is a shithole with taller buildings and roads that are worse than they used to be 30 years ago. The prevailing narratives all crumble after 1 hour in traffic without making any progress,” noted a user.
“Don’t private schools and hospitals have great infrastructure though? Right now,the way I see it is – it is easier being middle class abroad vs middle class in India. But once we earn a nest egg, life in India is far smoother,” opined a netizen.
(This story is based on a post shared by a social media user. The details, opinions, and statements quoted herein belong solely to the original poster and do not reflect the views of Financialexpress.com. We have not independently verified the claims.)