A recently returned NRI, who spent seven years in the United States, observed that the gap between online narratives and the lived reality in India is far wider than expected. Requesting anonymity, he noted that his decision to move back was driven by practical and personal factors rather than idealism.
Now based in Bengaluru, the Electrical Engineer cited ageing parents, uncertainty around long-term visas and an inability to envision permanent settlement abroad as key factors behind the move.
Reality beyond online narratives
The ex-NRI acknowledged long-standing concerns often raised about life in India, including pollution, hygiene, civic sense, uneven infrastructure and bureaucratic hurdles. “I didn’t come back with rose-tinted glasses,” he said, adding that friends and family had warned him against returning.
However, he said daily life in India has felt “less ideological and more practical,” marked by time with family, familiar food, and the convenience of domestic help. He also highlighted relief from immigration-related stress, saying there were “no more stupid visa worries.”
US challenges shaped perspective
The NRI also spoke about challenges he faced while living in the US, including homelessness, gun violence, racism and safety concerns in certain neighbourhoods. “Heck I didn’t feel safe roaming there at night in certain neighborhoods,” he noted, adding that traffic in cities like Houston was equally stressful despite wider roads.
Addressing work-life balance, he said, “For my line of work, I haven’t noticed a meaningful difference compared to the US,” noting long hours and blurred boundaries existed in both countries.
Now settled in Bengaluru, he said online rhetoric often exaggerates challenges. “Traffic is manageable from my perspective, and Kannadigas have been warm, welcoming, and genuinely kind,” he wrote, stressing that returning to India should remain a personal choice rather than one driven by social media narratives.
He added that being closer to family ultimately outweighed professional trade-offs and lifestyle comparisons abroad.