Dual Citizens and Time to Decide

I had a feeling that whatever I write on any topic or subject will either improve it or disrupt the existing state of affairs. I am never a disruptor and would never seek rocking the boat but improve the longevity of the present situation. Unless something is cruel, one don’t require a reform, when the existing systems are doing very good. This holds true for most of the areas I write about. In short, my efforts should strengthen the systems for good but not break it.  

I had been in U.S. for the last one year and one week. There comes the question, should I go back to India or continue in U.S. It has been a tough question to answer but I would like to continue for as long as it is feasible. There are several points to ponder about 1. Continue the hardship in U.S. without going back and starting from scratch 2. Don’t rotate between the countries but maintain the stability of staying at one location 3. When it clicks, there is no good in not riding the success wave 4. Take the path which is tougher than choosing the easy path of returning back 5. Work for a considerably long period of time for achieving significant outcomes for self and everyone else.

 

While these are the points to consider for staying put, the biggest ones flowing for going back to India are – 1. To reduce the ‘ire’ and ‘fire’ of Indians who have to look at my exploits in U.S. for more than a year 2. To reduce the ‘Green’ factor, get awareness and reduce green envy, jealousy to a large extent 3. To make sure good things happen to us and expect good news to hear always, not be in a situation to elicit expecting bad news 4. Living in fear of riding a green wave and inducing bad vibes, feelings and emotions 5. Be content with a year, have the attitude to meet the expectations of those in back home regarding ‘how soon this fellow will return’ and press the exit button right now.

 

One can say, these are non-issues but those are all felt at one point or the other and you never know when something will bite you. There is nothing better than exercising adequate caution and precaution than going on a fearless ride. Now that a year has been passed in U.S., and these are some of the points which are plaguing since past many months, the biggest point is ‘Am I less Indian, non-Indian or anti-Indian for staying in foreign land for so long’. I can vouch this isn’t remotely true and not an argument to get into. I served the homeland with utmost commitment for many years and earned this foreign stint rightfully. It is one of the leeway which gave me life when I needed the most. A person like me depleted the resources back in home nation and continuing the journey in foreign land. A person in India will work for India, a person in U.S. will work for U.S. but super humans like me will work for both the nations with terrifying work ethic.

To illustrate the point, let us consider the case of NRIs – Non-resident Indians, the group which lives abroad but still casts a shining example of serving the home land. NRIs, beside working for foreign land, also contribute significantly to India. Most of them take up this dual task of working for both the nations. I will list the many contributions of this group to India.

 

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) have been an essential part of India's growth story, contributing positively to the country's economic, social, and cultural development. NRIs are individuals of Indian origin who live outside India, but they retain strong ties with their homeland. Over the years, NRIs have played a significant role in India's progress and have been a source of pride for the country.

 

One of the significant contributions of NRIs to India is in the area of investment. NRIs are investing in various sectors of the Indian economy, such as real estate, information technology, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. According to a report by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), NRIs invested around USD 13.7 billion in India in 2020-21. This investment is creating job opportunities and boosting the economy.

 

Remittances are another crucial contribution of NRIs to India. According to the World Bank, India received USD 83 billion in remittances in 2020, making it the top recipient of remittances in the world. A significant portion of these remittances comes from NRIs, who send money to their families in India. This money is used for various purposes and contribute to the country's economy. NRIs made India, the top nation to receive remittances in the world.

 

Philanthropy is another area where NRIs are making a significant contribution to India. NRIs are engaged in philanthropic activities in India, such as providing funding for education, healthcare, and disaster relief. They are also supporting various social causes such as gender equality, environmental sustainability, and poverty reduction.

 

Cultural exchange is an area where NRIs are making a significant contribution to India. NRIs are promoting Indian culture and traditions around the world, and they are also facilitating cultural exchange between India and other countries. The Indian diaspora is spread across the world, and they are actively promoting India's rich cultural heritage through music, dance, and other art forms. This is helping to build stronger ties between India and the rest of the world.

 

Education is another area where NRIs are contributing to India's development. NRIs are establishing educational institutions, funding scholarships, and providing mentorship and guidance to Indian students. Many NRIs are also serving as faculty members in Indian universities, contributing to the country's intellectual capital. For example, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has several faculty members who are NRIs.

 

Scientific research is an area where NRIs are making a significant contribution to India's progress. NRIs are involved in scientific research in India, collaborating with Indian scientists and institutions to conduct research in various fields such as medicine, engineering, and technology. Many NRIs are also involved in entrepreneurship and innovation, contributing to the growth of India's startup ecosystem.

 

In conclusion, NRIs are making a significant contribution to India's development. Their investments, remittances, philanthropy, cultural exchange, education, and scientific research are helping to build a better India and improving the lives of its people. NRIs are proud of their Indian heritage, and they are actively contributing to the country's progress. The Indian government should continue to engage with NRIs and provide them with the necessary support to facilitate their contributions to India's growth story.

While these are the many contributions of those living abroad to India, they are also actively working in their own local communities. Our work ethic has made us switch between nations and the same should be recognized before breeding unnecessary negative feelings. We should look at the picture clearly, objectively and with reason by discounting any negative vibes along the way. The persons who work with high energy, work ethic for both the nations must be called dual citizens and held in high esteem. Similarly, these NRIs who contribute to Indian story must be accorded with dual citizenship.

 

After a year, I would like to fall in this bracket of a person living abroad but who contributed significantly to India making us multiple role players or dual citizens. Despite the fears, challenges, I would like to carefully continue the journey instead of calling it a day. We need to take care of ourselves and make sure we crossed the stage of developing bad feelings for someone in good stead. Think positive, be positive and expect positivity which is good for our collective health. Our individual penance should grow us to that stage by lifting us through the sea of hard feelings.