------Original Message------
From: Deepa Mohan
Sender: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
ReplyTo: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [silk] Some Indians Find It Tough to Go Home Again
Sent: Nov 30, 2009 18:16
On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Badri Natarajan <[email protected]>
wrote:
t
The general points are true, but I mostly have to ask why these
people are
so surprised that it is difficult to come back - they *have*
changed and
so has India - moving countries at any level is hard.
I so agree. As a repat or cowpat, I have pretty strong views about
this and little patience with the whining about how hard it is to
assimilate back home. I think returnees suffer from what I call the
"assumption of altruism" syndrome. In other words, they think
returning home is an altruistic act: most people talk about 'giving
back' and 'contributing' to the home country, when in fact, India is
carrying on without their haloed contributions. I think this
assumption of altruism sets up all kinds of mind-games. You start
thinking of India as a hardship posting; you expect the home country
to be 'grateful' for the troubles you are undergoing so you can
contribute and so forth. Returning home is not (or should not be) an
altruistic act. You return home due to circumstances (ill parents)
or by choice, or by tacit agreement (company sends you and you don't
protest).
I returned home three years ago after nearly 20 years abroad. I am
deliriously happy to be back.
Heather Timmons, like all journalists including me, had an angle for
her story (how hard it is for immigrants to go back) and only chose
to interview people who fit that angle. She does not highlight or
even mention others who are well adjusted with the return home.
Sorry...don't mean to discount what others have said about genuinely
perceived hardships. I have written a tome on this topic, hence it
set me off.
