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A few days ago, I received one of those emails that are enthusiastically forwarded by their recipients. It listed India’s contributions to the world, ranging from Ayurveda, chess and the concept of zero, to the more recent IT success stories. The email was sent by an Indian friend to other Indians and exhorted the recipients to be proud of being Indian. At the impending first anniversary of my return to India, the serendipitous arrival of the email persuaded me to take stock of the preceding twelve months. The question of whether I had chosen the right path, both for myself and for Shreya, needed to be answered.
Undoubtedly, it has been a remarkable year; mostly exciting, sometimes tiring, but always interesting. The physical changes are fairly obvious. Shreya has added a few inches to her height and has lost a couple of baby teeth. There is a tiny circle on my forehead that is visible only to me. The bindi that I stick on every day has rendered the spot pale by protecting it from direct sunlight.
Other changes are less noticeable by virtue of the fact that they are gradual. Shreya has completely lost her American accent and has developed a level of fluency in Telugu. I now say “shhedule” instead of “schedule.” I don’t have the same craving for roadside chaat as I did during the first few months.
India too has had a noteworthy year. The mammoth nationwide election was conducted entirely using electronic voting machines. The election concluded with a major surprise that shocked the rest of the world, the drama heightened by Sonia Gandhi’s decision, despite being the head of the winning party, to decline the prime ministership and to recommend Dr. Manmohan Singh instead. Women figured prominently in the news and not just for winning international beauty pageants. Industries other than IT made headlines. The spectacular success of Biocon India’s IPO that made Kiran Majumdar Shaw, its CEO, India’s wealthiest woman, exemplified the possibilities of making it big in India today.
I am often reminded of my husband’s roommate, who claimed that he would return to India when the signs on the highway said “Vijayawada—next four exits.” That was almost two decades ago. The signs still don’t say that. But what is amazing is that multi-lane highways do exist and they have made road travel for vacation a viable option.
Along with snake charmers and elephants, phone booths that enable cheap long-distance calls, and Internet cafes offering low-cost browsing options, dot the countryside. Previously a destination for Western tourists seeking exotic locations or alternate philosophies, India is now the workplace of choice for job seekers from many Western countries. They seek to gain an edge by adding to their resumes the experience of working in an emerging market. Having the beaches of Goa and ashrams of spiritual gurus within easy reach is an added bonus.
The success of the IT industry has created a base of credibility for other industries in the global business world. For biotech and related businesses that are on the verge of the next big boom, in spite of uncertainties, the general atmosphere is filled with enthusiasm and an overriding sense of excitement.
For me, as an Indian working in India, the greatest professional satisfaction has come, as expected, not from the financial rewards, but by the feeling that my work contributes to the success of India. India’s growth would have occurred without my presence, but by being here, I have moved from being a silent spectator or a distant cheerleader to being a contributor to this wave. This is an experience that cannot be quantified in dollars.
The world seems to have woken up to India’s potential to be a major player. I no longer have to defend my country to the ignorant outsider who questions my English fluency or asks if we ride camels to work.
Ironically, the stereotypical image of a third-world country doomed to be at the receiving end of the generosity of the West is held by those who left India years ago. At a recent international conference, the group that questioned me most extensively about choosing to return to India, were people of Indian origin, including the taxi driver who drove me from London’s Heathrow airport to the hotel.
Going back to my initial thoughts of returning (“Curvature”), I must admit that the year has lived up to my expectations by being nothing short of an adventure. Although I don’t live in the same city as my parents, I was able to see them every few months and was able to help at the time of my mother’s surgery.
Last year Shreya saw Navaratri in Mumbai, experienced Diwali in Hyderabad, vacationed in Kerala, and if we plan it right, will witness Puja in Kolkata next month. What else will Shreya gain by growing up here? It is my hope that the intense academic competition will inculcate a keen drive to succeed; that the daily brush with struggling individuals will sow the seeds of empathy and kindness; and, that the widespread economic disparities will instill a desire for fairness and justice.
She may not need to leave the country to obtain a high-quality education or to launch a phenomenal career. Even so, I hope that living here will give her the tools to make her mark anywhere she chooses.
Despite the enormous challenges that India still faces, a child growing up in India today has a quiet confidence. Yes, India continues to be a land of contrasts but the chance to make a big splash is very much within the grasp of its citizens.
I sincerely believe that I made the right choice at the right time. Would the decision to return to India work out for you? Asking me to answer that question is like consulting the turbaned guy who promises to predict your future by asking his pet parrot to pick a card. As individuals, we make choices every day; how things unfold, depends, ultimately, on our attitude.
