2. NRI.

Disclaimer: The topic NRI (Not Returning to India) is by no means intended to hurt anyone.

“What is the average salary these days in India for a profile similar to us?” – This is a classic question from a bunch of my friends who “once in a while” think of returning back to India for good.
Instead of replying this question, I ask a counter question. ‘When are you targeting at returning back?”

Here come a classic reply again – “In a couple of years, may be”.

There are some other replies on similar lines. Here we go –

May be 2009/2010
Shall decide about this next year.
I have started thinking on this. Too early to say but shall soon come to a conclusion.
Probably, shall make some final decision while in India during my 2 week Xmas vacation.
As of now I think it should be good enough time to be back to India. Let’s see though.

After these gentle replies, I have a mixed feeling but still prefer to answer the initial question.
There is nothing like average salary concept here. It’s the number (amount) that is gonna bridge the gap between your expectations and company requirements. Further, the terms like “couple of years” and “2009/2010” (that too in conjunction with “may be”) makes the conclusion too early to anticipate. On top of that, the feeling sounds more like – “As of now” feeling. Hence, the chances of the change are pretty high. More or less, the change is synonymous with postponement here.

Also, once the permanent residency (may be GC, PR, etc) process initiates, it becomes all the more difficult. This is quite psychological. Hence, one either has a target date (exact date of return) or else just keeps playing around.

Of course, there is no harm in staying there for a while or may be for life but I feel that the vision should be crystal clear if one really intends to take any step in life. This may sound hypothetical.

There is an agreement on this, most of the times but with an asterisk mark saying conditions apply. Some do quote Newton’s law – “… in the absence of an unbalanced external force”.

I totally agree but doesn’t this happen at each and every stage of life? What if some one is thrown out and forced to come back to India? Will he be left with any choice? There are sometimes in life where I really can respect and enjoy my own choice. Come what may. I always feel like eradicating the "external unbalanced" stuff although I am not doing it completely.

It’s me who should drive my life. If I am not the one who does, what kinda ego I am carrying with me? THERE IS NO NEED OF AN EXTERNAL UNBALANCED FORCE TO DRIVE ANY OF MY CHOICES (please don’t read DECISIONS).

Concluding, I just wanna tell one thing. Trust me, from your perspective if you like it there, please go ahead and enjoy life there. It’s all about perception. I am the master of my life. This is the feeling that treasures me.

Hence, be a NRI all your life. NRI might be Now Returning to India, Next-year returning to India or Never Returning to India. It’s your take.

PS: This blog contains excerpt of dialogues between Jimit and me.