‘India was my dream dwelling, now it’s…’: Returning NRI slams India’s governance, hygiene & security requirements 

A Reddit put up by a 25-year-old lady from Hyderabad has triggered a heated dialogue on social media about India’s infrastructure, corruption, and general high quality of life — notably from the attitude of Indians who’ve moved overseas and later returned for a go to. 

The consumer, shared a candid account of how her notion of her homeland modified drastically after residing abroad. “I’ve at all times been the one who mentioned ‘I like residing in India,’ ‘I wish to retire in India when I am older,’” she wrote, including that after transferring to the US post-marriage, her admiration changed into disillusionment. 

“In all places I see, I see how dysfunctional our society is,” she lamented, citing unsafe roads, widespread air pollution, open manholes, encroachment, and air stuffed with building mud. “The roads really feel so unsafe… the air is just not breathable at this level… I’m asking myself how did I stay right here for 22 years of my life,” the put up learn. 

She additionally touched upon corruption and governance failures, claiming she needed to pay bribes for fundamental authorities work to be accomplished. “Nothing will get completed on this nation with out a bribe,” she wrote, calling it a “harsh actuality examine” for younger adults who develop up idealising their homeland. 

One other main concern she highlighted was meals security. “Every part is made in reused black-looking oils, utilizing soiled palms to make meals with out utilizing gloves or cleaning soap,” she wrote, including that the nation’s “unhygienic meals” tag is, in her view, justified. 

The Redditor additionally recounted an occasion of harassment in broad daylight and criticised the leniency of India’s driver licensing system — sharing that she was granted a license regardless of crashing a automobile throughout her take a look at. “That claims so much about how good the drivers are in India,” she remarked, questioning how residents are anticipated to really feel protected on the roads. 

Whereas she acknowledged the comfort of home assist and meals supply, she questioned the trade-off. “Certain, India is handy. Maids, drivers, simple meals supply, and so forth. All good. However at what price?” she wrote. “Whereas residing overseas, I’ve felt happier and more healthy. I can stroll to a spot I wish to, safely. I can breathe clear air. The federal government is extra environment friendly, the providers are on time.” 

Her conclusion was stark, “As a child and a teen, India was my dream dwelling, vigorous and color. However now, all I see is misery and failure. I by no means thought I might say this, however I do not suppose we’ll retire in India anymore.” 

The put up struck a chord with 1000’s on-line, producing tons of of feedback from Indians each at dwelling and overseas. 

One commenter wrote, “It took marriage and transferring in a foreign country to understand what was incorrect in entrance of your eyes for 2 and a half many years. The true subject is that many Indians don’t even realise that there’s an issue to repair.” 

One other echoed the sentiment, saying, “Individuals like us who moved overseas post-2021 have the identical ideas. The administration is thick-skinned and shameless. The wealthy flaunt wealth whereas the poor leech off the center class.” 

Nevertheless, others supplied a extra balanced view. “Consider India as an previous grandma with quite a lot of knowledge,” wrote one consumer. “She’s onerous to vary as a result of she carries baggage. However she holds religious and mental methods you received’t discover anyplace else. The cities are chaotic, however not all of India is identical.” 

The dialogue displays a rising on-line pattern — the conflict between nostalgia and frustration amongst returning NRIs, who typically discover themselves caught between affection for his or her homeland and disillusionment with its on a regular basis realities.