Comfortable life in USA or part of India Shinning?Would you take a chance?

[Rajahindustani]

IMO you are taking too extreme positions. Neither is life too comfortable in USA nor is India shining. The reality is somewhere in between.

Projections after projections after projections from all the world have good growth in India for the next 50 years. That is just not a hype like USA. Even in remote villages, the impact of transformation is being felt.

I have been in Idia for more than 4 years after R2I and yes returning to India is not a risk.

Salaries and prospects in USA are diminishing.
"Also, the forum has numerous threads on various dilemmas. You should first explore the available information. "

I also do not agree with the above. The above dilmmas will conly confuse you and you will be a trishakoo. So do not read it.

[Janu2010]

India sucks big time. With or without 100 or 200% growth. Places worse than India are those middle east countries where there are no personal liberties. But even then many people are willing to go and work. In fact many states like Kerala entirely depend on job market there and many Indian states have substantial number of people working there. This has been going on for decades even before the IT boom in 70s and 80s. The point is Indians have come to a stage where they are willing to work anywhere in the world except India...even racist Australia at a great personal risk.

If some or many are returning back to India that is because of personal reasons. I think there are only two category of people returning. People who can't wait anymore because parents are getting old. These people have their USC already. So they are just waiting for their sons/daughters to come back US in another 10 or 15 years. Education is not a big issue here. They will buy education and culture where ever they are. Then the second category people who are returning are having issues with immigration/visa.

Given a chance all would like trouble free life. If India can provide that one they won't mind staying there. But India with its corrupt politicians and planners I don't see any improvement. People had hopes during the early 2000 and late 90s. But that was because India was just opening up and then people might have been carried away. US with even all these problems is a better bet than India. Even with China there is some hope, not that much though. But with India it is hopeless.

Lakhs and crores of rupees don't have any value. Salary increased. But what is the point? Expenses are increasing at higher rate. Quality of life has not increased that much. People are crying about long work hours, wasting time on frivolous things, long commute time, lack of ethics etc. We now have a website and forum for R2I. Think about it. For returning to your own country we need a guide. That is how difficult it is.

[sumachechi]

[QUOTE]In fact many states like Kerala entirely depend on job market there

And your reference please?

[mkngtrbl]

I have returned just 3 weeks ago to India and will dispute many of your assertions here from my experience so far:
1. I had no immigrations issues, no USC, stable and growing job, but I am still here.
2. My parents are not aged and are very active and do not need me here right now.
3. Things have changed a lot for the better. Banking, govt offices, roads etc are a lot better in Mumabi then before I left (9 yrs ago). There are still a lot of people who looks for shortcuts but are finding that they do not need them.
4. Things are expensive - no doubt especially RE.
5. Travel / commute is no worse than people who drive an hour or more one way at times on the coasts in the US. I travel here to work by AC buses run by BEST.
6. Tax reform is going the right direction. I spoke to my CA yesterday and he said more of his clients are now looking to pay taxes on their income because of the comparative lower rates.

I am not saying there is no room to improve, but I don't agree with all the doom and gloom your post carried.

India sucks big time. With or without 100 or 200% growth. Places worse than India are those middle east countries where there are no personal liberties. But even then many people are willing to go and work. In fact many states like Kerala entirely depend on job market there and many Indian states have substantial number of people working there. This has been going on for decades even before the IT boom in 70s and 80s. The point is Indians have come to a stage where they are willing to work anywhere in the world except India...even racist Australia at a great personal risk.

If some or many are returning back to India that is because of personal reasons. I think there are only two category of people returning. People who can't wait anymore because parents are getting old. These people have their USC already. So they are just waiting for their sons/daughters to come back US in another 10 or 15 years. Education is not a big issue here. They will buy education and culture where ever they are. Then the second category people who are returning are having issues with immigration/visa.

Given a chance all would like trouble free life. If India can provide that one they won't mind staying there. But India with its corrupt politicians and planners I don't see any improvement. People had hopes during the early 2000 and late 90s. But that was because India was just opening up and then people might have been carried away. US with even all these problems is a better bet than India. Even with China there is some hope, not that much though. But with India it is hopeless.

Lakhs and crores of rupees don't have any value. Salary increased. But what is the point? Expenses are increasing at higher rate. Quality of life has not increased that much. People are crying about long work hours, wasting time on frivolous things, long commute time, lack of ethics etc. We now have a website and forum for R2I. Think about it. For returning to your own country we need a guide. That is how difficult it is.

[Janu2010]

And your reference please?

What do you think I am, Indian Statistical Bureau? In my own family almost of all of my relatives never worked in Kerala for the last 30-40 years. My Dad actually took a transfer after joining central govt services from a neighboring state. So are tons people I know, My college mates and school mates. All these people are in Gulf or in neighboring states, coming to Kerala to retire Admin Note: Focus on post and not poster.

[mrsherlock]

I agree with mkngtrbl. I am planning on R2I later this year. I do not fall in either of the 2 categories that Janu2010 has mentioned. I have been here for 10 years and have been living a good life. I don't have immigration issues and my parents are in good health. I am not going to wait for GC and USC although my GC is in final stages. India sucks is just a statement that may make you feel better about your decision to LIA, but it's far from true. Yes India has it's own set of problems. Yes, US is decades ahead of India in terms of development and no matter what people and reports say about how India is growing and improving, there is still a long road ahead. Inspite of all the issues India has it still is a place where you can lead a comfortable and content life, on both personal and professional level. I don't agree Jaun2010's gloomy picture of India.

[sftrade]

http://www.businessinsider.com/indian-inflation-is-nasty-nasty-nasty-2010-3

Indian inflation is approaching 20%. The dodo's of Manmohan, Montek and Pranab have run the country into the ground under the expert guidance of Sonia and Chidambaram. From 6% to 20% is a great achievement over a five year period. All the salary hikes are meaningless if it means you pay twice for everything you have to buy. Indians don't realize that they have been robbed by the business-politician lobby. Fuel prices are down from $147 a barrel but Indian still prices go up. There is total mismanagement in the economy and all this bull crap of India shining is to pull wool over the eyes of the citizen. With rising inflation the rupee will be under tremendous pressure leading to weakness thereby driving the FII's out. For them it is meaningless to make 20% in the stock market and then lose 10% to devaluation. India in 2010 is definitely better place to live then in 1990 but the biggest beneficiaries are folks connected to the government.

[indiaorusa]

Thanks to all who replied . I agree with mrsherlock.
One can be happy anywhere ..its just a state of mind. Like they say , its all in the head. One can justify just about any action.
The question here is along the same line but in a slightly differnt vein. Comfort in USA (as far as I can see) came from a steady well paying job and ability to lead a decent respectable life . Same can be acheived in India , I have not second thoughts about it. The spirit of this thread is a bit different . I'm sorry if I was not that clear from the get go. Would you be willing to take a chance to do something different in India since the relative chances of success might be high due to the growing economy and rising middleclass . By different it could be anything other than continuing the same old. I know that there's nothing wrong with same old , same old ....why would it be ...it pays well and serves our purpose.
Giuys , trust me I'm not feeling suicidal . Its something to deliberate on. There's an old saying- "If you always do what you always did , you will always get what you always have gotten"....you get the idea.
Anything different doesn't have to be going to the space or looking for undersea civilization, I mean not necessarily following the crowd.
If I have a decent job with IBM here in USA , I'm pretty confident I get an equivalent position back home ...and it comes with all the luxury which most folks usually seek for. Doing something different (read: entrepreneurial, inherently risky) can lead to some pain and suffering in the short term but can also be immensely satisfying in the long haul.
This by no means suggests that working for IBM (software or ofther services) would not lead to the same level of satisfaction. If that's what you love to do , more power to you.

I agree with mkngtrbl. I am planning on R2I later this year. I do not fall in either of the 2 categories that Janu2010 has mentioned. I have been here for 10 years and have been living a good life. I don't have immigration issues and my parents are in good health. I am not going to wait for GC and USC although my GC is in final stages. India sucks is just a statement that may make you feel better about your decision to LIA, but it's far from true. Yes India has it's own set of problems. Yes, US is decades ahead of India in terms of development and no matter what people and reports say about how India is growing and improving, there is still a long road ahead. Inspite of all the issues India has it still is a place where you can lead a comfortable and content life, on both personal and professional level. I don't agree Jaun2010's gloomy picture of India.

[NoChaos]

Folks have seen 100% growth YOY...which is possible only in countries like INDIA and CHINA.In USA , little changes from one year to the next while all I see is growth in INDIA.

It's easy to grow from nothing to something, but it's very difficult to grow 100% for a $$ billion dollar company. Same applies to countries. US can't grow as fast as India/China. A better approach would be absolute numbers instead of YOY growth rate.

even predicting that by the end of 2010 the dollar and Rupee value will be Rupees 25 to a $$ and by the end of 2050 it will be Rupees 8 / $$.

It does not matter as long as you are earning and spending in same currency. However Rupee 8/$$ would be very bad for Indian IT:).

[R2I-2019]

I've known people who have recently started with simple products seems to be doing very very well. Their success in 2 short years is something a us based business can only dream of . Folks have seen 100% growth YOY...which is possible only in countries like INDIA and CHINA.
In USA , little changes from one year to the next while all I see is growth in INDIA. Agree, its way way behind where USA or Europe is but that's where the opportunity lies.

Forget macro/micro economics and focus on house economics. Screw business growth in India or US, if its not working for you then its not happening. Forget if world looks at India as beacon of hope. Look at personal situation. Stay where your skills are in demand. If somebody is offering very good pay package for India then why not? If you want to live in India then develop skills which are in demand. If you want to live in US then do the same as well. This is century for people who can adapt and learn new skills at rapid pace. Look what "CHANGE" did for Obama. If you do not, then be prepared to be laid off at age of 50, when your household expenses are at peak and do not have enough energy to start job hunt/career all over again. If your profession is at the bottom of the ladder then dump it. Don't waste time over dead horse.