The Indian professional explains why he returned to his homeland and what he endured; Image source-X
An Indian professional who returned from the US shared his experience of returning home after his H-1B stamp journey became a turning point in his life.His response to X came after Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu’s open letter in which he urged Indians living in America to consider returning to India.In response to the letter, the professional said his decision to return began during his H-1B visa stamping journey six years ago. During that visit, a conversation with his uncle made him rethink his future plans.
His uncle asked him: “If you want to eventually do your own thing, why not do it in India? Create value here.” After about six months, he returned to India.After his return, he said one of the biggest positives was the closeness to family.
He described being able to spend more time with parents, celebrate festivals with relatives, and have a stronger social life.He also talked about the professional opportunities he found in India. According to him, building connections and accessing networks was easier compared to his experience in the United States. “One phone call opens doors that would otherwise take months to connect with LinkedIn in Chicago or the Bay Area,” he wrote.
He also highlighted the relief of not having to deal with visa uncertainty.
“There’s no hanging sword for a visa or green card, no muttering in a parking lot. You’re home,” he said.However, the professional also shared the difficulties he faced after his return. He said problems related to infrastructure, traffic, business operations and pollution are part of daily life.Speaking on the civil issues, he said roads were repeatedly dug up for various works without proper coordination.
“The road to the office itself is dug up for at least nine months a year! Water, then cables, then broken sewerage boards, then whitewash, then water again,” he wrote.He also spoke about the challenges of running a business, claiming that permissions often take much longer than expected and involve dealing with frequent inspections.Stating that mobility remains a major issue, he said air quality requires additional expenses.
“A twenty-minute flight takes sixty minutes. The air requires purifiers in every room,” he wrote.The professional also raised concerns about housing costs and said buying a home in a good area is still difficult for many salaried professionals.He also pointed to the challenges of finding quality, affordable education, public spaces and daily disruptions caused by clogged footpaths, traffic and loudspeakers.Despite these concerns, he said that these issues were not enough to make him regret returning. He said his decision was based on a combination of factors, including family, opportunities and a desire to contribute to India. “I came because the formula works for me,” he wrote.He added that people living abroad should carefully consider what they trade before deciding to return. “Bharat needs us, yes. But Bharat must also become a place worth coming to, not just a place we owe ourselves,” he wrote.
