Guest guest Posted February 17, 2004 Report Share Posted February 17, 2004 Ashok, I have nothing new to add because this issue has been beaten to death many times in the past. However, I have no savings left from my income nowadays (and we earn very well even by UK standards).. thanks to the cost of daily living and expensive housing. So it defeats the very purpose of economic migration... I have a weekly cleaning service but nearly all my acquaintances/friends think it is extravagance and manage on their own- moreover, the maids here are not in the same league as our kaamwallis'. Washing machines?? I think nearly all middle class homes in India too have this and while the machine washes the clothes- one has to still load, unload and hang it to dry and top it all IRON it!! The ironing service in UK at least is BLOODY LOOTING (I pay £20 for 7-8 clothes). After we spend on all these " essential luxuries " we are left with....?? But some folks have live in nanny who takes care of cooking and cleaning also!!- Yes a couple of my friends have live in nanny too but somehow it is too western (and intrusive) a concept for most Indian women ( at least for me). ....again you did not live long enough to enjoy the rewards of living in country where the standard of living is so high that you cannot afford maids or listen to cricket commentaries during office hours..- But interestingly Ashok, during office hours the shopping malls are still busy. Particularly during the Christmas rush!! Rules are broken here too but less frequently and for issues closer to their hearts like " football instead of cricket " " Christmas shopping during office hours instead of Diwali shopping " If the advantages of returning to India were so huge...people returning to India would be a mass phenomenon- well, space is a problem Ashok, I guess that keeps out a lot of wannabe returnees. Moreover, many kind of burn their bridge at both ends so have no choice but be stuck with what they have (which is not bad considering everything). Avita- one issue you would not have faced is homesickness since your sister lives in New Zealand, right? Did you go around Australia? Ganesh used to describe it as very beautiful but quite deserted. I also hear from people who migrate from Australia to UK that it is quite a R society- that ugly 6 letter word. Sadhana '85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 Kudos, Ashok, That was a piece of very clear and precise thinking. Well put. However, Let me add that today the trend to return back to good 'ol India has become more than a trickle, though not yet a deluge. Gradually, despite all the political hype, India IS SHINING! Kishore Shah 1974 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 Dear all, Like Sadhana has already said - the topic has been discussed at length in the past (beaten to death)... however, like Kishore added, in the light of new members and time views may have changed. In this context I would like to quote PM Atalji's response to a BBC interviewer a few days back - the question " What are you doing about the so called 'brain-drain'? " To which the reply was, " What we once called the brain-drain is now Indian Diaspora. " Very well said, I think. I personally feel that there is no brain-drain. There are enough and maybe better Indian brains in India than abroad. Secondly, Ashok's statement " Now for this to be a reality...one has to loose some conveniences such as maids for cheap etc etc " When you say that Ashok, it means you are trying to live within your means, so you can't claim to fall into an affluent group. I think we can break down Indian migration to Canada, US, UK into difference time segments. The sardars who left for Canada in the early post-independence days would work as sweepers. Professionals left later. There were some who went for the money, others in pursuit of higher education (like my own uncle). I was surprised to learn that nearly whole batches of medical students from Hyderabad migrated at one go (my eldest brother-in-law) just because they were told that professionals were in demand there. They stayed on for reasons known only to them. Similarly migration to the middle-east from Kerala has a different background and must be seen in different light. But the fact remains - there are enough brains remaining in India to take care of their motherland. If there is anything that keeps us here, it is our love for our land*. Ravin '82 *Take this from a person who has ample immediate relatives abroad and has had abundant opportunities to migrate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2004 Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 Dear Ashok, " Now imagine there was " 0 " brain drain over the last 50 years - you are telling me that would not have had a positive impact on the state of affairs in our country ? " I feel that this " cream of the crop " as you prefer to call it (don't ask me what I want to call them) would have raked in money and never done anything for the nation (and in addition would have evaded taxation). That is how things are in India. " I think one big way emmigration helps is you learn to respect and appreciate your own religion and culture better !!!!! " When you form a minority, you need to preserve your religion, culture and heritage even more! Else you would never have an identity. And as far as cheap labour, or its exploitation is concerned, now-a-days (at least I can say that about hospitals/maternity homes/Nursing homes/clinics) with the Labour Department breathing down your neck - things have changed for better for them (labourers). Ravin '82 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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