Ok. First things first - I am technically an 'NRI' as per FEMA and MEA rules. I am here because there was a career opportunity which I had to take.
Coming to the author - I find this attitude typical of the 'Lived outside of India for 10 years plus' category. Its called 'we are better than you indians' syndrome. In times gone by, to be an NRI was a matter of pride and probably respect. Today, it symbolises (in majority of cases) to me those that couldnt compete with the Indians and hence left to study in US universities. E.g - 'I couldnt get into an IIM, so I wrote the GMAT and came here' type. I am not saying this of all NRIs but most. There are indeed some who did both and I know that they are handling top quality jobs in the topmost organisations. I have a friend who did that - went to do his PhD after an engg degree and MBA from India in economics. He is a professor at an ivy league univ (not Harvard as he rejected an offer from Harvard). His dream is to come back to India and make a difference to her people. I have checked his resolve many a times and I am certain that every day he lives in the US - he prepares himself for India. Thats what I call the true talented NRI. Not the self loving, 'I am in the search of my identity' type of NRIs.
I may sound angry in my note and in reality I am. The brand of NRIs we are talking about are s/w professionals (which is not necessarily India's best) who have found money but not fame living abroad. They expect their indian frie
RE:Self Loving Rejects of India
by Vishit Kumar on Aug 08, 2008 12:03 AM Permalink
Hey by the way-now I am going to start any MRI v/s Indian debate by "Jerkovski Quotes that......"!
RE:Self Loving Rejects of India
by Trish on Aug 08, 2008 12:37 AM Permalink
@Jerkovski: Some of your arguments are valid, but you seem to be generalizing your opinions about a section of NRIs like MBAs, S/W professionals...beware, not everyone is what you think. You have tried hard to show people why you as an NRI should not be labeled the way you stereotype other NRIs. Sad! stop finding excuses and justifying what you do is true. And, as for your dear fiend, let him return first and then you can call him a true "talented" NRI. The world doesn't work the way you think...the economy would simply die if all NRIs thought the way you want them to and returned to India. There's a place, a role for everyone...doesn't matter if he's a resident or non-resident. And as for NRIs who you think are opportunistic, there's nothing wrong in that. Whats is the value you are adding to India if you are simply sitting there and doing nothing but earning your monthly paycheck, and of course cribbing against all those NRIs. @Vishal: It seems you too are doing the same thing Mr. Jerkovski did...how stupid. India has a bunch of IIMs, but my dear friend they still are not at par with the ivy-league B schools. It takes time to build such reputation, and IIMs in India are simply not enough for all aspirants who wish to get a good MBA. I know many people who declined admits to IIMs and opted studying in US. What do you have to say about them? And then there are a bunch of IIM graduates who'd like to get another MBA in the US...Listen, everyone has hi/her personal priority so
RE:RE:Self Loving Rejects of India
by Jerkovski on Aug 08, 2008 12:50 AM Permalink
Trish - I didnt intend to generalize. But please try and read my statement in context of the article. I have also accepted the weakness of my character as I see it in other NRIs - we all want to go back to India 'next year' but stick on to where we are for selfish reasons. No denying that. But I am comfortable accepting that my being exposed to many cultures, a more liberal society, cutting across time zones to work in various places etc., does not amount to my not being an Indian. Everyone has a right to make the best of their lives and rightly so. But I object to this de-indianisation of one's identity with so called 'success' - which incidentally I think is relative and almost always a mirage.
RE:Self Loving Rejects of India
by vishal srivastava on Aug 07, 2008 11:57 PM Permalink
Good way of putting your honest thoughts.. while it may be true in some cases(Read MBA) not in all for sure.. While we have IIMs which are very good for MBA , tell me one Indian university(including the IITs) which may offer you a good quality Phd education. While IITs are good for graduate education but certainly not as Research Institutions. Most of the indian students who have some interest in Research cant find a good option in India. Also, Funding is another issue. IITs offer something like Rs 6000-7500 per month to a Phd student which is not something you can have a decent living now days compared to $1500-2500 stipend that you normally get as a Phd Student in United States.
RE:Self Loving Rejects of India
by Jerkovski on Aug 08, 2008 12:22 AM Permalink
I agree that it is not perfect in India. I agree that the brightest amongst us are forced to move abroad because the learning isnt much beyond a point. I am only objecting to these mediocre talents from India who jumped at an oppportunity (probably slaved for 2 years preparing for their GMAT or at a crappy s/w companies) to go and work in the US. Its when ppl of this ilk start de-identifying themselves with India that I get irritated. The truly successful ones dont have this self-loathing from the past that they want to wash off with the 'Global Citizen' soap. I like the variety that know that their culture and country had a lot to do with what they became and are proud of that and want to do something, even if it is a small little thing for their nation and culture.
RE:Self Loving Rejects of India
by prashant verma on Aug 08, 2008 12:25 AM Permalink
beautiful. you just hit it right on sopt. hey dude its not true in all cases as i know where i am from and i wake up daily and i remember it. talk to parents back home and i know. walk with desis and i know. i love my nation and the tremendous rise of india is not just due to indians in india but the world looks at indians due to contributions of its sons/daughters abroad. i worked in UK and know that they still have the "British Raj" mindset but in other parts being an Indian is a matter of pride. I take pride in being an Indian and prepare my self for going back and to give my dues back to India.
Also I am a pass out from one of the best institutes india has :).
RE:Self Loving Rejects of India
by Jerkovski on Aug 08, 2008 12:41 AM Permalink
Ok - you are my 'exception' of s/w guys - just kidding. Glad to know you have your heart in the right place :-)
RE:Self Loving Rejects of India
by Jerkovski on Aug 07, 2008 11:41 PM Permalink
nds to believe that they are the better ones. Hence this nonsense about 'I am better than an Indian who is proud to be an Indian - I am a global citizen'.
The truth about about these sort of people is that when the going was good in the US/UK, they gloated about their NRI status. However the only ones who gave them respect where the Indians living in India. They were never accepted by the goras as a part of them. Now that the tide has turned, they find it difficult to accept that they were not the best India produced and now try to shun their identity in the 'Global Citizen' crap.
These are again the same guys who praise the western world, their work culture, infrastructure, civic sense etc etc when the economy is booming and they are having a good time. When the bust arrives - I have heard so many of my engg and MBA NRI friends turn to cribbing about how goras are lazy, how they have no culture and blah. My answer to them has been - you are selfish and too flexible in your views to be trusted. The right word is 'opportunism'.
I am an Indian - worked in many places across the world. I love India. I wear my identity with pride. I will never be a gora although I would like my country to learn a few things from them. I feel sorry for nont being bright enough or un-selfish enough to be able to sacrifice my cushy life for doing something for my nation. Only that is my regret and confusion. Not my identity.
I give my middle finger to these 'tried hard to be gora but fa
RE:Self Loving Rejects of India
by Enjo on Aug 08, 2008 12:58 AM Permalink
If you are not confused about your identity, what is your adoption of "Jerkovski" name doing?
RE:Self Loving Rejects of India
by Jerkovski on Aug 07, 2008 11:43 PM Permalink
Just to clarify - my friend that I refer to did his engg and MBA from India and then followed it up with a PhD in economics.
RE:Self Loving Rejects of India
by Vishit Kumar on Aug 07, 2008 11:56 PM Permalink
What a brilliant write-up man! You hit the mark with your analysis of NRI's.Just goes to show that your experience in people is well structured! Very rational thoughs indeed!
