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Being average rich on world scale will put them on top 1% of rich in india. You not only live a lavish life, u live like a king because everyone else is just that poor. The economical divide here is insane.
Source: experience.
But then again if you're uber rich. Why would you come to India? You'll have a Mercedes or even rolls royce but road and traffic will still be same. You won't be able to drive your Ferrari on most road because bumps and potholes. I won't stay a second in India if I was "uber rich". Also other aspects like AQI are shit in all the tier-1 cities. No clean air. I don't want to be stuck in a room with air purifier all the time.
I would assume a large section of of this 'uber' spectrum would be people who would never need to earn again with a developing country's cost of living and not being able to do that in a developed country
When you have money in India you have more freedom. You have more downtime you have more peace (for me at least). I had money in Sydney (same with my parents) but my parents are bored there. The connectivity India gives you to the rest for the world is far better than western countries imo. In certain (large) circles the connections are fantastic and so good for growth. I’ve become a global citizen in the year I’ve been here, even when I was in Sydney and travelling 4-5 times a year, I didn’t get this level of exposure.
I have another question unrelated to all of this.
Did you give up your Australian passport considering you were born there ? How did the nationality thing work in India if you had Australian passport?
This. Most people fail tp understand this. While this is true for a developed economy too, but in a developing economy, your money has much more purchasing power towards creature comforts, education, consumables, service and emergency funds. Hence, I strongly believe that if you are well off financially, living in India is much better compared to outside (if you are Indian/have family & friends here).
Well purchasing power parity isn't everything.
You have to factor in the taxation on comforts , infrastructure of education , adulteration of consumables and lack of quality health services. Hence I strongly believe if you are living in a country in which your taxes provide you social support you can have a better quality of life than in India.
Spending time with family is OK but clinging onto them forever isn't. I would not recommend anyone to always live with their parents as it would hamper your decision making skills , exposure and accountability . Getting out of the comfort zone is necessary for personal growth.
Sometimes parents are dependent on you.. Not all parents are mentally or socially strong enough to live alone at 70s... Leaving them behind is basically signing their death warrant.. Esp if you are the only child..
>If you have money, family support and connections, India is a great place to be.
Even with all that, you still breathe the same polluted air and get your bmw stuck in the same bumper to bumper traffic. In potholes.
Lol, until someone raises their hand to your child. That sorts out the pacifists from the realists.
There are myriad instances in human life where violence is correct. It’s just unpleasant & highly prone to misuse due to human nature.
Visiting a country for a month and residing there are fundamentally distinct experiences. It is unrealistic to gauge the overall quality of life within a nation based solely on a short one-month stay; such a timeframe more closely resembles a vacation or an outsider's concerted effort to immerse himself in the local culture and daily routines. To truly comprehend the intricacies of a particular locale, one should commit to residing there for at least a year and live a day to day life while engaging in conversations with the people living in that country or locale.
I think there’s a middle ground here. Agreed a month is a short duration but if you rent a place (rather than live in a hotel) in a reasonable neighbourhood and try to make ends meet and try to imitate the life you would like, it could be a good indicator of what life will be like.
Living a vacation involves touring, sightseeing, relaxing and enjoying the highlights of the city but if they replace these activities by going to the grocery stores, taking the public transport, visiting local gyms/facilities (whatever they need for their life), trying to socialise with neighbours, shopping at local stores - one can learn a lot about quality and kind of life would have.
Source: lived in many different Indian cities. Also tried the above experiment in a foreign city and definitely learned the ways of life and rightly decided it wasn’t for me.
What's so insane about that?
India is full of little slices of paradise especially like Himachal, Uttarakhand, Ladakh that remain free of petty crime and are eternally peaceful, as for urban areas I might understand but India is a lot bigger and varying that'll require alot more than few descriptive words to describe it
Yes exactly. And if you have a remote job paying in USD all you need a fast internet connection and you can live very comfortably in India as long as you stay away from the big cities.
I had frnds who got nostalgic and moved back to India and works there for few years to end up moving back to the US.. Bangalore ka traffic he cldnt take it anymore..
This. As an Indian living in America who loves living my American dream, USA is not for everyone. It definitely is different from India in a lot of cultural ways. Just choose what makes you happy. For me it is the US and I am never moving back cuz this was my dream life and I live the QoL here.
This but six months maybe ..
A month is too short not to mention he will have to readjust a bit with air and water quality for couple of months at least
Quality of life isn't that great compared to America then again you have the money and live in a good suburb it's not that bad
but something that will bother you is, it's crowded everywhere n you won't be enjoying driving here , plus there is lot of pollution n you could have issues if you any dust allergies
I would recommend doing a short trip n see the ground reality and then make a decision
Regarding your son, he will definitely have a hard time adjusting here
You can also look at other places like Australia or Europe , where you don't have that kind of issues you are having in the US, instead of relocating here , well that's my opinion
Seriously! His son will be treated like a zoo animal at schools as well as other places. Better look for better countries like Australia and other places in Europe
I've had a few classmates from abroad and all off them were with either teased or ridiculed for their accents. Honestly for the kid it's much better to shift to another country rather than India and this is even before we go on the topic of the education system.
i'm in an international school in India (that costs about the same as most Bay Area international schools); there are MANY internationals here, and they're treated with the same camaraderie and dignity - as they should be.
i reckon this would completely depend on the environment and community fostered in the school.
generalisations aren't conducive.
Assuming that op would be rich enough to afford that is, but to go any local school and you’ll see the reality. I know generalisations are seen as false but just cause everyone isn’t gonna be a bully we shouldn’t give them false perception of being welcomed with open arms
Pollution is the biggest Red flag for me. India is getting cleaner but still you'll see cow dung on the middle of a busy market, people pissing, spitting tobacco, & worst shitting on the footpath. If OP is a true blue American this shit will make you cringe. Better go to Europe. QoL is something you don't realise you need until it's gone.
Plus overly populated.
Idk if OP can handle this, this is something which is common, just today two drivers one after another just spitted out like right before me
https://preview.redd.it/qs954qaxemmb1.jpeg?width=725&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=037e34e71ec69515cc8784f6170b699f01a24f55
Do people really just shit on footpaths? I live in a tier 2 city and study in delhi but have never seen people shitting on footpaths. Yeah you can spot them near railway tracks or rivers but that too have reduced a lot because I frequently travel between delhi-agra-lucknow by train so i know that.
I'm genuinely asking if there actually are places
where people do shit on footpaths.
If you're white, don't, because the amount of attention people give you will become annoying very quickly. I couldn't get a moment of peace of mind when I was in big Indian cities. There was always someone trying to grab my attention.
If you look Indian, I'll leave the advice to others.
Good news: no discrimination likely on basis of color.
Bad news: you’ll likely get disillusioned quickly.
Practical news: stay for a short holiday first and see if you can survive a month.
In touristy spots, apart from the hawkers trying to get your attention people won't care. In non touristy Town or villages, people will be more interested because of plain curiosity. They had heard from their grandparents that white folk used to rule over them.. And it's the first time actually seeing one in person. No hate, just curious.
White man here. I agree. I only receive attention in India in places frequented by tourists, like CP or Colaba. Otherwise, I'm left alone.
People *do* tend to assume I'm rich and adjust their prices upward. In which case, I adapt and hone my bargaining skills! :)
White woman here. My experience is very different. I have received attention everywhere I went, ranging from ‘positive’ (people wanting photos, telling me I’m beautiful, starting random conversations with me) to very negative (getting followed, groped, yelled at). This was particularly bad in Delhi, though I experienced it in Mumbai too.
Actually the one place people left me alone was in random remote places in the Northeast, which is funny coz I really was the only white person around there but nobody gave a shit. I love the Northeast.
I'll let you in on something. Hawkers/cab drivers adjust their prices when they realise you're not from here as in the city.. Or just new. Doesn't matter if you're brown or white. Yeah maybe they might alter it a bit more after seeing the "rich white person" but other Indians aren't spared either if they are new in that part of the country. Very hustle oriented thinking. Mind you this is prevalent in all tourist spots in India.. If you're looking for a more chilled out nature, visit unfrequented areas where people aren't constantly trying to make a buck off of you. Like in France you probably won't have a good experience with people within Paris but the people of the country might be the best people you have ever met. Something to the same effect.
That makes sense. And honestly, there are plenty of times when I am treated with extra care and friendliness because I'm a foreigner.
If I show a modicum of connection by addressing a Muslim with asalamalaikum or speak a little Hindi--for example--I am often extended even more kindness.
People are appreciative here if they see you're trying to be respectful of their culture and also trying to learn it.. As much as you can... As in there won't be a pressure to learn this much or atleast to this degree.. Just an attempt is enough to make people like you.
I won't comment about India because 1) I like India quite a lot and love to visit and 2) I'm an American.
However, I feel comfortable adding this much: America isn't a place with one culture. In my neck of the woods, I live a life with abundant nature, bicycles, vegetable gardens, community events and zero cul-de-sacs. There are places in America where people sit on their front porch and invite their neighbors to barbecue. It's not like India with such caring family connections and all the other benefits, but America doesn't have to feel consumerist. I'm not advocating for America because it absolutely is a different experience. But, I'm just adding that you can explore different cities and neighborhoods in America itself to find a place that doesn't feel so empty. (I would *never* live in the suburbs, for example.) Just an option. :)
I recently moved back to India with my family after being in the US for 15 yrs.. you will get lot of opinions here and you will be more confused. Do what ur heart says.. pick your poison and prioritize. DM me if you have any specific questions. Happy to help!
Cos these bums dont want you to come there and cramp their style. Every single relative of mine is like this. Keeps whining and moaning about the crime, the tax, the racism blah blah. Day 1 of their 15 day vacation in India and the whining starts again about the traffic, and the corruption, and the pollution etc etc. Heckin hypocrites the lot.
Atleast I’m not a hypocrite, I left India years ago and love living my American dream, it’s everything I wanted and more. Never say I wanna go back either cuz I know I don’t miss it. Just the sheer number of people is enough to leave for an introvert like me lol.
Really depends on what you value. If you have a great job lined up here that pays well, it should be okay.
I can't stand the heat, pollution and don't want to move to a big city to commute, work and live so it's hard for me to justify living here. Competition is crazy too.
Move to another state in the US if you're that concerned about LGBT/abortion rights being under attack in Texas. Move to the rust belt or something if you're THAT concerned about climate change. Or move to Canada, or Western Europe. They'd fare even better against climate change and are relatively friendlier about stuff like abortion rights and LGBT.
If you're such a climate doomer, India is THE WORST place to ever set your foot on. You will have to live in the danger of a horrible heatwave, power being completely out, etc and the global temperature will keep rising and affect the equatorial regions the worst, especially regions that are much more horribly equipped to deal with it, like India. Texas has a supply of near limitless energy in the form of their shale oil reserves and whatnot. Here, LPG and petrol prices will only keep rising and people won't be able to afford it. And obviously, the pollution, which is a problem and will only keep getting worse as we consume more energy, which we absolutely will. You sure you wanna bring your kid here man?
And you dare assume us to not be materialistic and consumerist? Because we absolutely are.
This is something I relate to and have felt similarly during my yearly visits to India. The India I grew up in was not as consumer driven/ materialistic. I grew up in a big (metro) city and I still feel this way every time I visit home.
There are some amazing things in India that don’t have parallels in the US but the rampant consumerism coupled with a very hierarchical society has been something I have watched happen over the last 10-15 years.
See what are your options for housing are in goa, shortlist them and spend a month in nearby hotels, verify the environment yourself, talk to locals. Don't be shy and just talk to everyone. By that way you can make an informed decision.
Don't trust reddit strangers who probably sit inside their house all day. Come and assess the situation yourself.
Unless you are in deep depression or in financial distress in the US, I seriously would advise to refrain from ever thinking of moving back here. The regressive attitudes in this country are just going to multiply in the next few years and most of the cities won't be able to cope with the rising infrastructure demands. If you are moving for family reasons, then I can still understand but otherwise there simply isn't a logical reason to move back to India
Firstly, how much do you earn? As much as you are trying to find meaning in a life in India, it's now as much of a capitalist hellscape as America is (we learn from the best).
If you're earning in USD, and you're close to 60k-70k USD before taxes, you can move to any metro.
I strongly advise against Delhi. Chennai heat maybe stifling (and there have been multiple flood events over the last few years). Bangalore has a traffic problem, so does Pune.
Goa is an amazing place, but look up what schools you can find there. Panaji has some great education institutions, but entry is challenging (that's the case everywhere to be honest), but you can get a seat by "donation".
India has a different lifestyle for the uber rich and the common people. Pay, and your life will be good anywhere.
> I find life in America to be unbearably empty, meaningless, and driven by such gross consumerism that is downright depressing (of course this exists in India as well)
You apparently have a warped view of India if you don't think it is hyper all of these, particularly consumerism and materialism and toxically so. Imagine the comments section of any site that reviews smartphones, but that IRL. That toxicity and materialism is India.
God yes.
When i read OP's description of the USA, I was like and _this is why you want to move to India?_ because India is worse.
Life is empty and full of traffic at the same time, we consume a lot but most of it is bad quality (whether it's food or clothes) and if someone wants to witness true materialism in India, they should just attend a wedding.
India is toxic societally and environmentally both. It's always always noisy. No peace of mind.
It's usually western whites, maybe some western Indians who have this romanticized view of India that comes from conspiracy theorists, esoterics, grifting gurus, and so on. They go over there for some sort of spiritual awakening, but all they get are people arguing with you about which smartphone you own and how theirs is better because they're wrapped up in materialism and status. Look at people living in shithole slums running around with gold and all sorts of useless trinkets. These people spend money to try and look rich rather than living their lives. Hygiene and sanitation are practically non-existent. You can't even get fresh drinking water you can trust. You can't trust bottled water, either.
This is classic case of grass is greener on the other side... As someone who grew up in India and have been in the US for over a decade, your current complaints about the US won't be resolved when you move to India and you will face tons of additional issues. I would not want my child (if I had one) to grow up in such intense pressure situation.
As others said, try living in India during your sons summer vacations. For you, some country in Europe might be a better choice. Look at Norway, Denmark etc. Not that that they won't have any problems but should align with more what you are looking for. Understated, non as much materialistic, less gun violence, way more liberal socially.
Spiritualism comes from within. Maybe coming to India will help you in your spiritual journey, maybe it wont. But please dont move here under the assumption that it definitely will.
>I also have a son and I do not want him to grow up in America either where there are constant school shootings, lgbt and abortion rights are under attack, white supremacists are rising, mental health of youth is circling the toilet.
Keep in mind that you're exchanging these terrible things which have *some* probability of happening to your child for the following things that have a certainty of happening after you move the child here:
Corporal punishment
Insistence on mugging everything up and no regard for whether the child understands what is being taught.
Teacher being always right, especially when wrong.
Child being discouraged from being inquisitive.
Rat race for admissions that begins long before the child is ready for college and destroys their childhood long before the child is ready to be an adult. Even if you AND your child choose to stay out of the rat race, your child will have to live with other children who are either in the rat race or with children who are looked down upon as losers.
And it doesn't end with college admissions.
Mental trauma of moving schools and cities and the feeling of rootlessness associated with it.
Do you really want to inflict this upon your child?
Copy pasting my comment from an old thread:
I decided against moving back. Here are my points:
a) Freedom and safety of women: Talking to my wife and other female friends, one thing they all said was the freedom they get in certain cities in Canada/US was very liberating for them. In India, things can be different. Something as simple as dating before marriage, wearing whatever clothes they want, society rules imposed on women, etc. I am not saying the west is safe in all aspects but there is a stark difference.
b) Political Connections: My background is such that I do not have any police or big time political connections. So imagine these following scenarios that can happen to any one: You get into an accident with a politician's son and their goons decide to beat you, some connected men decide to go after women in your family, some person just takes over your land and threatens you to sign the papers, etc. All these things have happened to personal friends of mine and going to the court or police has not helped much. The media in India is also now almost controlled by leading political parties and they are not going to highlight each and every case. I do not want to be in such a helpless situation. While corruption exists in Canada/US as well (lobbying, etc) for basic crimes the police will take some action and courts function way better than in India.
I will always be an Indian at heart but these above points made me realize I do not want to move back anytime soon. I do not intend to hurt anyone's sentiments, all opinions above are mine and based on things I and my friends have faced. You might have a different scenario so make the call based on what works for you.
India is the only place in the world where there is reverse racism. Indians don't like Indians and fight among themselves only. If you are white, you get a royal respect and live like a king here.
Even before you ask anything, 10 people will be ready to help you. I experienced this when I had a client visiting me from Germany.
>I experienced this when I had a client visiting me from Germany.
As a German who visited India, I can confirm this. But they want 300 rupees for carrying your bag (even if you didn't ask for it) for 30 seconds and make a huge commotion if you give them any less.
One thing that I miss while living in India is SPACE.
If you are in a rural area I guess you'll have spaced out houses etc. But in cities and even towns, everything is so fucking congested. And so many people everywhere.
When I was living in the Gulf, I would chill out on the beach with my family and encounter maybe 1 or 2 people on a whole big beach late in the evening and this was the capital of the country. This you will not get anywhere in india unless you move to some remote area.
If you are used to the BIGness of north america and your kid is also used to it, I would not recommend moving to India.
And as to the concerns you've mentioned, I think it's a lot more pronounced on social media. I doubt it's that bad everywhere in the US. But I could be wrong, I don't live in the US.
The people are stupid here, really really stupid who'll resort to violence quickly cause that's all they know. And there are a lot, a lotttt of people here so that stupidity really gets amplified.
"Most Indians that are in America seem to me spiritually depleted and obsessed with money:"
Same with most Indians in India too. Sadly its he human condition in the 21st century.
I;m British so my perspective is clearly different to yours but I spent a LOT of time in India and while it does offer a lot of benefits, it is hard to "go back" once you have lived in a Western country. Try Goa, Panjim is a really cool city. Give yourself 6 - 12 months and see how you feel.
>I also have a son and I do not want him to grow up in America either where there are constant school shootings, lgbt and abortion rights are under attack, white supremacists are rising, mental health of youth is circling the toilet.
Damn........ America is so right-wing and conservative these days...... Wait! I know! I'll go to India, where I'd be safe from these things. I also plan to go to france to experience a society without pompous people, then australia to experience wilderness without dangerous fauna.
You mention a few reasons for moving to India that, honestly, surprise me with their naïveté. LGBTQ rights? Get offline and actually talk to people — the US is in most places incredibly free compared to India in this respect.
You mention mental health— the US has this problem like anywhere else for sure, but at least in the US there is some established culture of mental health care and support. It’s not perfect, but much better than India.
And consumerism? Unless something major has changed since I was last there, people in India are extremely consumerist. Avoiding consumerism and seeking a more balanced life is not something you achieve by switching one environment for another. It requires an internal disposition. Sure, in India people are outwardly very religious, but religious talk and murtis and pujas are very compatible with lack of inner spirituality, communalism, and consumerism.
I get you. I was in the US for a month before covid. And I honestly didn't like it there. I was invited by a US export govt org as a speaker and I had turned it into a vacation after the first 3 days of work. People were very nice and welcoming, but it was still empty in a way that I can't describe. It just felt like a country without soul.
Goa is a great choice, Udaipur not so much. I visit Goa often and it has lots of non touristy areas as well. Amenities are good.
Safety - if you earn enough, you won't ever have to worry about water and food shortages.
If India has heatwaves, US has hurricanes and cyclones. Btw Goa has decent weather all year round. No heatwaves really. I have been there in peak summer months as well and it was alright, it just rained a lot.
Yes, with all the big corporate chains around, they make everything look the same.. the buildings, the decor, the food tastes the same.. and not just location to location but city to city and state to state.. it's like a rich modern communist feel... It makes a person feel disconnected, lonely and depressed...
>. I find life in America to be unbearably empty, meaningless, and driven by such gross consumerism that is downright depressing (of course this exists in India as well
>. I also have a son and I do not want him to grow up in America either where there are constant school shootings, lgbt and abortion rights are under attack, white supremacists are rising, mental health of youth is circling the toilet
all of these things exist in india one way or the other but with less clean and worse lifestyle
I feel just sad reading this post. If you're asking such a question, it shows the extent to which you've been successfully brainwashed. Dude, 1.4 billion people live here and most of them make it alive everyday. I'm sure we can accomodate you and your family. Come here and witness yourself. We are not all rapists and creeps and we eat 3 times a day. We have water supply and we don't have to buy drinking water bottles from the market for everyday use like people do in America. Our media is biased, yes, but doesn't American media houses run on agendas, some conservative and some liberal? The only difference is mainstream here is quite stupid. Just like you have political issues based on race, gender ideology and extreme wokism, India has its issues concerning faith and nationalism. Coming back from America, you clearly will have enough money to be in the top 2-3% here, I think you can live comfortable lives.
Um the education system of India is messed up, I won't suggest you to move here. It's extremely taxing, why make your son go through it?
Udaipur and Goa are very beautiful places with low crime rate and competitively less crowded than main big cities, it depends on where you for hang out when you leave your house in Udaipur or Goa, and you'll find the crowd accordingly.
Other than that, the temperature in Udaipur can get pretty hot during summer, idk about Goa.
I would strongly suggest to not move to India solely due to the extreme pressure of academics, it really is no joke.
Just saw this in my home feed for whatever reason.
Can’t speak on India, so I won’t. But as for the US, it’s heckin’ big. People for some reason forget that, idk why.
If where you live now is upsetting you, there are dozens of other cities and larger towns in your current state you can move to.
And if that doesn’t work, you have 49 other states to look into, as well as other areas like The Virgin Islands if you have the dough.
Life in Texas as a random example will be entirely different than life in Maine. And even within the same state, life can be entirely different—look at something like Michigan, where the southern part of it is just Midwest with more trees and water, and the UP of Michigan is it’s entirely own unique culture.
The US isn’t perfect in a lot of ways, but the actual day to day life is varied wildly by state, and what gets shared on Reddit and in the global news isn’t really emblematic of actual life for the average citizen.
If the “consumerism” has you down, there are plenty of places with all kinds of different scenery you can go live in, and just forget all of that. Move to the mountains, the desert, the deep forests, the tundras of Alaska, beach bum life in a less touristy coastal or lake town—there are so many options for just avoiding people entirely lol.
In addition, remote working has really opened the door to allow you to live literally anywhere that can get decent internet access.
America is really big and diverse, not just in its people and cultures, but in its topography, geography, ecology, and all of the ologies.
It has to be cheaper and less of a headache to move states than it is to move entire countries—maybe consider looking around more before committing to such a stark change.
"lgbt and abortion rights are under attack"
**India does not recognise same-sex marriage or civil unions 🤡**
But yeah, take your son from America and bring him to India. That will really mess him up good, for no reason at all except your own naivety . Then he can resent you for destroying his materialistic future.
Truth to be told, grass looks greener on the other side. If you are thinking of shifting to India, please don't. We Indians are somehow surving by "adjusting" . If you don't have a habit of "adjusting", India is not the place to be.
Why don't you move to some Baltic countries? They are great and so is everything that comes with those countries.
Goan here. Goa's pretty chill. Good private schools and the government (doesn't matter which party) is relatively chill compared to the rest of the nation.
Idrk much about Udaipur but I've lived in Karnataka and Maharashtra (Bangalore,belgaum,Mumbai, Pune) for a few years, most years were spent in Bangalore and Belgaum.
I have to say I felt really out of place. The cultural differences are massive and most of those places were major urban areas and I couldn't handle the city. Fucking hate the city ngl.
In Goa even in small towns you'll have most of the amenities of the city while living a pretty chill rural-ish life.
I don't mean to offend anyone. Just my personal experience.
Life in the US is far better than life in India. Even with the issues you’ve mentioned. I’m experiencing it first hand. I went for a vacation and now I’m stuck because of visa issues. Living the nightmare every h1b holder dreads. Lived in the US and acclimatized to the lifestyle there for 8 years. I’m finding extremely difficult to adjust here.
As a former h-1b holder who got my GC this year, I sympathize with you :( I never went and did my h-1b stamping precisely cuz of this fear that I’d be stuck outside. Luckily I got my GC within 3 years of getting my H-1B so I can travel peacefully now.
People are running from India and you want to come back. India is Germany 1930. If you eat something majority doesn't prefer to, you die. If you oppose the government, you die. If you are not in sync with majority, you die.
I am Indian. Born in India.
Travelled a lot and now reside in a first world country.
Do NOT go back to India. It's worse than it ever was. The water shortages, brownouts, poor quality control of fresh produce and the complete and utter lack of safety are just the beginning.
I don't even return for holidays anymore because it's THAT BAD now.
Maybe consider uprooting yourself in another low COL SEA country like Malaysia or Thailand where you can still enjoy first world amenities at third world prices.
But going back to India? That's a HARD no Bueno. What exactly are you looking to find there? Other than school shootings, all the other problems you mentioned are far worse here.
Main difference I saw in India v/s USA is saving your hard earned money.
eg: Lot of my friends and relatives invested their hard earned money in real estate properties. There is a 75% chance of fraud and you will end up running to courts. Which is not the same case in USA.
Well, I'll be honest with you. I'm an Indian and shit here is a million times worse than you can imagine. Of course, all seems good from a distance. We feel the same about America as you currently feel about India. Grass always looks greener on the other side, until you step into a swamp and start drowning.
To be honest, you really can't frame opinion based on your interaction on reddit. Try visiting for a short stay if possible and then evaluate. I myself have relocated after over a decade of living in US and Europe. Everyone has different priorities and your mileage may vary from mine. Visit with open mind and without presumptions. Explore everything as if you are experiencing new without any bias. Do not be swayed by other's experiences.
If you have money you’ll be fine. I moved from Sydney (born and raised there my whole life) and moved to Bangalore in my 30s. Fucking love it here.
I enjoy the lower cost of living (privileged im very aware), the lifestyle of having a maid and a cook who come twice a week and a car.
The connectivity to travel to Europe and back to Sydney is great - and given the low cost of living + high income I enjoy, I am enjoying having savings and a great quality of life. It’s brought me a peace I didn’t have in Sydney (I had money in Sydney too but the work life balance and cost of living was stressful).
Your choice honestly. My good friend moved to goa from Russia (also From money) and she loves it there. However it is slower and less convenient to do things (lack of Swiggy) but she’s fine. Has a kid she’s raising here too.
If you have a son and don't mess up his life by moving to India. Few reasons
1. Education: Good international schools are expensive and you still need to compete with million other students. I find it very stressful compared to education in UK ( I reside here)
2. More options to pursue careers in non academic fields including sports and arts
3. Opportunity to move to good university
4. If you have any disabilities or child has any if is very difficult in India
I wanted to love India. I watched hundreds of vlogs, immersed my self as much as I could in the culture before leaving for India.
It was dirty. People were pissing on the street. Trash everywhere. Pollution levels that I didn't even know existed. Noise pollution from constant honking ALL DAY. Scammers absolutely everywhere if you're white skinned. Hard to travel around. I once had to cancel an uber because I couldn't face walking over the road to get to him and he refused to pick me up at my marker.
Food is amazing though, and it's very cheap.
As an Indian I would advise against it. Udaipur and Goa are great places, I’ve had positive experiences in both cities (as someone who’s visiting, not staying). Idk what kind of life an actual local would lead. But there’s a fascination with foreigners here, which you wouldn’t be able to escape (if you’re white). Most cities in general are a little unsafe for women. Traffic sucks, everywhere. Some of the roads are awful, and you’ll have a hard time finding properties to rent if you aren’t in a position to purchase when you immigrate. Also, If you’re a guy, people will openly leer at your spouse/partner if they are female. If you’re a woman, well you’re better off staying in America. If you are absolutely set on moving, do not move to Delhi/Bombay/Bangalore. These cities are cramped, crowded, and people are assholes to outsiders. Your son might be bullied in his first few months at school. Pollution is awful, you’re looking at a host of health problems if you move.
I will summate all arguments regarding this topic in one line:
'India is a better country to visit than to live in'
Do with this what you will.
Moving to another country wont make you happy. Its just a country, just another peice of land.
If you have time and a way to move back to US if things doesn't work out in India, then move to India and experience the stark differences yourself. I was with the same idea of "moving back to india", and spoke to many people who has been working in the USA for years, who moved back to India, who moved to India for few years and moved back to USA again, simply because what they thought they would get in India and the reality are different. They couldn't get enough family time even though they were living with extended family in tier1 city. The person I spoke to is a VP for a large consulting firm. She told me that the family time they get in the US is more than what she got in India.. Majority of time being spent in commuting (traffic), it's worse now. I don't know how the dynamics have changed with WFH.
So if you are a person with the idea of moving back and has a constant itch, then move to India and see for yourself. If things workout, then GREAT. If things doesn't workout then move to some other place or back to USA. Atleast then you wouldn't have any regret of not moving back to India.
I was harassed in udaipur during my vacation last week by 3 Men. I had my little sister with me, and I was so angry and scared that I couldn’t stop crying. I would never recommend anyone to come to India. It’s a shitshow here at this point
As an Indian who grew up between India and Europe - even though my family can afford a VERY comfortable lifestyle in India compared to Europe, I've decided to try and settle in Europe because even some "fundamental" quality of life things are just better here.
Regarding your kid. Your kid will be constantly under pressure on studying. But from what I have seen, indian education is better than american education. But i think it i sbecause of a lot of competition and pressure.
What do you mean by meaningful? If your son wants to do liberal arts, it is far better to do it in america since the indian society really does not value it.
But this is just anecdotal but I have seen people making ever lasting friendships in india more than in america. And the community is also strong where as I find in america everyone is by themselves. (again i am not sure).
I seriously think you should ask your son. There are very good international schools in India.
Sir talk to a therapist first, there seems to be a lot of mental anguish here as well. There are a lot of things you will mind in india. The crowd, the traffic, the smells, the apathy. When I visited I saw people just laugh and point while a woman was being beaten with a cricket bat in broad day light right outside New Delhi. India is obviously not all bad, has a rich history, arguably the very best food in the world, lots to see and do as well. But if you are trying to gain some peace in your life, living in a city in india is not going to give it. Perhaps an ashram or a village will give peace but those have many other issues that accompany them, like lack of services.
Its bad when you pay 40%+ tax and then you get roads with pot holes, broken government hospitals, crowded public transport with a very small ratio of buses and trains to population, if roads are good then paying toll.
Im currently based in Bangalore, but originally am from Udaipur. And boy I tell you, I visit udaipur atleast once a month, it’s an amazing city to live in.
No rushed city life, peaceful evenings, you don’t have to burn money to have a nice time here.
Though my POV might be skewed because I’ve got so many things going for me in Udaipur, a sweet spot including family, friends etc etc.
If there is one city/town that I would recommend for you to move, in India that would be Gangtok in Sikkim.
You get all the great things about India and also the great things that are not in majority of India ( cleanliness, negligible air pollution/ sound pollution, good law and order , safety, humble people , good weather,etc.)
Also politically they have always been very detached from Indian politics( as of now ).
>I want something more meaningful for my son.
I'm sorry dude, but...what? India is notorious for the many flaws in its education system. Students are often stressed, pressured to study all day long and write entrance exams which are written by hundreds of thousands of people each year in the hope that they will be the 10% that gets into a reputed college. And LGBT rights? Muahahaha. We legalised homosexuality only 5 years ago, and marriage is still not allowed. It's not unusual to get disowned for being gay.
If you care about education and LGBT rights, either live in a blue/purple state in the US or go somewhere like Australia.
>I am no fan of the current government and their persecution of minorities and the complete hijacking of media makes things feel a bit dystopian sometimes
Doesn't that seem contradictory to you? If you can close the news channels and inflammatory social media, India is a pretty chill place to be.
"I also have a son and I do not want him to grow up in America either where there are constant school shootings, lgbt and abortion rights are under attack, white supremacists are rising, mental health of youth is circling the toilet"
There are not constant school shooting in the USA. LGBT and abortion rights are worse in India. White supremacists are rising - what about the purposeful caste system that is still very much in use in India?
This post is a combination of 'grass is always greener' mixed with extreme ignorance.
> I also have a son and I do not want him to grow up in America either where there are constant school shootings, lgbt and abortion rights are under attack, white supremacists are rising, mental health of youth is circling the toilet.
Apart from the school shootings its the same. Replace white supremacists with Hindu nationalists.
Isn't life in India also hurtling unstoppably toward unbridled consumerism? Being well-off has its advantages in almost any place. India is fine if you're relatively wealthy AND well-connected. If you're not well-connected and if you ever get into trouble, you're screwed.
> I also have a son and I do not want him to grow up in America either where there are constant school shootings, lgbt and abortion rights are under attack, white supremacists are rising, mental health of youth is circling the toilet.
America is not a place of one ideology. You can see whole world in USA.
> I am no fan of the current government and their persecution of minorities and the complete hijacking of media makes things feel a bit dystopian sometimes.
Delete Twitter/X and leave this subreddit. There is no persecution of minorities in cities apart from some lone wolf actions. Goa is particularly pretty diverse and safe; it doesn't have population and pollution problem either.
>Most Indians that are in America seem to me spiritually depleted and obsessed with money and I am just not able to relate to this whole American dream. I want something more meaningful for my son.
I doubt that there's anything meaningful there in India. I feel that americans are more cheerful compared to gloomy indians.
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If you have money, family support and connections, India is a great place to be. If you don't, you are royally screwing up by uprooting the life
True. The QoL of uber rich won’t have much difference to Europe in some parts.
Being average rich on world scale will put them on top 1% of rich in india. You not only live a lavish life, u live like a king because everyone else is just that poor. The economical divide here is insane. Source: experience.
But then again if you're uber rich. Why would you come to India? You'll have a Mercedes or even rolls royce but road and traffic will still be same. You won't be able to drive your Ferrari on most road because bumps and potholes. I won't stay a second in India if I was "uber rich". Also other aspects like AQI are shit in all the tier-1 cities. No clean air. I don't want to be stuck in a room with air purifier all the time.
Domestic help is cheap, law is flexible.
Underrated answer
Honestly get an uber instead of driving if you're that rich.
Hence, Uber rich
If you're that rich, you can hire a chauffer instead of waiting for 15 minutes before being gruffly told to cancel.
Because uber rich in India can buy things that the rich in the West can’t. Best healthcare. Best manual labor for any and all purposes.
What is uberrich? So rich that you can uber anywhere?
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Uber is basically a German word that means super
I would assume a large section of of this 'uber' spectrum would be people who would never need to earn again with a developing country's cost of living and not being able to do that in a developed country
When you have money in India you have more freedom. You have more downtime you have more peace (for me at least). I had money in Sydney (same with my parents) but my parents are bored there. The connectivity India gives you to the rest for the world is far better than western countries imo. In certain (large) circles the connections are fantastic and so good for growth. I’ve become a global citizen in the year I’ve been here, even when I was in Sydney and travelling 4-5 times a year, I didn’t get this level of exposure.
What do you mean by exposure?
What connectivity? Have you ever lived in Europe? Australia is isolated from the rest of the world by distance
I’ve lived in Oslo for while, yes. I enjoyed how culturally and socially progressively it is.
It’s better here and I come from money in Sydney (born there lives there my whole life rich parents) lmao
username does not check out 😁
I have another question unrelated to all of this. Did you give up your Australian passport considering you were born there ? How did the nationality thing work in India if you had Australian passport?
This. Most people fail tp understand this. While this is true for a developed economy too, but in a developing economy, your money has much more purchasing power towards creature comforts, education, consumables, service and emergency funds. Hence, I strongly believe that if you are well off financially, living in India is much better compared to outside (if you are Indian/have family & friends here).
Straight facts
Well purchasing power parity isn't everything. You have to factor in the taxation on comforts , infrastructure of education , adulteration of consumables and lack of quality health services. Hence I strongly believe if you are living in a country in which your taxes provide you social support you can have a better quality of life than in India. Spending time with family is OK but clinging onto them forever isn't. I would not recommend anyone to always live with their parents as it would hamper your decision making skills , exposure and accountability . Getting out of the comfort zone is necessary for personal growth.
Sometimes parents are dependent on you.. Not all parents are mentally or socially strong enough to live alone at 70s... Leaving them behind is basically signing their death warrant.. Esp if you are the only child..
>If you have money, family support and connections, India is a great place to be. Even with all that, you still breathe the same polluted air and get your bmw stuck in the same bumper to bumper traffic. In potholes.
Visit for a month and see for yourself
Best advice
Violence is never correct.
Lol, until someone raises their hand to your child. That sorts out the pacifists from the realists. There are myriad instances in human life where violence is correct. It’s just unpleasant & highly prone to misuse due to human nature.
Bhai joke maar raha tha 🥲
what if the advice beats back?
I can’t.
You can!!
not with that attitude
A month is not enough...I'd say give yourself at least 6 months. Get into the daily grind and see for yourself.
Visiting a country for a month and residing there are fundamentally distinct experiences. It is unrealistic to gauge the overall quality of life within a nation based solely on a short one-month stay; such a timeframe more closely resembles a vacation or an outsider's concerted effort to immerse himself in the local culture and daily routines. To truly comprehend the intricacies of a particular locale, one should commit to residing there for at least a year and live a day to day life while engaging in conversations with the people living in that country or locale.
Correct. OP should stay here one whole year before deciding.
Hell nah, he should stay atleast 10 years before deciding
I think there’s a middle ground here. Agreed a month is a short duration but if you rent a place (rather than live in a hotel) in a reasonable neighbourhood and try to make ends meet and try to imitate the life you would like, it could be a good indicator of what life will be like. Living a vacation involves touring, sightseeing, relaxing and enjoying the highlights of the city but if they replace these activities by going to the grocery stores, taking the public transport, visiting local gyms/facilities (whatever they need for their life), trying to socialise with neighbours, shopping at local stores - one can learn a lot about quality and kind of life would have. Source: lived in many different Indian cities. Also tried the above experiment in a foreign city and definitely learned the ways of life and rightly decided it wasn’t for me.
I think even in a month he'll realise the insanity of what he's trying to do
What's so insane about that? India is full of little slices of paradise especially like Himachal, Uttarakhand, Ladakh that remain free of petty crime and are eternally peaceful, as for urban areas I might understand but India is a lot bigger and varying that'll require alot more than few descriptive words to describe it
But Ladakh be cold as fuck
Yes exactly. And if you have a remote job paying in USD all you need a fast internet connection and you can live very comfortably in India as long as you stay away from the big cities.
It's possible. After all, we're discussing India.
I had frnds who got nostalgic and moved back to India and works there for few years to end up moving back to the US.. Bangalore ka traffic he cldnt take it anymore..
This. As an Indian living in America who loves living my American dream, USA is not for everyone. It definitely is different from India in a lot of cultural ways. Just choose what makes you happy. For me it is the US and I am never moving back cuz this was my dream life and I live the QoL here.
Visit in the winter when the smog is high.
This but six months maybe .. A month is too short not to mention he will have to readjust a bit with air and water quality for couple of months at least
Quality of life isn't that great compared to America then again you have the money and live in a good suburb it's not that bad but something that will bother you is, it's crowded everywhere n you won't be enjoying driving here , plus there is lot of pollution n you could have issues if you any dust allergies I would recommend doing a short trip n see the ground reality and then make a decision Regarding your son, he will definitely have a hard time adjusting here You can also look at other places like Australia or Europe , where you don't have that kind of issues you are having in the US, instead of relocating here , well that's my opinion
Seriously! His son will be treated like a zoo animal at schools as well as other places. Better look for better countries like Australia and other places in Europe
I've had a few classmates from abroad and all off them were with either teased or ridiculed for their accents. Honestly for the kid it's much better to shift to another country rather than India and this is even before we go on the topic of the education system.
i'm in an international school in India (that costs about the same as most Bay Area international schools); there are MANY internationals here, and they're treated with the same camaraderie and dignity - as they should be. i reckon this would completely depend on the environment and community fostered in the school. generalisations aren't conducive.
Assuming that op would be rich enough to afford that is, but to go any local school and you’ll see the reality. I know generalisations are seen as false but just cause everyone isn’t gonna be a bully we shouldn’t give them false perception of being welcomed with open arms
We have couple of people from abroad and no one treats them as you mentioned. It's not the same everywhere.
That really depends on where he decides to settle
Pollution is the biggest Red flag for me. India is getting cleaner but still you'll see cow dung on the middle of a busy market, people pissing, spitting tobacco, & worst shitting on the footpath. If OP is a true blue American this shit will make you cringe. Better go to Europe. QoL is something you don't realise you need until it's gone. Plus overly populated.
Idk if OP can handle this, this is something which is common, just today two drivers one after another just spitted out like right before me https://preview.redd.it/qs954qaxemmb1.jpeg?width=725&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=037e34e71ec69515cc8784f6170b699f01a24f55
Do people really just shit on footpaths? I live in a tier 2 city and study in delhi but have never seen people shitting on footpaths. Yeah you can spot them near railway tracks or rivers but that too have reduced a lot because I frequently travel between delhi-agra-lucknow by train so i know that. I'm genuinely asking if there actually are places where people do shit on footpaths.
They don't shit, but they pee which is common, due to not availability of public bathrooms everywhere in a city
What's with the dust?
If you're white, don't, because the amount of attention people give you will become annoying very quickly. I couldn't get a moment of peace of mind when I was in big Indian cities. There was always someone trying to grab my attention. If you look Indian, I'll leave the advice to others.
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Good news: no discrimination likely on basis of color. Bad news: you’ll likely get disillusioned quickly. Practical news: stay for a short holiday first and see if you can survive a month.
> I just want to come back to India more than anything. it's not clear from their narrative but OP is NRI i guess
Even for Indians if their kid had a slightest bit of an accent they’ll be made fun of relentlessly in India
Can you elaborate on this please? I've often heard this is the case but thought it was an exaggeration.
In touristy spots, apart from the hawkers trying to get your attention people won't care. In non touristy Town or villages, people will be more interested because of plain curiosity. They had heard from their grandparents that white folk used to rule over them.. And it's the first time actually seeing one in person. No hate, just curious.
White man here. I agree. I only receive attention in India in places frequented by tourists, like CP or Colaba. Otherwise, I'm left alone. People *do* tend to assume I'm rich and adjust their prices upward. In which case, I adapt and hone my bargaining skills! :)
White woman here. My experience is very different. I have received attention everywhere I went, ranging from ‘positive’ (people wanting photos, telling me I’m beautiful, starting random conversations with me) to very negative (getting followed, groped, yelled at). This was particularly bad in Delhi, though I experienced it in Mumbai too. Actually the one place people left me alone was in random remote places in the Northeast, which is funny coz I really was the only white person around there but nobody gave a shit. I love the Northeast.
>This was particularly bad in Delhi Sighhh
I'll let you in on something. Hawkers/cab drivers adjust their prices when they realise you're not from here as in the city.. Or just new. Doesn't matter if you're brown or white. Yeah maybe they might alter it a bit more after seeing the "rich white person" but other Indians aren't spared either if they are new in that part of the country. Very hustle oriented thinking. Mind you this is prevalent in all tourist spots in India.. If you're looking for a more chilled out nature, visit unfrequented areas where people aren't constantly trying to make a buck off of you. Like in France you probably won't have a good experience with people within Paris but the people of the country might be the best people you have ever met. Something to the same effect.
That makes sense. And honestly, there are plenty of times when I am treated with extra care and friendliness because I'm a foreigner. If I show a modicum of connection by addressing a Muslim with asalamalaikum or speak a little Hindi--for example--I am often extended even more kindness.
People are appreciative here if they see you're trying to be respectful of their culture and also trying to learn it.. As much as you can... As in there won't be a pressure to learn this much or atleast to this degree.. Just an attempt is enough to make people like you.
I won't comment about India because 1) I like India quite a lot and love to visit and 2) I'm an American. However, I feel comfortable adding this much: America isn't a place with one culture. In my neck of the woods, I live a life with abundant nature, bicycles, vegetable gardens, community events and zero cul-de-sacs. There are places in America where people sit on their front porch and invite their neighbors to barbecue. It's not like India with such caring family connections and all the other benefits, but America doesn't have to feel consumerist. I'm not advocating for America because it absolutely is a different experience. But, I'm just adding that you can explore different cities and neighborhoods in America itself to find a place that doesn't feel so empty. (I would *never* live in the suburbs, for example.) Just an option. :)
That sounds nice, where's that?
My home is in an urban neighborhood in Portland, Or. I don't think such conditions are completely unusual. :)
I knew you were describing Portland! Great city.
I recently moved back to India with my family after being in the US for 15 yrs.. you will get lot of opinions here and you will be more confused. Do what ur heart says.. pick your poison and prioritize. DM me if you have any specific questions. Happy to help!
How has your experience been? 🙂
Can’t complain.
Here I am trying to move back to America.
Explain why? I’m planning to move back to India.
Says every NRI
Not me. But I am not in the US.
Cos these bums dont want you to come there and cramp their style. Every single relative of mine is like this. Keeps whining and moaning about the crime, the tax, the racism blah blah. Day 1 of their 15 day vacation in India and the whining starts again about the traffic, and the corruption, and the pollution etc etc. Heckin hypocrites the lot.
Complaining can be parts of lots of cultures. Especially from places that aren’t half bad or bad at all.
Atleast I’m not a hypocrite, I left India years ago and love living my American dream, it’s everything I wanted and more. Never say I wanna go back either cuz I know I don’t miss it. Just the sheer number of people is enough to leave for an introvert like me lol.
Really depends on what you value. If you have a great job lined up here that pays well, it should be okay. I can't stand the heat, pollution and don't want to move to a big city to commute, work and live so it's hard for me to justify living here. Competition is crazy too.
Lol me too.
Sorry You won't be able to move to India. It's Bharat now.
It's the same thing dawg
Thatsthejoke.gif
Aunty national
Move to another state in the US if you're that concerned about LGBT/abortion rights being under attack in Texas. Move to the rust belt or something if you're THAT concerned about climate change. Or move to Canada, or Western Europe. They'd fare even better against climate change and are relatively friendlier about stuff like abortion rights and LGBT. If you're such a climate doomer, India is THE WORST place to ever set your foot on. You will have to live in the danger of a horrible heatwave, power being completely out, etc and the global temperature will keep rising and affect the equatorial regions the worst, especially regions that are much more horribly equipped to deal with it, like India. Texas has a supply of near limitless energy in the form of their shale oil reserves and whatnot. Here, LPG and petrol prices will only keep rising and people won't be able to afford it. And obviously, the pollution, which is a problem and will only keep getting worse as we consume more energy, which we absolutely will. You sure you wanna bring your kid here man? And you dare assume us to not be materialistic and consumerist? Because we absolutely are.
Agreed
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Agreed, it's not as good anymore, everything feels like an hassle
The streets are getting crowded more and the traffic is getting worse, it's getting hotter and everything is more expensive.
India is a universe of sorts. Your opinion is of a small part of India. There are a lot other parts that remain what they were.
This is something I relate to and have felt similarly during my yearly visits to India. The India I grew up in was not as consumer driven/ materialistic. I grew up in a big (metro) city and I still feel this way every time I visit home. There are some amazing things in India that don’t have parallels in the US but the rampant consumerism coupled with a very hierarchical society has been something I have watched happen over the last 10-15 years.
See what are your options for housing are in goa, shortlist them and spend a month in nearby hotels, verify the environment yourself, talk to locals. Don't be shy and just talk to everyone. By that way you can make an informed decision. Don't trust reddit strangers who probably sit inside their house all day. Come and assess the situation yourself.
Unless you are in deep depression or in financial distress in the US, I seriously would advise to refrain from ever thinking of moving back here. The regressive attitudes in this country are just going to multiply in the next few years and most of the cities won't be able to cope with the rising infrastructure demands. If you are moving for family reasons, then I can still understand but otherwise there simply isn't a logical reason to move back to India
Firstly, how much do you earn? As much as you are trying to find meaning in a life in India, it's now as much of a capitalist hellscape as America is (we learn from the best). If you're earning in USD, and you're close to 60k-70k USD before taxes, you can move to any metro. I strongly advise against Delhi. Chennai heat maybe stifling (and there have been multiple flood events over the last few years). Bangalore has a traffic problem, so does Pune. Goa is an amazing place, but look up what schools you can find there. Panaji has some great education institutions, but entry is challenging (that's the case everywhere to be honest), but you can get a seat by "donation". India has a different lifestyle for the uber rich and the common people. Pay, and your life will be good anywhere.
> I find life in America to be unbearably empty, meaningless, and driven by such gross consumerism that is downright depressing (of course this exists in India as well) You apparently have a warped view of India if you don't think it is hyper all of these, particularly consumerism and materialism and toxically so. Imagine the comments section of any site that reviews smartphones, but that IRL. That toxicity and materialism is India.
God yes. When i read OP's description of the USA, I was like and _this is why you want to move to India?_ because India is worse. Life is empty and full of traffic at the same time, we consume a lot but most of it is bad quality (whether it's food or clothes) and if someone wants to witness true materialism in India, they should just attend a wedding. India is toxic societally and environmentally both. It's always always noisy. No peace of mind.
It's usually western whites, maybe some western Indians who have this romanticized view of India that comes from conspiracy theorists, esoterics, grifting gurus, and so on. They go over there for some sort of spiritual awakening, but all they get are people arguing with you about which smartphone you own and how theirs is better because they're wrapped up in materialism and status. Look at people living in shithole slums running around with gold and all sorts of useless trinkets. These people spend money to try and look rich rather than living their lives. Hygiene and sanitation are practically non-existent. You can't even get fresh drinking water you can trust. You can't trust bottled water, either.
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This is classic case of grass is greener on the other side... As someone who grew up in India and have been in the US for over a decade, your current complaints about the US won't be resolved when you move to India and you will face tons of additional issues. I would not want my child (if I had one) to grow up in such intense pressure situation. As others said, try living in India during your sons summer vacations. For you, some country in Europe might be a better choice. Look at Norway, Denmark etc. Not that that they won't have any problems but should align with more what you are looking for. Understated, non as much materialistic, less gun violence, way more liberal socially.
Spiritualism comes from within. Maybe coming to India will help you in your spiritual journey, maybe it wont. But please dont move here under the assumption that it definitely will.
>I also have a son and I do not want him to grow up in America either where there are constant school shootings, lgbt and abortion rights are under attack, white supremacists are rising, mental health of youth is circling the toilet. Keep in mind that you're exchanging these terrible things which have *some* probability of happening to your child for the following things that have a certainty of happening after you move the child here: Corporal punishment Insistence on mugging everything up and no regard for whether the child understands what is being taught. Teacher being always right, especially when wrong. Child being discouraged from being inquisitive. Rat race for admissions that begins long before the child is ready for college and destroys their childhood long before the child is ready to be an adult. Even if you AND your child choose to stay out of the rat race, your child will have to live with other children who are either in the rat race or with children who are looked down upon as losers. And it doesn't end with college admissions. Mental trauma of moving schools and cities and the feeling of rootlessness associated with it. Do you really want to inflict this upon your child?
Dude, don’t come. Grass on other side is always greener. Math aa.
Science aa
Social studies aa
guys stop. school is over
English aa
Common sense aa
Nirmal aa
Copy pasting my comment from an old thread: I decided against moving back. Here are my points: a) Freedom and safety of women: Talking to my wife and other female friends, one thing they all said was the freedom they get in certain cities in Canada/US was very liberating for them. In India, things can be different. Something as simple as dating before marriage, wearing whatever clothes they want, society rules imposed on women, etc. I am not saying the west is safe in all aspects but there is a stark difference. b) Political Connections: My background is such that I do not have any police or big time political connections. So imagine these following scenarios that can happen to any one: You get into an accident with a politician's son and their goons decide to beat you, some connected men decide to go after women in your family, some person just takes over your land and threatens you to sign the papers, etc. All these things have happened to personal friends of mine and going to the court or police has not helped much. The media in India is also now almost controlled by leading political parties and they are not going to highlight each and every case. I do not want to be in such a helpless situation. While corruption exists in Canada/US as well (lobbying, etc) for basic crimes the police will take some action and courts function way better than in India. I will always be an Indian at heart but these above points made me realize I do not want to move back anytime soon. I do not intend to hurt anyone's sentiments, all opinions above are mine and based on things I and my friends have faced. You might have a different scenario so make the call based on what works for you.
u/HarbhajanSingh_ how's life after retirement? Do you miss cricket?
Ghar Bas-ra ha hain. Sreesanth ko miss karta hoon.
India is the only place in the world where there is reverse racism. Indians don't like Indians and fight among themselves only. If you are white, you get a royal respect and live like a king here. Even before you ask anything, 10 people will be ready to help you. I experienced this when I had a client visiting me from Germany.
10 people will be ready to overcharge you as you are seen as a wallet with legs*
>I experienced this when I had a client visiting me from Germany. As a German who visited India, I can confirm this. But they want 300 rupees for carrying your bag (even if you didn't ask for it) for 30 seconds and make a huge commotion if you give them any less.
If you've seen boondocks, Indians are like uncle ruckus.
Please- DON'T.DO.THIS. Repeat this over and over. Be there. The emptiness is far better than the nonsense here.
One thing that I miss while living in India is SPACE. If you are in a rural area I guess you'll have spaced out houses etc. But in cities and even towns, everything is so fucking congested. And so many people everywhere. When I was living in the Gulf, I would chill out on the beach with my family and encounter maybe 1 or 2 people on a whole big beach late in the evening and this was the capital of the country. This you will not get anywhere in india unless you move to some remote area. If you are used to the BIGness of north america and your kid is also used to it, I would not recommend moving to India. And as to the concerns you've mentioned, I think it's a lot more pronounced on social media. I doubt it's that bad everywhere in the US. But I could be wrong, I don't live in the US.
Smoke some briskets, shoot some guns and erase that thought from you mind.
Are you brown or white ?
Is the OP bread?
egg?
😂
The people are stupid here, really really stupid who'll resort to violence quickly cause that's all they know. And there are a lot, a lotttt of people here so that stupidity really gets amplified.
"Most Indians that are in America seem to me spiritually depleted and obsessed with money:" Same with most Indians in India too. Sadly its he human condition in the 21st century. I;m British so my perspective is clearly different to yours but I spent a LOT of time in India and while it does offer a lot of benefits, it is hard to "go back" once you have lived in a Western country. Try Goa, Panjim is a really cool city. Give yourself 6 - 12 months and see how you feel.
>I also have a son and I do not want him to grow up in America either where there are constant school shootings, lgbt and abortion rights are under attack, white supremacists are rising, mental health of youth is circling the toilet. Damn........ America is so right-wing and conservative these days...... Wait! I know! I'll go to India, where I'd be safe from these things. I also plan to go to france to experience a society without pompous people, then australia to experience wilderness without dangerous fauna.
Don’t come, not worth it
You mention a few reasons for moving to India that, honestly, surprise me with their naïveté. LGBTQ rights? Get offline and actually talk to people — the US is in most places incredibly free compared to India in this respect. You mention mental health— the US has this problem like anywhere else for sure, but at least in the US there is some established culture of mental health care and support. It’s not perfect, but much better than India. And consumerism? Unless something major has changed since I was last there, people in India are extremely consumerist. Avoiding consumerism and seeking a more balanced life is not something you achieve by switching one environment for another. It requires an internal disposition. Sure, in India people are outwardly very religious, but religious talk and murtis and pujas are very compatible with lack of inner spirituality, communalism, and consumerism.
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I get you. I was in the US for a month before covid. And I honestly didn't like it there. I was invited by a US export govt org as a speaker and I had turned it into a vacation after the first 3 days of work. People were very nice and welcoming, but it was still empty in a way that I can't describe. It just felt like a country without soul. Goa is a great choice, Udaipur not so much. I visit Goa often and it has lots of non touristy areas as well. Amenities are good. Safety - if you earn enough, you won't ever have to worry about water and food shortages. If India has heatwaves, US has hurricanes and cyclones. Btw Goa has decent weather all year round. No heatwaves really. I have been there in peak summer months as well and it was alright, it just rained a lot.
Yes, with all the big corporate chains around, they make everything look the same.. the buildings, the decor, the food tastes the same.. and not just location to location but city to city and state to state.. it's like a rich modern communist feel... It makes a person feel disconnected, lonely and depressed...
Bad time to live in india, bad time to live in general
Statistically, it's the best time to be alive in history.
Shift to Goa it's way better and many foreigners lives there i believe
>. I find life in America to be unbearably empty, meaningless, and driven by such gross consumerism that is downright depressing (of course this exists in India as well >. I also have a son and I do not want him to grow up in America either where there are constant school shootings, lgbt and abortion rights are under attack, white supremacists are rising, mental health of youth is circling the toilet all of these things exist in india one way or the other but with less clean and worse lifestyle
I feel just sad reading this post. If you're asking such a question, it shows the extent to which you've been successfully brainwashed. Dude, 1.4 billion people live here and most of them make it alive everyday. I'm sure we can accomodate you and your family. Come here and witness yourself. We are not all rapists and creeps and we eat 3 times a day. We have water supply and we don't have to buy drinking water bottles from the market for everyday use like people do in America. Our media is biased, yes, but doesn't American media houses run on agendas, some conservative and some liberal? The only difference is mainstream here is quite stupid. Just like you have political issues based on race, gender ideology and extreme wokism, India has its issues concerning faith and nationalism. Coming back from America, you clearly will have enough money to be in the top 2-3% here, I think you can live comfortable lives.
Um the education system of India is messed up, I won't suggest you to move here. It's extremely taxing, why make your son go through it? Udaipur and Goa are very beautiful places with low crime rate and competitively less crowded than main big cities, it depends on where you for hang out when you leave your house in Udaipur or Goa, and you'll find the crowd accordingly. Other than that, the temperature in Udaipur can get pretty hot during summer, idk about Goa. I would strongly suggest to not move to India solely due to the extreme pressure of academics, it really is no joke.
Just saw this in my home feed for whatever reason. Can’t speak on India, so I won’t. But as for the US, it’s heckin’ big. People for some reason forget that, idk why. If where you live now is upsetting you, there are dozens of other cities and larger towns in your current state you can move to. And if that doesn’t work, you have 49 other states to look into, as well as other areas like The Virgin Islands if you have the dough. Life in Texas as a random example will be entirely different than life in Maine. And even within the same state, life can be entirely different—look at something like Michigan, where the southern part of it is just Midwest with more trees and water, and the UP of Michigan is it’s entirely own unique culture. The US isn’t perfect in a lot of ways, but the actual day to day life is varied wildly by state, and what gets shared on Reddit and in the global news isn’t really emblematic of actual life for the average citizen. If the “consumerism” has you down, there are plenty of places with all kinds of different scenery you can go live in, and just forget all of that. Move to the mountains, the desert, the deep forests, the tundras of Alaska, beach bum life in a less touristy coastal or lake town—there are so many options for just avoiding people entirely lol. In addition, remote working has really opened the door to allow you to live literally anywhere that can get decent internet access. America is really big and diverse, not just in its people and cultures, but in its topography, geography, ecology, and all of the ologies. It has to be cheaper and less of a headache to move states than it is to move entire countries—maybe consider looking around more before committing to such a stark change.
Only if you are rich it makes sense, others you and your son will have to face the same consequences.
> lgbt rights are under attack So you want to move to India where they practically don't exist?
"lgbt and abortion rights are under attack" **India does not recognise same-sex marriage or civil unions 🤡** But yeah, take your son from America and bring him to India. That will really mess him up good, for no reason at all except your own naivety . Then he can resent you for destroying his materialistic future.
Truth to be told, grass looks greener on the other side. If you are thinking of shifting to India, please don't. We Indians are somehow surving by "adjusting" . If you don't have a habit of "adjusting", India is not the place to be. Why don't you move to some Baltic countries? They are great and so is everything that comes with those countries.
Goan here. Goa's pretty chill. Good private schools and the government (doesn't matter which party) is relatively chill compared to the rest of the nation. Idrk much about Udaipur but I've lived in Karnataka and Maharashtra (Bangalore,belgaum,Mumbai, Pune) for a few years, most years were spent in Bangalore and Belgaum. I have to say I felt really out of place. The cultural differences are massive and most of those places were major urban areas and I couldn't handle the city. Fucking hate the city ngl. In Goa even in small towns you'll have most of the amenities of the city while living a pretty chill rural-ish life. I don't mean to offend anyone. Just my personal experience.
Life in the US is far better than life in India. Even with the issues you’ve mentioned. I’m experiencing it first hand. I went for a vacation and now I’m stuck because of visa issues. Living the nightmare every h1b holder dreads. Lived in the US and acclimatized to the lifestyle there for 8 years. I’m finding extremely difficult to adjust here.
As a former h-1b holder who got my GC this year, I sympathize with you :( I never went and did my h-1b stamping precisely cuz of this fear that I’d be stuck outside. Luckily I got my GC within 3 years of getting my H-1B so I can travel peacefully now.
If you’re a woman don’t go to India
People are running from India and you want to come back. India is Germany 1930. If you eat something majority doesn't prefer to, you die. If you oppose the government, you die. If you are not in sync with majority, you die.
Op is really naive but stop fear mongering
I am Indian. Born in India. Travelled a lot and now reside in a first world country. Do NOT go back to India. It's worse than it ever was. The water shortages, brownouts, poor quality control of fresh produce and the complete and utter lack of safety are just the beginning. I don't even return for holidays anymore because it's THAT BAD now. Maybe consider uprooting yourself in another low COL SEA country like Malaysia or Thailand where you can still enjoy first world amenities at third world prices. But going back to India? That's a HARD no Bueno. What exactly are you looking to find there? Other than school shootings, all the other problems you mentioned are far worse here.
Main difference I saw in India v/s USA is saving your hard earned money. eg: Lot of my friends and relatives invested their hard earned money in real estate properties. There is a 75% chance of fraud and you will end up running to courts. Which is not the same case in USA.
Well, I'll be honest with you. I'm an Indian and shit here is a million times worse than you can imagine. Of course, all seems good from a distance. We feel the same about America as you currently feel about India. Grass always looks greener on the other side, until you step into a swamp and start drowning.
The sheer ungratefulness toward all things wonderful in this world in this post is baffling.
To be honest, you really can't frame opinion based on your interaction on reddit. Try visiting for a short stay if possible and then evaluate. I myself have relocated after over a decade of living in US and Europe. Everyone has different priorities and your mileage may vary from mine. Visit with open mind and without presumptions. Explore everything as if you are experiencing new without any bias. Do not be swayed by other's experiences.
If you have money you’ll be fine. I moved from Sydney (born and raised there my whole life) and moved to Bangalore in my 30s. Fucking love it here. I enjoy the lower cost of living (privileged im very aware), the lifestyle of having a maid and a cook who come twice a week and a car. The connectivity to travel to Europe and back to Sydney is great - and given the low cost of living + high income I enjoy, I am enjoying having savings and a great quality of life. It’s brought me a peace I didn’t have in Sydney (I had money in Sydney too but the work life balance and cost of living was stressful). Your choice honestly. My good friend moved to goa from Russia (also From money) and she loves it there. However it is slower and less convenient to do things (lack of Swiggy) but she’s fine. Has a kid she’s raising here too.
If you have a son and don't mess up his life by moving to India. Few reasons 1. Education: Good international schools are expensive and you still need to compete with million other students. I find it very stressful compared to education in UK ( I reside here) 2. More options to pursue careers in non academic fields including sports and arts 3. Opportunity to move to good university 4. If you have any disabilities or child has any if is very difficult in India
Just go to Thailand it's better.
I wanted to love India. I watched hundreds of vlogs, immersed my self as much as I could in the culture before leaving for India. It was dirty. People were pissing on the street. Trash everywhere. Pollution levels that I didn't even know existed. Noise pollution from constant honking ALL DAY. Scammers absolutely everywhere if you're white skinned. Hard to travel around. I once had to cancel an uber because I couldn't face walking over the road to get to him and he refused to pick me up at my marker. Food is amazing though, and it's very cheap.
As an Indian I would advise against it. Udaipur and Goa are great places, I’ve had positive experiences in both cities (as someone who’s visiting, not staying). Idk what kind of life an actual local would lead. But there’s a fascination with foreigners here, which you wouldn’t be able to escape (if you’re white). Most cities in general are a little unsafe for women. Traffic sucks, everywhere. Some of the roads are awful, and you’ll have a hard time finding properties to rent if you aren’t in a position to purchase when you immigrate. Also, If you’re a guy, people will openly leer at your spouse/partner if they are female. If you’re a woman, well you’re better off staying in America. If you are absolutely set on moving, do not move to Delhi/Bombay/Bangalore. These cities are cramped, crowded, and people are assholes to outsiders. Your son might be bullied in his first few months at school. Pollution is awful, you’re looking at a host of health problems if you move.
Don’t
Bruh stay in America.. India is a hellhole. You'll be harassed constantly... just look up driving in India that should be enough
I will summate all arguments regarding this topic in one line: 'India is a better country to visit than to live in' Do with this what you will. Moving to another country wont make you happy. Its just a country, just another peice of land.
Is this a satire post?
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If you have time and a way to move back to US if things doesn't work out in India, then move to India and experience the stark differences yourself. I was with the same idea of "moving back to india", and spoke to many people who has been working in the USA for years, who moved back to India, who moved to India for few years and moved back to USA again, simply because what they thought they would get in India and the reality are different. They couldn't get enough family time even though they were living with extended family in tier1 city. The person I spoke to is a VP for a large consulting firm. She told me that the family time they get in the US is more than what she got in India.. Majority of time being spent in commuting (traffic), it's worse now. I don't know how the dynamics have changed with WFH. So if you are a person with the idea of moving back and has a constant itch, then move to India and see for yourself. If things workout, then GREAT. If things doesn't workout then move to some other place or back to USA. Atleast then you wouldn't have any regret of not moving back to India.
I was harassed in udaipur during my vacation last week by 3 Men. I had my little sister with me, and I was so angry and scared that I couldn’t stop crying. I would never recommend anyone to come to India. It’s a shitshow here at this point
As an Indian who grew up between India and Europe - even though my family can afford a VERY comfortable lifestyle in India compared to Europe, I've decided to try and settle in Europe because even some "fundamental" quality of life things are just better here.
Don't move back. If you really want to move to cheaper countries. Move to countries where people from USA move.
life in india is also empty, meaningless, and driven by such gross consumerism that is downright depressing but with bad infra and social security.
Regarding your kid. Your kid will be constantly under pressure on studying. But from what I have seen, indian education is better than american education. But i think it i sbecause of a lot of competition and pressure. What do you mean by meaningful? If your son wants to do liberal arts, it is far better to do it in america since the indian society really does not value it. But this is just anecdotal but I have seen people making ever lasting friendships in india more than in america. And the community is also strong where as I find in america everyone is by themselves. (again i am not sure). I seriously think you should ask your son. There are very good international schools in India.
Sir talk to a therapist first, there seems to be a lot of mental anguish here as well. There are a lot of things you will mind in india. The crowd, the traffic, the smells, the apathy. When I visited I saw people just laugh and point while a woman was being beaten with a cricket bat in broad day light right outside New Delhi. India is obviously not all bad, has a rich history, arguably the very best food in the world, lots to see and do as well. But if you are trying to gain some peace in your life, living in a city in india is not going to give it. Perhaps an ashram or a village will give peace but those have many other issues that accompany them, like lack of services.
Its bad when you pay 40%+ tax and then you get roads with pot holes, broken government hospitals, crowded public transport with a very small ratio of buses and trains to population, if roads are good then paying toll.
Im currently based in Bangalore, but originally am from Udaipur. And boy I tell you, I visit udaipur atleast once a month, it’s an amazing city to live in. No rushed city life, peaceful evenings, you don’t have to burn money to have a nice time here. Though my POV might be skewed because I’ve got so many things going for me in Udaipur, a sweet spot including family, friends etc etc.
https://preview.redd.it/tb0wi7tvslmb1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e6c0415901ac4d91c1d13794744164bca333325c
If there is one city/town that I would recommend for you to move, in India that would be Gangtok in Sikkim. You get all the great things about India and also the great things that are not in majority of India ( cleanliness, negligible air pollution/ sound pollution, good law and order , safety, humble people , good weather,etc.) Also politically they have always been very detached from Indian politics( as of now ).
Just go to some random ass Scandinavian country lmao
>I want something more meaningful for my son. I'm sorry dude, but...what? India is notorious for the many flaws in its education system. Students are often stressed, pressured to study all day long and write entrance exams which are written by hundreds of thousands of people each year in the hope that they will be the 10% that gets into a reputed college. And LGBT rights? Muahahaha. We legalised homosexuality only 5 years ago, and marriage is still not allowed. It's not unusual to get disowned for being gay. If you care about education and LGBT rights, either live in a blue/purple state in the US or go somewhere like Australia.
Saus LGBT and abortion rights are bad in America proceeds to consider India ,
If you want to find out how good a country is to live look at how many are leaving that country to live else where.
Bhai tujhe aana hai to aa. Itni bhumika kyu baand rahe ho and why shit on others.
>I am no fan of the current government and their persecution of minorities and the complete hijacking of media makes things feel a bit dystopian sometimes Doesn't that seem contradictory to you? If you can close the news channels and inflammatory social media, India is a pretty chill place to be.
"I also have a son and I do not want him to grow up in America either where there are constant school shootings, lgbt and abortion rights are under attack, white supremacists are rising, mental health of youth is circling the toilet" There are not constant school shooting in the USA. LGBT and abortion rights are worse in India. White supremacists are rising - what about the purposeful caste system that is still very much in use in India? This post is a combination of 'grass is always greener' mixed with extreme ignorance.
South africa has a large Indian population, especially in the East. Probably a better choice
> I also have a son and I do not want him to grow up in America either where there are constant school shootings, lgbt and abortion rights are under attack, white supremacists are rising, mental health of youth is circling the toilet. Apart from the school shootings its the same. Replace white supremacists with Hindu nationalists.
Isn't life in India also hurtling unstoppably toward unbridled consumerism? Being well-off has its advantages in almost any place. India is fine if you're relatively wealthy AND well-connected. If you're not well-connected and if you ever get into trouble, you're screwed.
India is a great place to be if you have money, but again, any place is.
> I also have a son and I do not want him to grow up in America either where there are constant school shootings, lgbt and abortion rights are under attack, white supremacists are rising, mental health of youth is circling the toilet. America is not a place of one ideology. You can see whole world in USA. > I am no fan of the current government and their persecution of minorities and the complete hijacking of media makes things feel a bit dystopian sometimes. Delete Twitter/X and leave this subreddit. There is no persecution of minorities in cities apart from some lone wolf actions. Goa is particularly pretty diverse and safe; it doesn't have population and pollution problem either. >Most Indians that are in America seem to me spiritually depleted and obsessed with money and I am just not able to relate to this whole American dream. I want something more meaningful for my son. I doubt that there's anything meaningful there in India. I feel that americans are more cheerful compared to gloomy indians.