As large numbers of young middle-class Indians continue to migrate to foreign countries, particularly to the USA (to realize the “American Dream”), the number of “NRI Parents” is increasing day by day.
Almost all my colleagues, friends and acquaintances are “NRI Parents”
[a better phrase may be “Indian Parents of Non Resident Indian (NRI) Children but then colloquially everyone calls them “NRI Parents”]
Here is a story of a quintessential NRI Parent ...
A CONVERSATION WITH A PROUD MOTHER OF AN NRI DAUGHTER
PREGNANCY and CHILD CARE – NRI STYLE
Musings - a story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Disclaimer:
This story is a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
NB
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)
A CONVERSATION WITH A PROUD MOTHER OF AN NRI DAUGHTER
“I am going to America,” she says.
“The United States of America – USA…?” I ask.
“Yes,” she says.
“Wow. So you are going for sightseeing and tourism,” I comment.
“No. I am going for my daughter’s confinement,” she says.
“Confinement…? Is your daughter in trouble? Has she been arrested? Is she is prison? What happened…?”
“No. No. No. Nothing is wrong with her. My daughter is pregnant. I am going for her delivery. By ‘confinement’ I mean the pregnancy time period during which a woman gives birth to a child.”
“Oh. Congratulations. But why do you have to go all the way there to America? Why doesn’t your daughter come here to Pune for her delivery?”
“Why should she come over here?”
“Well, I thought a daughter goes to her mother’s place for her first delivery. I remember that you went to your mother’s place for your first delivery.”
“That was different.”
“Why? Even your elder daughter came to your house for her first delivery.”
“My elder daughter lives in India – that is why she came to my house for her delivery. My younger daughter lives in America – that is why I have to go there.”
“I don’t understand. Why can’t your younger daughter come here for her delivery? The facilities are good here. Or is there some advantage in having the delivery over there in USA?”
“I don’t know. Stop asking so many questions. You’re irritating me. I did ask my daughter to come here for her delivery. But she said that I would have to go there – so I have to go – that’s all,” my friend says, and she walks away, quite annoyed with me.
In the middle-class locality of Pune where I live almost all children have migrated abroad, mostly to the USA, to live a good life and realize the “American Dream”.
Some went abroad for higher studies, some went via the IT route, some went via marriage – and all of them have settled down there and they have no intention of coming back to India.
They have left their parents to fend for themselves back home.
They don’t even want to come to India to deliver their children.
They all want to have their babies in America.
So mothers have to go for long periods to America to look after their daughters during their “confinement” period – which may extend to over 6 months.
Later, these NRI daughters want their mothers to come over for “nanny” duties.
The earlier generation looked after their parents in their old age.
Now there is a role reversal.
The new “NRI generation” wants their old parents to look after them, despite the fact that these ambitious NRI’s have abandoned India, their country of birth, and also left behind their parents high-and-dry to fend for themselves in their old age – all this in their singular quest for a better life abroad.
But that is another story.
The moot question is:
Why are NRI women reluctant to come home to India to deliver their babies?
Why do they want their children to be born in America?
Any Answers ?
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
NB
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)
First Published by me in my blog on Thursday, August 1, 2013
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About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@hotmail.com
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie I am sure that you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@hotmail.com
Twitter: @vikramkarve
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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