NRI = Non Resident Indian or Never Returning Indian...?

Some Non Resident Indians (NRIs) – who migrated abroad for a “better life” – they complain that life abroad is tougher than life in India. 

Sometimes – one meets NRIs with a “guilty conscience” – who say that they feel “homesick” about India.  

Whenever I see such fake expression of homesickness and hypocrisy by people who have migrated abroad for “greener pastures” or for a “better life” – I remember this story I had written a few years ago...  

Disclaimer 

NB: In this Story – for ease of understanding – the generic term NRI (Non Resident Indian) includes PIO (Person of Indian Origin) and OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) as well.

THE NON RESIDENT INDIAN (NRI) WITH A GUILTY CONSCIENCE

A Conversation 

Short Fiction

By

VIKRAM KARVE 

(This Story happened a few years ago)

A few days ago I met an NRI.

You know what NRI means – don’t you...?

Of course you do – NRI means NON RESIDENT INDIAN.

Of course – there is a “RESIDENT INDIAN” Friend of mine – who jokingly says – that NRI means: “NEVER TO RETURN TO INDIA”. 

In a nutshell – my Resident Indian Friend defines NRI as:

NRI = Never Returning Indian

What my Resident Indian friend says has a ring of truth about it – none of my classmates who went abroad (mostly to the USA) for higher studies returned home to India. 

They all settled down in America. 

I think almost all of them are American Citizens now. 

They have relinquished Indian Citizenship and taken up citizenship of their chosen land. 

They consciously and willingly pledge allegiance to their chosen country and not India – it may be apt to call them American Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) – rather than NRI. 

Such Foreigners of Indian Origin are called by various names like “Indian-American”/“Kiwi-Indian”/“British-Indian” etc

I met one such PIO the other day. 

I was surprised that – despite enjoying the fruits of living abroad (in the land of opportunity and prosperity) for more than 30 years – he still seemed to have a guilty conscience about leaving India – and “abandoning” his parents and loved ones – leaving them behind to fend for themselves. 

I got fed up hearing him fake his love for India and trying to show how much he missed India by faking a guilty conscience.

So – I asked him a simple question: 

“Why don’t you come back...?”

He gave me all sorts of excuses which were far from convincing. 

To put matters in the right perspective – I told him the following:

“... 1. No one forced you to go abroad 

You were not like indentured labour sent by the British from India to other colonies when thousands of Indians were transported to various colonies of European powers to provide labour for the sugar plantations. 

You migrated to the USA by your own free will. 

Like so many others you went to the land of opportunity – USA – to realize your “American Dream”.

2. In fact – when we were studying engineering in the 1970’s – it was you – who was so desperate to go to America – for higher studies – with the ultimate aim of settling down there permanently.

You were running from pillar to post to get admission to a good university in the USA and arranging finances (scholarship and loan) – despite the fact that you were getting a good job in India in campus placement.

Even if you wanted to study more and do your postgraduation (MS/ME/M.Tech) – you could have easily got admission to the best of IIT’s in India. 

On the other hand – persons like me stayed back in India – despite having an excellent opportunity to go abroad to America – you know that.

3. Obviously – you felt that America is a better place than India to live in. 

Otherwise – you wouldn’t have gone through all the trouble of migrating in the first place. 

If you had really wanted to – you could have come back to India on completion of your studies. 

With your qualifications – I am sure you would have got a good job here in India. 

But – you continued staying there in the US. 

You relinquished Indian Citizenship – and – you acquired American Citizenship.

4. Till now you have prospered in your adopted country and enjoyed the fruits of living in America. 

The main reason you left India and migrated for “greener” pastures abroad was to have a “better” life – since you felt that you could achieve that “better” life by migrating abroad – rather than staying back in India. 

You have achieved your life’s aim. 

So – in hindsight – what are you feeling guilty about...?

5. There is no need to have a guilty conscience about leaving India (and your near and dear one’s) for a better life abroad. 

Forget about us and those who you have left behind in India.

Stop feeling guilty and enjoy the “better life” out there (the very reason for which you migrated).

6. And – if you truly love India so much – then –  just pack your bags and come back forever. 

But – remember one thing. 

Come back – because you really love India 

Come back to India – only if you honestly want to come back and serve your motherland

Don’t come back for some selfish reasons of your own (materialistic, economic, career ambition, “greener pastures” etc) ...”

My NRI friend smiled like a Cheshire Cat. 

I knew he was never going to come back to India. 

He was just faking “homesickness”.

He was just trying to put on a false pretence of “guilty conscience” for our consumption. 

Dear Reader: 

Have you seen such hypocrite NRIs (Never Returning Indians)...?

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
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Disclaimer:

1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

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)

This is a revised repost of my article posted online a number of times earlier at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/01/nri-with-guilty-conscience.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/08/fake-homesickness-nri-with-guilty.html and https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/12/foreign-indian-versus-resident-indian.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/11/nri-never-returning-indian.html etc

Do You Want to Migrate to New Zealand using the Student Pathway...?

MIGRATION – THE “STUDENT PATHWAY”

Are You Taking the “Student Pathway” to Migrate for a “Better Life”…?

Musings of a Veteran

By

VIKRAM KARVE

THE “STUDENT PATHWAY” (aka “PATHWAY STUDENT”)

In the 1970’s – my classmates used the “student pathway” to migrate abroad to the US and settle down there permanently to realize their “American Dream” 

Those days – USA was the most sought after destination for youngsters who wanted to migrate away from India for a “better life”.

In fact – before “liberalization” (1991) – owing to various “socialist” restrictions – the “student pathway” was the only way to migrate and settle down in a foreign country.

“Liberalization” and “Globalization” created new options for aspiring migrants – like the “foreign job” option and “onsite work” option etc – which facilitated migration to a foreign country – but – even now – most aspiring migrants use the “student pathway” route to migrate and settle down in the country of their choice.

During my recent visit to New Zealand – I interacted with many youngsters from India – who were on the “student pathway” to realize their dream of settling down in New Zealand.

Today – in view of various favorable advantages and promising prospects – many youngsters want to migrate to New Zealand – and – they use the “student pathway” – since – New Zealand’s immigration policies include a post-study work pathway for international students who have completed a New Zealand qualification – which lets you find a job and get work experience in a field related to your studies and makes it easier to apply for residence and finally acquire citizenship.

All the youngsters I met in New Zealand – some students – and some working after completing their studies – all of them were desperate to settle down in New Zealand – and – not even a single youngster wanted to return back to India.

(In fact – New Zealand is such a lovely place that even visitors feel like staying on there forever – and – most visitors feel sad when their stay in New Zealand comes to an end and they have to return home)

The youngsters told me that one good plus-point of studying in New Zealand is that you can “earn while you learn” – since students are allowed to work part-time for a specified number of hours every week – and since the hourly “minimum wage” is quite good – students can earn enough to meet their daily needs.

Once they got accustomed to the “better life” in New Zealand – they did not want to return to India – and they wanted to permanently settle down in New Zealand “at any cost”.

I could see this desperate desire for residency (and finally citizenship) in most of the youngsters I met in New Zealand.

One of my friends who has settled down in New Zealand told me that this desperation (to remain in New Zealand) makes youngsters vulnerable to exploitation – especially after they complete their studies and are looking for a job in order to get a work visa – and later – when they want residency – in order to achieve their long term goal is to permanently settle in New Zealand.

She also told me another shocking fact.

She said that it was “our own people” who exploited young Indian migrants the most.

By the term “our own people” – she was referring to erstwhile Indians (who migrated from India to New Zealand many years ago and had got New Zealand Citizenship) – it was they who were exploiting new Indian Migrants the most.

I was shocked to hear this – that – in most cases – new migrants were being exploited by employers in their own ethnic communities.

I did see many young “Indian” migrants working in stores, malls, hotels, restaurants, cafes etc. – but – I was impressed by their “dignity of labour” which is a sign of egalitarian society – it was good to see that students/youngsters were ready to do any type of work to earn some extra money.

In fact – in the very café where my friend and I were sitting – it was an “Indian” migrant who was managing the counter and also serving us.

She told me a few stories – but – I thought they may be apocryphal.

But then – a few days ago – I read three news reports which shocked me.

Here are the url links to the news reports (click url to open on a new page):

1. NZ dream turns to nightmare for international students

URL: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11760721

2. Student Visa: ‘It's not about education’

URL: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11759352

3. ‘Sleep with me if you want your visa’ boss tells student worker

URL: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11760729

Let me add a disclaimer that what is described in these news reports may be aberrations – and may not be representative of the broad reality.

In fact – from my experience of the excellent social life I observed in New Zealand – I feel that these reports may be rare isolated exceptions – and – New Zealand certainly has a superior quality of life than most places.

Yes – New Zealand is a great place to visit, to study, to work – and – if you want – to migrate, reside and settle in.

But – if you are thinking of migrating permanently – you must make yourself aware of various aspects of the realities of life there.

The aim of this article is to generate a bit of awareness.

I do not intend to dissuade youngsters from migrating abroad to realize their dreams of a “better life”.

In fact – I would encourage youngsters to migrate to places where they can achieve their fullest potential and thereby contribute more to the world.

However – aspiring migrants must ensure they are aware of the pros and cons – especially if they are using the “student pathway” – so that they don’t fall victim to “education trafficking” and become vulnerable to exploitation.

EDUCATION TRAFFICKING

A newly coined term “Education Trafficking” refers to the phenomenon of enticing aspiring migrants to take the “student pathway” to get a permanent residency in the country of their choice.

These aspirants pay huge amounts of money to use the “student pathway” to migration since education is expensive in most developed countries.

(It is well known that education has become big business and there are many “stakeholders” who want a share in the pie).

The root cause of the problem of “Education Trafficking” does not lie in the new “host” country to which students want to migrate.

The root cause of the problem lies in the “donor” country “exporting” students – where various “Agents” and “Consultants” mislead and exploit gullible youngsters who are desperate to migrate overseas for a “better life”.

If you want to use the “student pathway” to migrate for a “better life” – please do so by all means – but ensure that you perform “due diligence” and carry out a “reality check” – so that you do not become vulnerable to exploitation once you migrate to the land of your dreams.

----------------

Dear Reader: Have you read my previous posts on my observations during my short stays in New Zealand…?

Here are a few of the URL links: 

DO YOU WANT TO MIGRATE TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY FOR A “BETTER LIFE”…? 

URL: 

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/11/do-you-want-to-migrate-abroad-for.html 

BOMBAY in New Zealand – Travel Tales

URL: 

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/11/bombay-in-new-zealand-travel-tales.html 

Milford Sound is Awesome

URL: 

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/02/milford-sound-fiordland-south-new.html 

WHY DO PEOPLE MIGRATE...?

URL: 

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/07/why-do-people-migrate-conversation-with.html 

New Zealand Foodie Memories

URL: 

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/01/food-photos-new-zealand-trip.html 

NEW ZEALAND FOOD DIARY OF A PURE VEGETARIAN

URL: 

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/02/food-diary-of-pure-vegetarian-in-new.html

Also – I intend writing a few more articles on my visits to New Zealand – and – I will post them in my blogs in due course for you to read and comment upon. 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

Repost of my article BEWARE OF “EDUCATION TRAFFICKING” posted online earlier at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/12/student-pathway-to-migration-beware-of.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/02/migration-student-pathway.html

Is “Pay Secrecy” Ethical...?

PAY SECRECY – Is it Ethical...?

Should SALARY and PERKS be kept CONFIDENTIAL...?

Musings on Business Ethics

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Sometime ago – at a social gathering – I met a young man who works as an investment banker.

I had heard that investment banking is a lucrative profession.

In my usual loud voice – I asked him how much salary he got.

He looked at me aghast – as if I had committed sacrilege.

Everyone around us looked at me in disbelief – as if I had committed a great faux pas.

To whet my curiosity – I repeated the “indiscretion” – by asking whoever I met – his or her salary.

I was surprised to see that today’s youngsters are very secretive and unwilling to disclose how much they earn.

I observed this secretive nature – and reluctance to disclose salaries and compensation packages – across professions – ranging from nerdy IT “Techies” – to Street Smart MBAs of all hues.

I just do not understand this “cloak-and-dagger” obsession with pay secrecy.

In the 1970’s – after getting our B. Tech degrees in Engineering – all of us in our class took up a variety of jobs – in the government – and in the industry – in public and private sectors – in MNCs and PSUs.

Whenever we met – we discussed our new jobs – and we freely discussed our pay, our salaries and what perks we got in our respective jobs. 

There was nothing to hide.

In those glorious “pre-liberalization” days of “socialism” – it was considered ethical to be equitable – and that is why – salaries were comparable – whether you worked in the private sector or public sector.

Yes – though the private sector paid slightly more – there was no excessively disproportionate disparity in pay – for the same type of work and level of posts – between one place and another.

How things have radically changed – with the advent of liberalisation and globalisation...!!!

Today the concept of “equal pay for equal work” seems to have been forgotten – and we see an obscene imbalance in compensation packages.

Those days – in the 1970’s – Salary Structures were simple – you got a Basic Pay, Dearness Allowance, some well-defined perks – and – in some cases – publicly declared incentive and bonus.

Everything was transparent – and – to the best of my knowledge – such “Machiavellian” concepts – like “Cost To Company” (CTC) – ESOPs – other “secret” allowances – and “hush-hush” incentives and bonus – such clandestine things did not exist.

I feel that “pay secrecy” is a concept which is alien to conventional Indian Ethos.

It looks like this “secretive” Human Resource Management Philosophy – comprising elements like “confidential salaries” – all this has become prevalent in India after 1991 – post-liberalization – with the entry of foreign companies – who have brought along with them their own distinct organizational cultures.

Can somebody please tell me what is the need for you to keep your pay secret...? 

Or – what is the need for your employer to keep the salaries of employees confidential...?

Even today – as far as government jobs are concerned – pay, salaries and allowances are public knowledge. 

There is total transparency in pay scales, increments – and all payments made to employees in government and public sector jobs. 

I think that there is pay transparency in some large industries – especially in traditional Indian organizations of the “old mould” as well.

Then – why have this obsession with pay secrecy in some firms – especially in companies with foreign organizational cultures like MNCs and IT Companies?

It is said that an Ethical Human Resource (HR) Management System must have three attributes:

1. It must be FAIR

2. It must be JUST

3. It must be TRANSPARENT

The concept of pay secrecy violates all these three tenets.

Let me give you an example.

I have a friend whose son migrated abroad to the USA many years ago for his studies and he continued to live and work in America and he became a US citizen. 

He was “posted” to India by his company (an MNC).

Though the boy is of Indian origin – since he is based in America – he is considered to be an Expatriate (Expat).

I was told that – because he is an “expat” – he gets a much higher salary and attractive compensation package – for doing the same job as compared to his Indian counterparts.

In fact – he also joked – that had he remained in India like his brother – or had he come back to India after his studies abroad and joined the same firm in India – he would have been paid much less for doing the same job. 

Whereas in India – foreign expats are paid more than Indians – the reverse may be true in America – where Indian “expats” are probably paid much less than their local American counterparts.

Is this fair...?

A fair system will ensure equitable compensation and will provide equal pay for equal work.

What is the justification for paying different salaries to employees of the same company for doing the same work...?

This blatant discrimination based on nationality – is it ethical and moral...?

In such a scenario – you may have a ridiculous situation – where a junior gets more salary than his senior – just because he belongs to a different country.

Is this absurdity not akin to racial discrimination...?

I feel that openness is always better than secrecy – particularly in HR Management Systems – which must be Transparent.

It has been my personal experience that – a Transparent and Honest HR Policy nurtures a sense of Trust and Loyalty in employees.

Secrecy breeds distrust – and creates an negative atmosphere of intrigue and suspicion in the workplace.

Such unhealthy and undesirable vibes create a sense of insecurity and disloyalty – which in turn cause a feeling of stress in employees.

If there is workplace stress – people may not enjoy working in such an insalubrious environment – and this is not conducive to friendly and open interpersonal relationships as well.

I feel that Compensation Management Systems must be ethical and non-discriminatory.

A candid, sincere, fair and transparent HR Management System will inspire a sense of justice and harmony by ensuring equitable, fair and transparent compensation mechanisms for all employees.

Dear Reader: 

Do you agree...? 

What are your views on pay secrecy...? 

Should salary and perks be kept confidential...? 

What are the pros and cons...? 

Why has pay secrecy become the norm in most organizations...?

Please comment. 

I eagerly look forward to your views. 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

Revised repost of my article PAY SECRECY – Is it Ethical...? posted online earlier at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/04/pay-secrecy-is-it-ethical-should-salary.html