How To Make Your Return To India Successful?
What would you deem as a successful return to India decision? While there is no clear definition of what success looks like, I would call the decision successful if it helps you achieve your goals of moving back and your expectations of moving back are largely met.
This list is based on my experiences in both countries and many hours of reading on this topic when we were deciding on our move. I strongly believe that a successful move is possible at all times at any age under any circumstance. However, the key lies in understanding the effort you will have to put in to make it successful. This effort will vary based on the factors below. Like everywhere else in life, there will always be outliers and people who made it possible despite having nothing in their favor. The below are just meant to be guidelines which in our experience have increased chances of a successful return for us as well as others.
Spouse’s Inclination To Move
This is the single biggest factor that will increase your chances of making the return to India successful. Move to India only if both of you are fully aligned on this decision. From our research and experience, we have noticed that one partner always has stronger reasons to move back and tends to influence the other to make the move. The other partner is sometimes not 100% convinced but goes along with the decision anyway resulting in animosity and conflict in the relationship after the move. Eventually, this leads to one of the partners living a life full of compromises and regrets.
To get around this, you should discuss all your motivations to move back, concerns and expectations in advance of making this move. Know that neither of you can be fully prepared for the move and that is okay. There are always going to be surprises but what you both can commit in advance is to support each other no matter the circumstances.
Kids’ Mindset
We did not have kids when we moved back so do not have much of an insight to share but speaking to friends who did move back with kids, we gathered that In general, the younger your kids the more likely that they will adjust quicker to the changes in surroundings. You can prepare your kids on what changes to expect with the move. Kids are highly adaptable and despite the initial challenges they might face, eventually they tend to settle down and even love the feeling of being surrounded by people who look like them and accept them for what they are.
Your Age
This factor has been an interesting one. The amount of effort you have to put in is higher if you have spent a significant amount of time outside India (8-15 years) but not more and not less. Spend any less time than this and you probably don’t build a sufficient financial backup, spend any more time than this and you are likely to take much more time to adjust to life in India. You should evaluate all the factors at any point in time and decide when the right time is to move back to India.
Relationship With Parents
This applies largely to couples who plan to stay with their parents after moving back (we are one of them). If you and your spouse get along with each other’s parents, the likelihood of success greatly increases. This is not to say that there will not be any disagreements or tense situations. They happen with all families but if you have that kind of relationship, getting over such situations becomes that much easier. Living with parents has been one of the most fulfilling experiences for us.
Move To Your Home City
Moving to your home city brings familiarity and comfort that will make it easier to settle. It is not always possible to do this given that your job location might have the most impact on this decision. Nevertheless, if possible try to make this one your first option. You probably have cousins, friends, and relatives who have a huge network in the city. We are fortunate that both of us are from Mumbai and have large families settled in Mumbai. This made our transition extremely smooth. From brokers to doctors to milkmen, all the recommendations were just a phone call away and in hindsight, this made a huge difference to our settling down experience.
Set Your Career Expectations
Your work life will undergo significant changes in India even if you have experience working with global teams. Set your expectations on working hours, salary and work culture to avoid disappointment. If you are planning on taking a break, have a timeline and milestones in mind. Consider not just your career but also the impact on your spouse’s career.
Save Enough Money
One of the most common questions I get is – how much money do I need to save to return to India? A quick search will reveal numbers from 1 cr to upwards of 20 cr. The reason for such a large variation is that there is no right answer and it depends on your individual needs. You can still come up with a ballpark number of how much money you need to return to India. Having higher savings make your move extremely likely to be successful.
Talk To Peers In India
Everyone has different beliefs, upbringings and motivations to move back. No two stories are the same and rightly so. Talk to peers in India who are the most similar to you (moved to the same city or are in the same age group) to get an idea of how they are doing, their pain points and learnings from their experience. Knowing what you are getting into beforehand from people who are most similar to you will help avoid surprises.
Sort Out Healthcare Needs
If you have any condition that requires treatment or any condition that might get triggered due to pollution, consider the support available and the finances needed.
Reiterating my point above, there is no reason why people can’t make their return to India successful if they are determined enough. The list is meant to give you an idea of what factors are truly important to increase your likelihood of success. There will still be things that will frustrate you, wear you down and at times even make you question your choices. Prepare enough, have all the basics covered and know what to expect – you are going to be okay!
