Reverse brain drain

“Sometimes what seems so right turns out wrong and what seems so wrong turns out right. What do I call this phenomenon? Life.”
― Charles F. Glassman

The world is in transition

It has always been in transition but in the last few years Geopolitics is changing like never before- a melting pot which is keeping the world on its toes- leaders and the people

The pendulum is shifting from left to right and there are more battle cries for ‘nation first’ and let’s make ourselves great again to ‘push out the foreigners’ . America is for Americans. It is a world vide phenomenon spreading like a virus.

This new international stance is making things very difficult for people who were used to the exclusive culture now partly branded as ‘woke’ culture which has now been increasingly discarded by the leaders and the led.

Nationalism is the key and political leaders are no more pretending to be politically right- and now it appears they don’t care.

Donald J Trump is putting his ‘footlong signature’ on God alone knows how many dictates a day from his oval office which has become ‘elliptical’ in shape with the centrifugal force generated from within.

You had kid totting Elon Musk (with his kid on the shoulder) in the elliptical office while the POTUS THE GREAT IS firing people faster than hiring and he has created a new Mr. America as the ‘firing in Chief’ Theres is more confusion than clarity every day.

I do not think if any PM of India till date has done something like this in full public view and simultaneously addressing the media from his vintage wooden presidential table- having a ‘self-appointed, anointed or embrocated multi billionaire’ who can address the cabinet committee and even over rule their decisions’. In a democracy?Phew!

Suddenly musk has self-fired himself as self-appointed. Musk had a recent breakup with Trump! Sure, things are making and breaking quickly. The chatter is stuttering like the morse code.

He has left company of trump his buddy in chief.

Latest Trump Travel Ban: -

Nearly five months into his second term, President Donald Trump signed a new travel ban restricting entry into the United States from 12 countries and imposing visa limitations on seven others.

This chaos is on a daily basis it seems.

Long and short of it

The migrants are on the firing line with threats- partially executed- to throw out the ‘unwanted snakes’ from the father land – don’t know whether America was fathered or mothered!

Along with snakes’ poor rabbits, turtles and pussies are also been flown out on American Military planes. Some in chains like prisoners.

In case of migrants there is more fog than any clarity. Once the government takes a stand against foreign elements, the general sentiment within the public too becomes harsh towards them.

God bless America- as Americans self-bless themselves. (Indians never do). GOD bless them with such a guy holding the nuclear buttle too close for comfort and almost unlimited powers that he has gotten. India is changing too Your loss could be my gain. India under the third term of PM Modi has now become the fourth largest economy in the world- only US, China and Germany are ahead in the pecking order. Our GDP growth is better than the best, FOREX reserve is more than $650 billion and defence production is on a high. Operation Sindoor against Pakistan has moved us several notches higher in the international esteem index. ‘don’t mess with us’ is a message loud and clear. Nations are queuing up to collaborate and also buy from us.

Shifting sands

Europe is in recession and traumatised by the grinding Russia-Ukraine war. I don’t think they know what they are doing. Japan slipped into recession in the October-December 2023 quarter. China’s economic slowdown and geopolitical tensions with the West have alarmed foreign businesses.

Dubai and other Gulf entrepots remain a hub for global Indian firms but the Gaza conflict could disrupt trade in the region, especially around the Red Sea. This route is disrupted too.

Living in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is now very expensive. Not only that – an Arab still looks up to a white skin as ‘white the great’ who is treated as second only to the home grown Arab- however dumb he may be. Indians, Pakis and other non-whites are in the third basket “C” class. So, Indians in UAE are technically and financially third class in terms of classification. More so in white collared jobs. The whites are paid far higher salaries just because of the skin effect.

India in contrast is a picture of economic stability and opportunity. It’s not only the business environment that draws successful Indian entrepreneurs back home.

‘Today in the entire world India has a new identity, a new image. The old image has been forced down, and there is a reason.’ PM Modi

Some endorsements
Hemant Mohapatra a VC, who lived outside India mostly in the US but visited the country several times a year now after 2014 finds a very big positive change and reflects that India has many things better and cheaper than the US and the west in general. He says…

“India fintech is way, way ahead of the US/EU. For offline, there were weeks I didn’t use cash — most places take cards, UPI and a dozen other options. For online, I use UPI for most online purchases. Can’t believe I am saying this but online purchases in India feels easier via UPI in India vs CCs or PayPal in the US.

“Overall, I couldn’t be happier with my move. I feel lucky to be in India at a time many of the growing pains have subsided and the startup ecosystem feels a lot more mature. As a VC, I wanted to be somewhere I could look back 10 years out and feel like I made a difference and I strongly believe that with a lot of hard work and a dash of good fortune, I have a chance to make such an impact on India in 10 years. Moreover, from a macro POV, India is now placed well globally in terms of GDP and also in the world for software projects.”

Let us understand- money is very greedy- it wants be safe and it needs to become fatter and fatter by growing. Therefore, India is good place to park your assets and money - SAFE.

There is a strong technology-driven impetus for the brain drain to go into reverse. One hypothesis is “Spurred by big tech lay-offs in the US, and with insurmountable H-1B visa renewal issues, Indians in the US especially, are summoning their entrepreneurial spirit, capitalising on the knowledge they obtained, and creating new opportunities for many when they return to their homeland."

“These techies are coming back with a wealth of experience from the big tech world and are adapting this knowledge into a model that’s more suited for their environment. India is now the second largest SaaS ecosystem in the world by volume, behind the US.”

A SaaS (Software as a Service) ecosystem encompasses the broader environment of software solutions, integrations, users, and operational practices within a digital architecture.

Operationally speaking, India has graduated from being the world’s back office with BPOs 25 years ago to becoming the world’s research, design and engineering epicentre.

GitHub is a developer platform that allows developers to create, store, manage, and share their code.

During his visit to India, Microsoft CEO Nadella said India has 13.5 million AI software developers on its GitHub innovation platform. That is the second largest software developer community in the world after the US (20 million). China is third. Japan, Hong Kong and the UK have been left way behind.

He predicted that by 2027, India would overtake the US in the number of AI software developers on GitHub.

Even if there is a glut in AI domain- which is likely- in India there is a space to move horizontally as tier 2, 3 and 4 towns are now getting better infrastructure and entrepreneurs can use this opportunity.

‘It is often asked, who does the 21st century belong to. Everyone agrees its Asia's. For the first time they don't say that but say its India's.’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the Indian diaspora in San Jose, California's SAP Centre.

Our PM Modi ensures he addresses the diaspora which ever country he visits and impresses upon them that it will be good for them to come back to their motherland- the cheering by Indians living abroad for his address is infectious.

Life in India is getting better and better

First, ‘creature comforts’ are really possible for an average guy. Hiring a driver, a personal cook, a help to clean up your home, Massage parlour, physio therapy, a hair cut and someone to run errands or a gardener is a luxury in the west- India is the best in that respect. Medical facilities are better, more responsive and much quicker than Europe where it takes much longer and much more expensive to get your path lab reports. Dental treatment is prohibitively expensive and unless you have a heart attack, you cannot get to see a doctor. We have world class hospitals- very good doctors and nurses.

If you are well off financially- not filthy rich - India is the best place to live. Our infrastructure development has moved several notches higher in the last one decade. Airports, railway services, connectivity is very good. Internet penetration, mobile penetration, digital accessibility, power generation and green energy are no more things of past.

Yes, we are over populated- but you can’t get everything bro.

Professional solace

This trend has been influenced by some factors:

1. Economic Growth: Emergence of opportunities in sectors such as information technology, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals have attracted skilled professionals back to the country.

2. Technology and Innovation: India has become a hub for technology and innovation, with a growing startup ecosystem and increased investment in research and development.

3. Globalization of Indian Companies: Indian companies expanding globally and establishing themselves as multinational corporations have created opportunities for skilled individuals to work on international projects while based in India.

4. Government Initiatives: Various initiatives by the Indian government, such as the "Make in India" and "Skill India" campaigns, aim to create a conducive environment for skilled professionals.

5. Entrepreneurship: The rise of entrepreneurship in India, supported by a growing venture capital ecosystem, has encouraged professionals to return home.

This phenomenon is enabling India to transform from a service-based economy to a product-based economy.
And no one can throw out an Indian from India.
So welcome to India.

“The danger of venturing into uncharted waters is not nearly as dangerous as staying on shore, waiting for your boat to come in.”

― Charles F. Glassman