The 'dual' world of NRI youths

MRIDULA CHUNDURI / TNN / Jan 7, 2006, 03:35 IST

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Welcome to the world of the NRI youth who live with 'dual' identities.

HYDERABAD: They are Indians in a foreign land and foreigners in their homeland. Welcome to the world of the NRI youth who live with 'dual' identities.
Thirty youngsters in the age bracket of 18-26 years from 10 different countries are in the city to participate in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
And they are discovering what it means to be born in one country and living in another.Some like Ranjeet Cameron, a fifth generation Indian settled in France, are taking it in their stride.
"In France, I am dark and I am different from my friends. Here I am one with the crowd. But my home is in France.

I consider myself lucky for I have the chance to imbibe the best of two cultures. I am Indian and I am European��it makes me rich," he said.
Others like Kulwinder Singh who, though born in India, has always lived away from it, but can only call India his home.
"I am an Indian. There is some intangible bond with this country. Despite living all my life abroad I cannot let go of it," he said.
So what do you think India is asking from these young NRIs who came here in the hope of rediscovering their homeland? Money.

Wherever they go, they are asked to 'bring the money'. During the last few weeks of his stay in the country, Raj Phui, a student from Canada, got at least a dozen business propositions worth 500 USD.
Having arrived in India in December, these youths went around several cities and villages��more on tourism trips.
They visited large companies and small handicraft villages. But wherever they went, they were asked to come back and invest.
"Most of us are still in our teens. Even if it is for the future, the idea of being asked to bring in the money puts us off," said Yael Joseph, a student from Israel. "All of us want to do something for India.
But not all of us want to build industry here. Some of us want to work with NGOs. Vijay here is from Germany and wants to make movies. Investment should not be restricted to just monetary terms," Kulwinder said.
Despite this, India just cannot disappoint them. If anything, the country's 21st century look has many of them pleasantly shocked.
"All we see of India is what Bollywood shows us. We mostly hear about the culture and tradition. We never get to know about the business here or the development that has happened," said Priyanka Patnaik, a student from Canada.
The picture these NRI youths have of India is one of an amalgamation of several aspects and that is what they love about the country.
They see multiplexes, McDonald's, Pizza Hut and don't even realise they are in India. But then the slum beside an Imax brings them back to reality.
They love their Shah Rukh Khans, they love the cheapness of the rupee, they shop a lot and give a lot as alms to the poor.
They will come back soon, to know more about India. May be, some of them may even stay back. But please don't talk to them just about investment only.

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