Page 19 - Seniors Today December 2020
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Amrish Kapoor – 1 year in UK, 11 years in getting into engineering, there were very
the US few seats left for the “general” category for
all of us to compete for. So, you either had
to do very well academically to get into the
colleges you wanted, or go to lesser colleges in
Maharashtra at least.
Raj Bagchi – 2 years in Singapore, 20
years in the US
My main reason for leaving India was
obviously education. I felt higher education
(Master’s degree and beyond) was better
served in UK / US than being in India in
general. So that’s the reason for leaving India.
Now, the reason for staying and starting a
family here was similar. I wanted my kids to
have the opportunity for a world-class, well-
rounded education. I didn’t have too many
complaints about my education growing up. I think better higher education and job
I did well academically, but I did feel like it opportunities are what bring us abroad.
was very one-dimensional. I thought kids Resource constraints for majority of the
here came out of school much more confident population. In India it is hard to do day-to-day
about life in general. They also had a much tasks.
easier path to getting into really good world- In this conclusion to our stories on NRIs,
renowned universities that I had a much whether someone is a technology officer or
harder time getting into. I also thought this medical officer or an educationist, young
translated into better job opportunities people have found enough compulsive
finally, and a better life as a result. At least in reasons to move out of India. And a majority
the tech industry, the centre of that universe of the reasons are the same – no religious bias,
is very definitely still here. Other lines of no quotas, no corruption; and slowly with
work are similarly advanced too - medicine, parents no longer being there the emotional
finance, whatever else. attachment also evaporates. Everyone is
I do think the reservation policy contributed entitled to a good quality of life and that’s
to this, yes. I don’t know if things have gotten what NRIs believe when they leave India and
better or worse recently, but when I was don’t want to come back.
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #18 | DECEMBER 2020 19
