Does the acronym NRI equal success and luxury? 

Published in Bharat Ratna   

As soon as resident Indians hear the acronym ‘NRI’, they start painting rosy pictures of affluence, comfort and luxurious lifestyles in their minds.  But is this dreamy sounding life as good as people believe it to be?  On average, does a NRI lead a better life compared to a resident Indian or a local citizen? Undoubtedly, the answer is YES. 

However, the more pertinent question is whether it is or has it been easy for these envied NRIs to achieve the social status, financial security as well as the quality of life that they currently enjoy? Also, what is it that makes Indians successful wherever they go in the world? As we know, it is never easy to achieve success, especially in a foreign land. But when individuals, or more specifically youngsters, go abroad to make their careers, they are prepared to work hard towards achieving their goals. Amazingly, even those Indians who have been abroad for generations (or Persons of Indian Origin), are comparatively much more successful than the natural citizens of the respective countries!           

Indians, have proved their worth by achieving excellence in various fields like IT, medicine, engineering, construction, hospitality, business, etc.; the list goes on. The statistics, particularly with respect to NRIs in the United States, are simply astounding. According to a recent survey, 38 % of the doctors in the US are Indians whereas 36% of the scientists at the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) & 34 % of Microsoft employees are Indians. Some famous NRIs like Amartya Sen, Laxmi Mittal, Sabeer Bhatia, Swaraj Paul, Mira Nair, Salman Rushdie and Sam Pitroda have set some challenging benchmarks for Indians in general and NRIs in particular. According to Y.V. Reddy, the governor of Reserve Bank of India, “The annual contribution by way of remittances by the non-resident Indians (NRIs) is about three per cent of GDP. These are in addition to export of services, especially software which are of the same order”.

It is truly intriguing that Indians generally achieve success in whatever field they immerse themselves into. There have to be some qualities or attributes that are shared by all Indians, even if they are away from India. As Pandit Nehru once remarked, “Wherever there is an Indian, a bit of India goes with him”. What is that ‘bit of India’ that is inherent in every Indian? Well, it has been stated a number of times by various experts that Indians are naturally intelligent. Among those who emphatically endorse this view is Geordie Greig, editor of Tatler, a posh British magazine. “I adore the diversity,” he says speaking of India. “I think this is the most creative, intelligent, entrepreneurial race in the world. It’s a country where the word boring does not exist.”

Another quality that propels Indians towards success is their affinity towards hard work.  If an Indian knows that there is an opportunity for them to be successful and the only thing preventing them from achieving their goal is the hard work necessary to achieve that particular goal, he or she will slog it out and achieve their goal. They just need to find opportunities that will allow them to prove their worth by sheer hard work. Most developed countries provide such opportunities which India unfortunately lacks due to its inherent problems such as excessive population and lack of infrastructure. The availability of opportunities, higher standards of living and the chance of being able to work with cutting edge technologies is what lures young Indians, mainly students, to foreign lands where they can have a better shot at fulfilling their dreams. Talking of opportunities, they know how to make the best of any opportunity.

Another factor which contributes to the success of Indians is their ambition. Their ambitions and want of a better future gives them a definite edge over the others. Given the Indian mindset, they want prestigious careers for themselves. They aim to qualify as doctors, engineers, IT professionals as well as other high profile jobs that will challenge them and further enhance their skills. Furthermore, Indians are entrepreneurial in addition to being gifted with keen business acumen. The strong education system in India enables them to possess strong marketable skills. These technical skills bundled with their soft skills of being highly adaptable jointly contribute to the phenomenal success of NRIs all over the world, across various fields.   

Indians have been undertaking long journeys to distant lands since ancient times.  However, the trend of migrating to other countries with intent to settle there permanently can be said to have started around 200 hundred years back when Dean Mohamet migrated to England with the intention of setting up an Indian restaurant in the area.  Since then, the number of Indians seeking opportunities abroad have increased manifold. The Liberalization Policy adopted by the Indian government in 1991 gave further impetus to this trend.         

As per an American Community Survey, Indians are the second largest Asian group in the US. They own almost 85% of the hotel & hospitality ventures in US, with a combined market value of around $40 billion. In addition, one out of every ten Indians in the US is a millionaire. Besides Indians have the highest educational qualifications among all groups in the United States. On average, 65% of Indians have a bachelor’s degree, while almost 40% have a master’s degree. Besides the United States, Indians can be found in regions like Canada, the Middle East, South Africa, UK and Malaysia.

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs celebrates the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention every year in December-January, which is the usual time for NRIs to visit India. The basic aim of this convention is to provide a medium for the exchange of views among NRIs and Resident Indians. It also provides a platform to establish mutually fulfilling and beneficial business relationship. As part of the celebrations, the ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Samman’ an award to honor NRIs for exceptional contribution in their field, is also presented by the President of India.          

Let’s hope that Indians all over the world keep shining like the brightest jewels on earth.