Meet Dr Anupam Saraph, a Non Resident Indian (NRI) for several years. This man with salt and pepper beard has worked with top leaders across Asia, Europe and the Americas to build better organizations. He is known for having created Giki, the first world-wide governance wiki. He has also designed and implemented the use of Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 Information Systems for several large-scale organizations. But after his successful tenure in several countries he returned to India and became a resident Indian.
Another interesting NRI who left a good flouring business in US and started his own company in India is GS Bhalla, the Founder and CEO of Cocoberry who returned to India as he could see growing opportunities in India on different business front.
Like Dr Saraph and Bhalla scores of NRIs are returning to India after having their tenure in different countries. Some call it the Reverse Brain Drain while others like to use the term Brain Gain to describe the trend. Irrespective of what one calls , it is a fact that India is on the cusp of change . A large number of Indian working professionals who had migrated to developed countries like America, Canada , Europe and Middle East are now making a beeline towards India. This is partly because they see opportunity for growth and development in India and partly because of gloomy economic scenario in the developed countries.
If a latest survey and a White Paper prepared by a Kelly Services India , subsidiary of the US based company Kelly services is to be believed then an estimated three lakhs Indian professionals working overseas are expected to return between 2011 to 2015. The company is a leader in providing workforce solution across industries.
The White Paper titled “Reverse Migration of Engineering Professional in India” says more and more professionals working overseas are choosing to return to India for varied reasons, not the least of which is the obvious growth of India as an economic powerhouse and one of the top 3 nations worldwide fuelling global economic growth.
Kamal Karanth, Managing Director of Kelly Services India said to NGI that ” this trend of Reverse Migration is being noticed in several sectors including automobile, power, oil & gas, biotech, KPO’s, Information Technology and aerospace”.
The White Paper says the future looks bright for India, not only from an economic perspective but also from a sociological viewpoint. As more Indians working overseas look at coming back to take up challenging and critical new jobs, their experience abroad will undoubtedly enrich their colleagues, peers and the local work environment. With the government spending large amounts of capital on infrastructure and living amenities, an increasing number of happy, content and driven Indians are expected to move through the front doors of offices across the country.
Saraph said the main reason why he chose to come back to India is because of his family. “When elders become old they need emotional support of youngsters more than just monetary help and this was one of the reasons why I chose to return” he said.
