http://www.kantipuronline.com/columns.php?nid=123883

This is an article on kantipuronline... You guys may wanna read it...

Have fun...!!!

Breaking the popular trend and returning to Nepal

By Sulav Gautam

.Ever since I came back from the US eight months ago, the most common question I have faced is regarding my "naive" decision to return. In my opinion, this is a wrong question to be asked. They should be asking why people do not return after completing their studies. To satisfy people's curiosity I tell them that this is my country and I have come back because I feel that I can do something here with my engineering degree. But people seem less convinced with my answer. They give me a strange, funny look.

The US, undoubtedly, is one of the most developed countries in the world. It is full of opportunities and it treats hardworking people very well. However, it is not Nepal, the country of our birth, where we enjoy an intricate feeling of belongingness. I have no hard feelings against the US; it treated me very well during my six years there.
I think all Nepalese should go to the US at least once in life to learn about freedom, hard work, fairness, positive attitude, accountability, sense of responsibility etc. After experiencing US life, I wanted to come to Nepal and give it a shot. I adjusted my expectation level accordingly because it would be ridiculous to expect things here to be the way they are in the west.

However, after spending about eight months is Nepal, I have some idea about why I was “mocked”. Currently I am doing my MBA as well. When I went to join the MBA programme, the college was locked due to some problem at Pokhara University. Our student coordinator who took my interview asked me why I came back. This was a strange question because she herself studied in the US and then returned to Nepal. I could not help but think that people are very frustrated with the current situation here. Regular class interruption due to Nepal bandh etc. is a part of life and something I am used to by now. Some of my MBA colleagues are in the process of applying for the US. If they get the visa, they would have no qualms about leaving the MBA program here.

What has really motivated me to write this article is the recent turn of events. There was vacancy for engineers at Nepal Telecom, and naturally I thought of applying. Since I have a certificate from the US, I was asked to present a TU equivalent for my US degree. I went to TU and filled up the necessary paperwork. Then they asked me to take my documents to Pulchowk Engineering College (PEC). They needed recommendations from PEC before they can form a committee and decide. Fair enough. Now, I go to Pulchowk only to discover that the Dean's Office has been locked down since the past two months due to the strike of the students. I asked the guy there if there was anything at all that could be done so that my credentials could be evaluated. He told me there was little, if any, chance for that. Then he asked me where I did my engineering. I told him and his eyes lightened up. Then he asked me the same question that I was already expecting--- why did I return?!

I came back home tired and frustrated. My parents were eagerly waiting to know if my problem got solved. I told them what happened and what the guy had said. I tried not to show my frustration. My parents, who were once overjoyed when I came back from the US, are having second thoughts now. They are wondering whether they should have ordered their only son to come back. This is a very ironic situation. However, I still stand by my decision to come back. I just hope that somehow I never have to regret my decision.

My problem is just a tip of the iceberg that the people here are facing. I find that our system is so broken up that it needs immediate and thorough change. If something is not done soon enough, we might alienate our young and productive generation so much that the only people remaining in Nepal would be the retired and old people. If we take the case of India, a lot of young people are returning from the US because they can now get same opportunity in India itself. This is helping India a lot. We all know how India has developed over the past few years. We should also try to attract our young, talented people back to Nepal. And I know that there are a lot of people out there who would love to come back if there is stability and opportunity here. I would like to request everyone to do whatever they can in their capacity so that people do not have to run away from Nepal.

Trust me, you can make a difference!



Posted on: 2007-09-27 09:51:18

Dear Nirab001,
I am glad that you returned. It is really a very difficult decision for those studying in US. But obviously this is the right decision. Branches of the tree can always explore other world but they are always tied to the root. There is no existance of the branch without the root.
Now, people say why I should come back if there is no opportunity in Nepal? Tell me what you guys will do if there is no opportunity is US either? Move to another country? What will be your identity then?
Congratulation Nirab001 as you are not the one sitting outside of the country and complaining. You, now, are the part of the solution finder. You were not wrong when you decided to come back. Contact for any kind of help, if needed.

Hey Miresh,

It was an an article on Kantipur webpage.. Its not me.. I'm still doing my undergrad.... But I liked the idea..

I hope your words of encouragement would reach out to Mr. Sulav Gautam ...!!!

Nice article...Always the case for anyone going back. Cats finish up with the undergrad here and go back to Nepal (due to family pressure/unable to get a job or whatever other reasons) and then they regret they ever took that step as there is too much negativity there. The USA for ALL Third worlders (not only Neps) is the "land of opportunity" and anywhere else around the globe too, you'd have been faced with the same question: "WHY did you come back?" A classic scenario of the grass being greener....

And for helping Nepal by returning, though you make sense from YOUR point of reaoning but in reality ,many a livelihood depend on the almighty dollars being sent back home. If that sustenance is cut, how would most families cope with it (the short-term effects would be disastrous). A catch 22 situation to the core!

Namaste!

It doesn't matter who wrote it or where it was posted. The fact is there are Nepalis who return home, only to be questioned in the same manner "Why did you come back?" Right or wrong, someone made a brave decision to go back and serve, in whatever little way, the community that gave him the opportunity to study, work or travel abroad.

I know someone who left Nepal more than 15 years ago, never to return. A very highly qualified man who serves the United States of America. A man whose dreams are being fulfilled. A man who is capable of designing electronic devices to serve his adopted country. Yeah, sure he sends back Green Bucks! But that's only meant for his parents and on special occassions...for his siblings.

But till todate, he's avoided helping his younger brother reach for the All American Dream!

So, if you're thinking of going back... JUST DO IT! Don't become like the American bison..moving in herds. Take the path least travelled, and you'll never have to regret. Life, after all, is like a box of chocolates. You never know what's in it, till you take the first bite.

Go back and help build up YOUR NATION, YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR FUTURE!

God bless you twice. Why? Because finally you decided that someone else is more important than yourself.

Before you go back though, make your links in US of A. Network, Network and Network, write proposals to the venture firms (these days many seem to give grant to start business in Asian countries) and so on.

But even though we are Nepalis, time has come to think globally. It is not ok to just go back and get a jagir in Nepal, we should be doing much more that. Look at Minendra Risal and the other guy who started Ace Institutes, they all have degrees from US.

Why refer them, i was recently looking at Yomari's website and it was like wow! these guys did it.

If you want to return, return with a purpose, and to do that, you should not be wasting your time during the 4 precious years in US. Make the most of it i would say.

I really have not much admiration for people who return for the sake of returning and then complaining. Yes, definitely we can make a difference but for that we have to act in unison. there is no point citing India as example as they have gone far ahead. Now, they would not even want to come to US for that matter, they have better jobs at home.

So good luck brother, and hope you will make everyone proud.

This is really nice