While I was in India last month, I made it a point to read the local papers and watch the local news broadcasts. The purpose of this was to get a sense of the issues and concerns that were on the minds of the people and the press. Bush’s impending visit, the H5N1 (bird) flu, globalization, and the negative impact of the “MTV Generation” on the youth were frequent topics in the news and editorial pages.

Of greater interest to me were the numerous stories of NRI’s attempting to improve their villages. For example:

For a long time non-resident Indians have been donating for causes associated with their native villages or hometowns for schools, dispensaries or roads. In what is a rare example of donation targeted specifically for carrying out the battle against AIDS, cancer and TB in Punjab, a New York-based NRI today told the Punjab Government that he would spend $1 million (Rs 4.5 crore) on the project…. Mr [Surinder Singh] Dhall said: “If I am satisfied, I will donate even more than $1 million. It was my wish to donate for a larger cause and not restrict myself to building roads or schools in my native village.” [Link]
One reason I was in India was to attend a three-day conference sponsored by the alumni association of my father’s medical school, the Amritsar Medical College. The conference was organized in part to display the deteriorating condition of the college’s hospital and to generate interest in NRI investment into the campus. The response from the alumni was overwhelming; some graduates felt as though it was their duty to “give back” to the institution that had provided them with a living and with fond memories.

After Amritsar, I stopped by the Guru Nanak Mission Hospital, where I met a family friend from America who has committed himself towards improving this hospital and expanding its current capabilities. Again, I encountered an NRI who was devoting his time and money to a charitable cause in India.

And, even on the flight back to America (of all places), I ran into a friend who had spent three months in India managing the India-branch of his technology company. His interest seemed purely business-oriented, but in a larger sense he is still investing in the country.

The experience in India left me thinking: as an Indian individual who was born and raised in the United States, what is my moral obligation to providing anything to India or resident Indians, whether it be financial support, investment capital, professional expertise, or simple seva, or selfless service.

The easy answer is, it depends. To be sure, it does depend on a lot of different factors, including one’s resources and availability. And, of course, each person will have their own sense of obligation towards India, if any at all.

Further complicating matters is the question of whether NRI’s are even welcome or entitled to improve India, a question that is currently being explored on The Great Indian Anomie blog:

It’s interesting how often people try to shut me up by calling me an NRI (Non Resident Indian). What does she know? She’s an NRI. How can she talk about issues in India? She’s an NRI. What right does an NRI have to talk about development in India when she sits in London choking over her Starbucks Mocha?… So what if she’s spent 97.57% of her life in India, the minute she finds herself in an non-Indian postcode - she’s an NRI.

What is an NRI anyway? Someone who will never return? Someone who may return? Someone who sends remittances? Someone with a family name that sounds Desi?

So India is off-bounds to an NRI, because she doesn’t live there anymore (even if temporarily). UK should be out-of-bounds to me because I’m not “from” here. I shouldn’t comment on the rest of the world - because well I haven’t seen it.

Another problematic factor is the rampant corruption in India, which NRI’s may not be accustomed to or comfortable with. For example, an NRI, Lajpat Rai Munger, built an engineering and IT college, but then simply gave it to Punjab University. Why?
Although the institute cost him Rs 210 million ($4.7 million), he would have none of it any more. The NRI from California says he was disillusioned with the Indian system.

“Corruption and nepotism at every step have irritated me the most,” Munger told the agency…. “I gave up after finding that even after investing so much money in my country of origin, I had to grease palms at every governmental level - be it for getting approval for various courses or any day-to-day administrative matters.” [Link]

The attitudes of resident Indians and corruption aside, there remains the individual question of whether there is a moral obligation to give back in some sense. My answer? Shiet, ask me in about forty years.