Age and financial standing play a decisive role when non-resident Indians evaluate the prospect of moving back to their home country. Arham Ishtiaque, a resident of the United States originally hailing from Bihar, recently shared a detailed commentary on social media regarding his experiences of settling abroad, navigating career struggles, and considering a return to India. His videos, uploaded on Instagram, have gained widespread traction across digital platforms. In his message, Ishtiaque breaks down why returning to India at the age of 20 presents a starkly different reality compared to making the same decision at age 40. According to his analysis, non-resident Indians fall into two distinct groups, each facing contrasting economic and practical consequences upon returning home.
Two Distinct Categories of Non-Resident Indians
In his viral video, Ishtiaque categorizes non-resident Indians into two primary demographics based on career maturity and financial readiness. The first category comprises young individuals who moved abroad around the age of 20. These youngsters are typically in the formative stages of their careers, focusing on gaining industry experience, acquiring skills, and establishing their financial foothold. In contrast, the second group consists of individuals aged 40 and above who have spent decades abroad. People in this cohort have already built a structured lifestyle overseas, accumulated substantial savings, and acquired physical assets and property. Ishtiaque points out that the financial buffer available to these two age groups differs significantly, which drastically influences how a return to India impacts their daily existence.
The Financial Impact of Returning at Age 40
For non-resident Indians who have established solid financial reserves and real estate assets abroad, relocating back to India involves a manageable economic transition. Illustrating this scenario, Ishtiaque noted that an individual earning 2 crore rupees overseas might see their earnings drop to 1 crore rupees upon returning to India. However, because they already possess accrued wealth and property, their core financial security remains intact. According to Ishtiaque, making the move at age 40 may necessitate minor lifestyle adjustments, but it does not threaten fundamental living standards, housing comfort, or long-term financial stability.
Career Opportunities and Daily Income Gap in Your 20s
Conversely, the situation for 20-year-olds is entirely different as they are just embarking on their professional journeys. Ishtiaque, who works in the hotel industry, highlighted that a young worker in the United States can earn more than 20,000 rupees per day. By contrast, earning 20,000 rupees under similar circumstances in India can be an uphill battle for someone starting out. Emphasizing this disparity, Ishtiaque stated that comparing the two environments at that age is virtually impossible. He observed that the gap in growth prospects, daily wage potential, and career momentum between the US and India during one's 20s is simply too substantial to overlook.
Encouraging Youth to Step Beyond Comfort Zones
Elaborating further in his Instagram caption, Ishtiaque clarified the broader intent behind his video message. He noted that while a 40-year-old with existing savings and property might find returning to India relatively straightforward, a 20-year-old faces a monumental difference that can reshape their entire life trajectory. However, Ishtiaque emphasized that he is not advocating for young people to abandon India permanently. Instead, he encourages youth to step outside their comfort zones, travel abroad to gain real-world exposure, embrace hard work, build earnings, acquire new perspectives, and ultimately make an informed choice regarding where they wish to establish their future.
Diverse Reactions Across Social Media Platforms
Ishtiaque's commentary sparked a wide range of responses from social media users, highlighting varying opinions on the subject. Supporting his perspective, one user commented that young professionals often miss out on spending quality time with family while competing in a high-pressure environment surrounded by exceptionally talented peers. On the other hand, another user expressed disagreement with the need for validation, stating that Ishtiaque does not need to justify his decision to live abroad and should focus on remaining happy and safe in whichever path suits him best.
