Friends, we're excited to announce a big change coming in our lives: a month from today, we'll leave the United States to live in India for an indefinitely long time. Both of us (Usha and Namit) have resigned from our Silicon Valley jobs, which, while spiritually and intellectually dreary, were at least lucrative, and for this we feel very lucky indeed. This is a move that we've long considered and planned, so we can stop working for wages and take on new adventures in life.
What will we do in India? We'll do more of the things that we've long enjoyed doing, like reading and writing. We'll also backpack in India and in other parts of Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. We'll try some new projects too, such as making documentary films and finding new ways to make ourselves useful to others. We share many hopes and aspirations for this move, but for Namit this will also be the fruition of a desire and responsibility he has long felt to be close to his parents in their later years.
We can't know just how all of this will unfold, since the change is huge and the uncertainties many. But we are keen to move into a new chapter of our lives and grow from our discoveries. India is a phenomenally interesting place to both of us. Namit grew up there, and we both visit often and lived there for two years from 2004-06, so we know the challenges we'll face — power and water shortages, bad driving, pollution, corruption, and more — but we also expect the compensating factors to be numerous enough. We'll be busy the next few weeks with packing and farewells. And by early May, we should be settling into a rental apartment in Gurgaon, a few miles southwest of Delhi.
—Usha & Namit
This is so exciting! The only downside is that your leaving coincides with my moving back to the bay area, and I was really looking forward to the chance to meet you and Usha finally. Oh, well, perhaps one day in India...
Posted by: Zara | March 28, 2013 at 12:00 AM
I'm so happy for you both, that you finally get to realize this dream. I'll miss Usha around the office and at our adventure lunches and outings, but am looking forward to exploring the world through your experiences. Congratulations!
Posted by: Julie Finnigan | March 28, 2013 at 01:33 AM
Oh my! I'm thrilled for you. I'd like to move there too.
Posted by: Elatia Harris | March 28, 2013 at 01:55 AM
Congratulations and all the best. I'm looking forward to reading and watching all that you make after moving here.
Posted by: Nivedita | March 28, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Dear Usha & Namit,
We've not met/interacted but have been reading your posts/ writings for a few years. Welcome to India. Almost 3 years back, we chucked our jobs & European passports to return back to India, with a similar intent. Its been an enriching journey. We too started with a gurgaon rental & have subsequently (2 years later) developed the courage to move into real India - a U.P. town just 3 hours drive from Delhi, but a totally different world. Apart from the proximity to Corbett park & the kumaon himalayas, we've discovered a key doab archaeological site with a documented history of 3000 years including 2 intact stupas (one by Ashoka to mark Buddha's talk at this mahajanapada), barely 4 hrs drive from Delhi. There is a lot waiting for you to explore here. Much needs to be done to support the smaller towns & rural societies. Meet us in Delhi & we'll share our journey thus far. And do let us know if you need any help in your transition back.
Posted by: Ratnesh | March 28, 2013 at 07:00 PM
good luck Usha! Ride an elephant for me!
Posted by: scott hollington | March 28, 2013 at 09:41 PM
Thanks Nivedita.
A bummer, Zara! Hope we can meet in India (or when we visit the bay area in the future). Julie and Elatia, please visit us in Delhi!
Ratnesh, I'm delighted to hear from you and read your wonderful message (and linked article). I'll be in touch for sure. :-)
Posted by: Namit | March 29, 2013 at 09:21 AM
Thanks for the good wishes, everyone! It would be fun to see you in India, Julie, Elatia, and Zara.
Scott, what a surprise to see you here! I hope you're doing well.
Ratnesh, we look forward to making your acquaintance and hearing about your journey, once we arrive!
Posted by: Usha | March 30, 2013 at 05:45 AM
Congratulations Namit.
Best of transitions to both of you and your families.
-Rakesh
Posted by: Rakesh | April 04, 2013 at 08:37 AM
Usha and Namit, welcome back! I have not met you both, but have read extensively on this blog (wrote to Namit asking for permission to use a pic of his...and so discovered the site and both your writings). I too moved back to Bangalore in 2011 after 20 years on the East coast. Time goes fast here :). Too much going on. Other than the noise level in Bangalore, everything else is.... well, as it should be :) ha ha. My goal was not to bail for at least 2 years - I felt it takes that long to acclimatize. I haven't bailed yet and the two years is up next month! Good luck. Keep writing. Your site is one of the best there is....
lalita
Posted by: Lalita | April 05, 2013 at 03:38 PM
all the best, if u ca come up with an idea of how to clear the garbage, it will be agreat contribution? i am not being sarcastic; when we take the train from trivandrum to delhi as we did a few moths ago, u see unity in diversity, all along the reailway tracks, godd decoration of paper cups, alu coated plates and plastic bottle; may be if the govt(railways- ad the fare can be increased to compensate for this) gives say 1000Rs per month to two villagers who live not far from the railway track asking them to clean it up and burn it say once in a week, it will be nice.then of course in cities.....who will clear the dirt???more later
suryanarayanan, paris
Posted by: suryanarayanan | April 17, 2013 at 03:06 AM
Hope you experienced good things here.If you happened to come to Hyderabad, meeting of you will may explore more deep insights by traveling to places not known much yet interesting.
Posted by: MALLIKARJUNA RAJU | September 10, 2013 at 09:30 AM