Data suggests Nepali students going abroad for studies are increasing dramatically. Let’s not talk about foreign bounding Nepalis in working visas. Among foreign bound students, have you ever thought how many of them return? Your ovious answer would be they return but just for vacation or family meeting. Come on, anyone with US or UK education degree gets opportunities there no matter whatever form it is, so why would they come to Nepal leaving their careers and bright future (and of course money) there. Every day I might stumble upon many people who are dying hard to go abroad no matter at any costs. Seeing the fragile condition of Nepal, who wants to put their career on risk. Their concern is genuine enough if we think from their perspective. But when we, so called philosophically advance and patriotic people, see such lots, we cry saying who would save country if everyone wants to go away. I used to feel though philosophically at least there are people who cries over foreign bounding people.
But when I got one experience of US returnee via email, it put question on my own attitude and the way I look at everything. Reading his email made me feel sick with our own hypocrisy. Why I felt so, why don’t you read the email below yourself and find out yourself

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Breaking the popular trend and returning to Nepal
By Sulav Bhatta

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!
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His determination has given me new dimension – A new thought and vision. Hopefully, after reading this article, our perspective would change and we will create environment to work together to make Nepal a better place.