The returnees: Back for good?

In 2009/10 alone, a staggering number of 27,000 Nepalis were reported to have taken the “No Objection” letters for abroad studies.

The Ministry of Education adds that this data is exclusive of students who go to India, the actual numbers being even higher. Be it due to political instability, lack of quality education, or peer pressure, the lure to go abroad is immense.[break]

Back home, the notion at large is that once people choose to leave, be it for higher studies or greener pastures, they rarely, if ever, come back. And there are cases where families have even discouraged the homebound.

But a host of youngsters seems to be challenging the notion, and recently, Kathmandu even witnessed an informal networking event of the returnees.

When Prakash Khatri, 28, opted to leave Barclays Bank in London to come home, he knew what he was in for.

Though his family has been welcoming enough, he’s had to face a lot of negativity, cynicism and distrust. People were, firstly, unable to understand why he chose to quit Barclays, and then did not trust him enough to believe that he would be able to deliver much even with the experience he’s had.

“I’ve had a hard time convincing people that I can contribute and be an asset to their company. Thankfully, Laxmi Bank took a chance on me,” Prakash told The Week. And he’s not the only one to face such hurdles.

“People are skeptical about your decision. They don’t think your experience abroad can be of much help to their organizations,” says Prianka Rauniyar, 25, who worked as an AdWorks Account Associate at Google’s office in Delhi.

With his sense of humor and panache it’s easy to see why Prakash has fared well, but the journey from Barclays to Laxmi was difficult, to say the least.

For someone who’s had the experience of working on a global platform, it’s sad that he wasn’t given the opportunity to showcase what he had learnt. People were just not ready to believe that he was here to stay, and that concept was hard to break.

“They thought I would work for a few months and leave them without a notice, and I had a hard time convincing them otherwise,” shares Prakash as he recalls the initial days upon his arrival.

The woes of other returnees seem to be similar.

Prajuna KC, 27, who was initially back to attend her sister’s wedding but just didn’t have the heart to go back, remembers the process for her job interview.

Currently the program officer at Women’s Program at Alliance for Social Dialogue, she shares how the trust factor kicked in, and she was very directly asked if she planned to leave any time soon.

“They aren’t willing to trust you. That’s the difference I found in the situation here and abroad. Back in the States, people trust you until you give them a reason not to, and here they begin with distrust,” says Prajuna.

Even Brijlal Chaudhary, 26, who decided that he had had enough of staying away from home and returned, has had his dose of skepticism and points out that he has to constantly prove himself or to even be heard.

“They’ve got to let you do things your way. It’s not right to always follow the same work style and pattern and that shouldn’t be something that’s expected of someone who’s new. Let him bring in his own ideas and viewpoints rather than following the tried and tested methods just to play it safe,” says Brijlal.

“People’s mentality needs to change. If you’re new at an organization, you’ll take time to understand the basic workings of that place. But some expect you to either know everything right from the start, or they treat you as if you’ll never learn.”

And then there’s the ever familiar pun-intended question each returnee has to face, sooner or later – “Back for good?”

Prianka’s friends and family gave her a three-month grace period, saying she would be frustrated enough to leave by then. She’s been on the lookout for the ideal job ever since, so to say.

“I feel nepotism is massively prevalent here in Nepal. If you know someone who knows someone in an organization who can help you get in, then your chances are good. You just put in your resume and they call you for a random chitchat and you land up with a job,” she says.

“Organizations today need to be flexible. It’s good for their profile. Rather than hiring someone who doesn’t fit the criteria or someone who might not be interested in doing that particular job, look for people with the interest and the aptitude required for that area,” she adds.

Having lived abroad and exposed to a matured working culture, one of the biggest culture shocks many returnees seem to be perplexed with is the sloppy work culture in Nepal.

“Organizations, institutions and agencies need to understand that for whatever reason people do come back, whether personal, professional or familial, it’s for their own benefits to give somebody a job. Unless you show them what you have to offer, then why would anybody want to stay? If we’re learning from them, then they too are gaining new perspectives and will benefit from fresh insights,” says Prajuna.

Given the situation, it’s natural to feel a little disheartened. But these are dedicated young professionals who are ready to face the challenges and are convinced that they’ll leave a mark.

“I’m not disappointed as such, but I’ve toned down my expectations a bit. You’ve got to be realistic,” says Prianka.

Back in Laxmi Bank, Prakash is taking life as it comes and quietly working his way up. He jokes that if he ever quits his job, perhaps a small dent will definitely be made. It goes to show that he believes he’s an important part of the organization he’s with.

The journey back home for the returnees is full of challenges and culture clashes. But it’s a journey they are willing to make.

“Challenges can be stressful but they are also what make you tough. If you’ve made a conscious choice to come back, then be ready to work hard and prove yourself, irrespective of what negativity people throw your way,” adds Prakash.

In a country which is more or less being sustained by remittances of Rs 229.52 billion and that too in the first 11 months of the fiscal year 2010/11 alone and where finding a job in itself is a major challenge, we’ve got people heading back, despite it all.

Love for their family or their country, whatever the reasons be, the bottom line is that they’ve come home, and the uncertainty and challenges that come with it doesn’t seem to be a major problem for today’s confident generation as they have what it takes to navigate their way in and around it.

But are we ready to welcome them?