'Returning to Nepal is a great risk'

At a recent Nepali gathering outside Nepal, I was surprised at the way Nepalis think about returning home. They deem such a move as a great risk. Yes, most of the Nepalis residing out of Nepal think returning home is tantamount to taking a huge risk. And it is not just once; I have come across Nepalis – especially the youths – with similar mentality on numerous occasions. One of these occasions was this year’s Nepali New Year gathering near San Francisco, California, US.

During the New Year gathering, a bunch of Nepali youths, mostly students – some still in school and some recent graduates – were complaining about the current job market and the difficultly in finding a job. And when one of the seniors suggested on the possibilities back home, most of the youths simply brushed aside the idea saying ke kura gareko dai, ahile Nepal gayera kasle risk linchha; Nepal ma kehi future chaina. (What are you talking about, who is going to take risk by returning at such a time; there is no future in Nepal.)

SEEKING ASYLUM

Maybe that’s one of the reasons why many Nepali students in the US have decided to join the US Army and US Navy, well aware of the fact that they will be deployed in troubled parts of the world where their life could be in danger. Now, don’t get me wrong. I have deep respect for the men and women in uniform who voluntarily risk their lives to ensure that the life of others is protected. But the case here is different; if the situation in our country were good, most of these youths would return instead of risking their life just to get a green card.

Most of us are proud that Nepal ranks 11th on the list of countries sending students to the US, but very few of us are aware that Nepal also ranks sixth on the list of countries whose citizens seek asylum in the US.

For many of them, returning to Nepal is not only risking their academic and professional career but also risking their lives. To an extent, they are true. Forget about the commoners, the government hasn’t been able to provide security to even high-profile individuals. If professionals like doctors are abducted for nearly a month and the security apparatus don’t have a clue, what are they to expect?

That is why most of the Nepalis abroad do not leave any stone unturned to look for opportunities there – be that by extending their courses or repeating the same degree; overstaying illegally; or, lately, seeking asylum. Most of us are proud that Nepal ranks 11th on the list of countries sending students to the US, but very few of us are aware that Nepal also ranks sixth on the list of countries whose citizens seek asylum in the US.

According to the Annual Flow Report published in April 2010 by the US Government’s Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Immigration Statistics, a total of 22,119 persons were granted asylum in the US in the year 2009. Of these, 671 were Nepalis, putting Nepal behind China, Ethiopia, Haiti, Colombia and Iraq. The number of Nepalis who are granted asylum has been increasing ever since 2001 when only 52 Nepalis got asylum. The number for the year 2006, 2007 and 2008 is 376, 413 and 496 respectively.

REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK

The internet and social networking sites have made this world a small place and have changed the way we communicate and share information with each other. Social networking sites like Facebook is not only helpful to find our long-lost school friends but, at the same time, also gives us more information than we might need, whether we want it or not.

Say, a Facebook picture of a certain Ram who bought a new condo in upstate New York may result in jealousy among his contemporaries back home. But the Facebook status update of Shyams in Nepal about power outage, water scarcity, and frequent bandhs is sure to frustrate many Rams who enjoy all the freedom and facilities of a developed country.

The point here is: As much as Nepalis landing in foreign soil for the first time are baffled by the glitz and glamor, 24/7 electricity, hot and cold running water, clean and wide roads, internet accessibility and speed, and most of all the security situation of the foreign country; the same Nepalis – after they get used to foreign life – get a terrible reverse culture shock once they go back home.

Once Nepalis living in such a country get used to its disciplined, secure and luxurious life, they are shocked by the traffic congestion, air pollution, water unavailability, power outage and above all the non-existent security situation in Nepal. This is one of the reasons that they dread to return home.

Most of them who want to go back are scared that they might not be able to handle this reverse culture shock. As long as they have the “option” to study, work or live in a foreign land; returning to Nepal will always be a second “option”.

For those who really don’t want to return to Nepal, it’s a different story but I have personally met numerous others who want to go back home but because of the present political situation they simply cannot muster enough courage to make the final decision, pack their bags and purchase a one-way ticket back home.

The only thing that’s keeping the productive youths from returning home is the present political and security situation of the country. Once these two problems are solved, most other things will fall back into place. The people responsible for putting the country into this mess should understand it as soon as possible. Unfortunately, they are the ones who have the leverage to put the country back on track. As long as they do not understand this and make positive changes, the productive youths will continue to leave and the ones who are already in foreign lands will continue to consider that there is no future in Nepal and put the option of returning on the backburner.