{
  "id": 18859586,
  "title": "Why're you back? The Indian dream beyond borders",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/whyre-you-back-the-indian-dream-beyond-borders-18859586",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-08T02:40:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/latest-updates/why-did-you-come-back-the-indian-dream-beyond-indias-borders/articleshow/135649583.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Since moving back to India, the most frequent question I receive is, \"Why did you return?\" This inquiry often carries a tone of puzzlement, as if living abroad meant an irrevocable departure, and returning required justification. A recent X thread highlighted that the sharpest Indians continue to pursue opportunities in the United States, driven by superior economic incentives. Deedy Das, a venture investor, highlighted nearly 20 AI companies founded by at least one Indian, emphasizing the pull of the US for frontier technology, aside from China. However, this sentiment is not unique to India, as founders from Britain, France, or Brazil also face similar temptations toward the US. The debate surrounding Indian emigration seems particularly charged in India, morphing into moral dilemmas. One perspective argues that staying abroad signifies a lack of ambition, while another asserts that leaving one's country is unpatriotic. These viewpoints, however, overlook the intricate factors influencing the decision to emigrate, both for individuals and their home country. India boasts the world's largest diaspora, with approximately 18.5 million people residing abroad in 2024, representing about 1.3% of the population. When compared to other countries, India ranks 81st in terms of the proportion of its citizens living overseas. The majority of emigrants from poorer nations, such as Syria, Venezuela, and Ukraine, are driven by dire circumstances, unlike the heterogeneous reasons behind Indian emigration. Despite this relatively small-scale emigration, Indians have long engaged in international migration, a practice that predates modern taboos against crossing the \"kala paani.\" The movement of merchants, laborers, and intellectuals across the Indian Ocean can be traced back to ancient times. The British, French, and Brazilian founders of AI companies abroad are not unique in their pursuit of opportunities in the US; the allure of frontier technology is a global phenomenon.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}