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Description
Welcome to ”DesiReturn Diaries: Embracing Home Again,” the podcast that shares personal journeys and expert insights on returning to India. I’m here to guide and inspire you as you embark on your own DesiReturn journey. Each episode, we’ll dive into the heartfelt stories of individuals who have chosen to come back to India after living abroad. From the challenges of adjusting to a new culture to the joys of rediscovering their roots, these personal narratives will resonate with anyone longing to call India home again.
We’ll also feature expert guests who will provide valuable advice and practical tips on various aspects of returning, including finance, career transitions, education, and more. Their expertise will empower you to navigate the complexities and make the most of your journey.
So, whether you’re considering a return, planning your move, or already on your way, join us on ”DesiReturn Diaries” as we explore the triumphs, challenges, and transformation of embracing home again.
We’ll also feature expert guests who will provide valuable advice and practical tips on various aspects of returning, including finance, career transitions, education, and more. Their expertise will empower you to navigate the complexities and make the most of your journey.
So, whether you’re considering a return, planning your move, or already on your way, join us on ”DesiReturn Diaries” as we explore the triumphs, challenges, and transformation of embracing home again.
121 Episodes
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Bilkish an NRI spent close to 14 years in US before moving back to India with her family. Bilkish talks about her background, life in US and why they didn't move in 2022 and moved now. She also talks about how she onboarded both spouse and kid who were not sure about the move. She talks about the planning , selling the house after the move, kids schooling and how Desi Return community helped her with the move and advice for aspirant NRIs who are planning to move to India. Very insightful conversation.
Chintan went to the US for his MS and spent close to 17 years before moving to India. He was working in supply chain/ manufacturing industry. He talks about his background, life in US, planning the move and financial independence. He talked about his reasons to move back to India and how his life is after the move. Very insightful and candid conversation.
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
2:03 Background
2:52 How was life in US
4:15 Why move out of US?
6:45 Pulling factors to move to India
7:46 Planning the move?
10:56 Your framework to determine corpus number?
13:00 Career opportunities for manufacturing/supply chain in India?
16:41 How is life in India?
19:17 Any surprises living in India?
20:47 Anything you would do differently?
22:07 Anything that we didn’t cover?
23:22 Cost of living in India?
25:03 Immigration status
26:55 Advice for future aspirants?
Meet Vishwa who spent most of his time in Denmark. After completing 5th grade, he returned to India and he is currently studying 8th grade. Also meet Suhanth who moved back to India after completing his 3rd grade and he is currently studying 6th grade. In this candid conversation, kids shares: 👉 Reaction when they knew about moving to India 👉 School, social life and sports in India vs Denmark 👉 Advice for other kids
Join our whatsapp community, book 1:1 consultations, group calls or explore our digital course 👉 https://pensight.com/x/desireturn
After spending 15 years in Denmark, Havya and her kids decided to do a trial run of moving back to India. It’s been 2.5 years since their return, and they’re taking things one step at a time. In this candid conversation, Havya shares:
👉 Her background and life in Denmark
👉 Why the family chose a trial run instead of a permanent move
👉 Husband in Denmark while kids and her are living in India
👉 How the kids adjusted after the move
👉 The unexpected challenges they faced in India
👉 What the future may hold for their family If you’re considering moving back to India after years abroad, Havya’s story will give you an honest look at the ups, downs, and realities of such a big decision.
Join our community, schedule a personalized 1:1 consultation, or access our digital course here 👉 https://pensight.com/x/desireturn
Gayathri moved to the UK/US in 2005 and, after spending 10 years abroad, her family decided to return to India while the kids were still young. In 2025, they moved back to the US once again. In this conversation, Gayathri shares her journey — why they initially went to the US, what motivated them to return to India in 2015, and the reasons behind their move back to the US. She opens up about her background, life in the US, experiences of raising kids in India, their adjustment, and her own entrepreneurial journey. Gayathri also emphasizes the importance of having a strong “why” for such life-changing decisions and offers practical insights on making a transition successful. The discussion is packed with valuable takeaways for anyone considering a similar move
Santosh went to Canada on a work permit and after staying for 6 years in Canada, his family decided to move back to India. Please check out our first episode of our conversation (https://youtu.be/SSBqgjw1ZhQ) about their reasons to move and life in India as well as 6 reasons why people are leaving Canada. It’s been 2 years since we talked and I want to get updates on life in India and any changes to their decision.
Part1 : https://youtu.be/SSBqgjw1ZhQ
Join our community, book 1:1 consultations, or explore our digital course 👉 https://pensight.com/x/desireturn
From Germany’s Automotive Industry to a New Life in India 🚗🇮🇳 After 8 years working in Germany’s automotive sector, Swapnil and his family have decided to return to India in 2025. In this episode, he shares how their trial run in 2023 helped them make the final decision. We talk about:
Background & Life in Germany
Why they'r moving back to India
The role of trial run in planning the move
Career transition for non-IT Family, lifestyle and long-term planning
Whether you’re in IT or not, if you’ve ever thought about moving back to India, this story will give you valuable insights.
📌 Join our community, book 1:1 consultations, or explore our digital course 👉 https://pensight.com/x/desireturn
In this episode we bring you detailed advice from a University Professor on how to navigate a successful graduate STEM program and mount an effective job search. Prof Kumar describes what his students did to achieve academic excellence and professional success. We also touch upon undergraduate admissions for parents who have Desi-Return-ed and aspire for their children to attend college in the US.
Prof Kumar went to the US over 30 years ago and obtained his degrees in Ivy League universities. He was a technical executive with several patents at a Fortune 10 firm for over 20 years before entering academia to pursue his passion for teaching. He teaches grad classes in technology and business development at NJIT (NJ, USA). He is also an investor, board member and strategic advisor to several tech businesses.
In this video, I chat with Priyanka, founder of Documitra — a one-stop solution for all documentation needs for NRIs. We cover everything you need to know about the OCI application process, including:
✅ How to handle Renunciation of Indian Citizenship
✅ Key differences between E-Visa vs OCI
✅ Apostille document requirements
✅ Must-have documents when relocating to India
✅ Common mistakes to avoid during the OCI process
Documitra helps NRIs with services like: 👉 OCI Cards 👉 Visa & Passport Renewals 👉 PAN Cards 👉 NRE/NRO Bank Accounts 👉 EAD, Green Card & Citizenship support
📌 Whether you're visiting India or planning to move back to India permanently, this video is packed with practical info to make your transition smoother.
website link: https://documitra.com and get a discount with our code "DESIRETURN05"
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/documitra
Dr. Singh went to the US for his bachelors. After living in the US for 46 years, he is considering moving back to India for his retirement. In this episode, we talked about his background, life in US, what made him consider spending time in India for retirement. We discussed assisted living in the US vs active senior living in India, why he choose Ashiana project and much more. He talks about being open minded and practical to think about the life as one gets old. Lot of take aways from this episode, Please check it out.
Rahul moved to US for his Masters and after 11 years, he and his family moved back to India early in 2025. Rahul talks about his back ground, why he moved to India. He talks about how his wife was NOT onboarded with the move initially and what compromises they made to make this transition. He talks about growth opportunities in India and life in Tier2 city.
Returning NRIs looking to understand different curriculums in India , how to chose a particular school and best one for their kids. Dr. Kondal Reddy — a visionary academic, change maker, and the driving force behind Manchester Global School . With over 15 years in UK higher education, including his role as Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Bolton, Dr. Kandadi has dedicated his life to transforming how students learn, grow, and lead in a globalized world.
Anish and Swati went to the US for MS and lived there for 8.5 years before returning to India in 2022. Please check out our first episode of our conversation (https://youtu.be/xWHXR7U20Uc?si=yLYBy0ElRRXNakcr) about their reasons to move and life in India. It’s been 2 years since we talked and I want to get updates on how things are going in India and a realty check of their assumptions
Brinell and her family went to Canada in 2016 and returned to India in 2024. Brinell talks about her background and why the family moved to Canada. She talks about life in Canada, the compelling reasons they decided to return to India and the meticulous planning behind the move. She also talks about life in India, interviewing schools and much more.
Adarsh is a Managing Director at Primus Life,one of India’s leading providers of active senior living communities. With a deep understanding of the evolving needs of NRIs and their parents, he shares valuable insights into modern retirement living options that combine science, comfort, care, technology and community. He talks about how one can select community, regulations and much more.
If you are interested to learn more about Primus life or their communities, please fill the form https://tinyurl.com/PrimusDes
Pratibha went to the US in 2014 and after working there for a decade, the family moved back to India.Pratibha talks about her HR career, initial struggles in US and life after that. Why did the family decide to move back to India, timing the move and planning the move?
Karthik went to the US in 2010 and after spending 10 years, they moved back to India in 2020. Karthik talks about his background, life in US, why he didnt apply for GC, life in India after the move and much more. what he would have done differently if he had the opportunity to redo it
Sumit went to the US in 1990 and after spending 34 years, he returned to India in 2024. Sumit talks about his background, what motivated him to move to the US, life in the US. He also talks about why he moved back to India, financial planning and life in India. Finally 3 key things that future aspirants need to consider before moving to India. It's a very honest and candid conversation, Please check it out.
If you are a NRI and planning to invest in Indian real estate this episode is for you. Sahil from Shray projects talks about why someone should consider investing in Indian real estate, Do's and Don'ts when purchasing hte property. They talk about the framework, how to select the trust partner and wether to purchase house before or after the move.
Sahil is COO of the Shray projects. Shray Projects is a leading real estate brokerage in India, backed by over 35 years of legacy and expertise. The firm specializes in residential, commercial, and retail real estate, along with end-to-end services in leasing and property management. They are offering a free consultation call to understand your interests/plans and provide insights on your Indian real estate investment. Please fill the form to avail this https://forms.gle/XSXmAxEeN87gcGTT9
Ramana went to the US for work and after spending 13 years, they moved back to India in 2018. It’s been 7 years since they moved to India and a lot of insights on their journey. Ramana talks about his trial run before the move, kids adjustment, choosing a different curriculum and what he would have done differently if he had the opportunity to redo it.
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