Hyphenated-Homestead

Part 10: Young India Thriving…and until next time, Jai Hind!

If you are binge reading, please carry on. If you just landed here from internet ether, I request to start reading from the top (Part 1)

When I left India 25+ years ago, my niece was barely four years old. We used to joke that she’d fit right into my suitcase and come along with me to the U.S. all those years ago. Now, she’s a mother herself, navigating a life I couldn’t have imagined when I was her age. Seeing her husband and kiddo for the first time was overwhelming in the best way possible – a vivid reminder of how time moves forward, yet connections remain.

Over the years, she and I have kept in touch—not in an overly dramatic, daily-check-in kind of way, but through occasional pings that kept us updated on each other’s lives. She represents a new generation, one that approaches life with a confidence and clarity that I find remarkable. At barely 30, she and her husband are already strategizing financial independence, planning their travels, and shaping a future that prioritizes experiences over endless work. Of course, we all had similar aspirations at that age, but something about today’s India feels different. There’s a palpable sense that success isn’t just a far-off dream- it’s within reach, and they know it.

The funniest moment was when she rattled off four or five dinner options, none of which I recognized. 😂 These weren’t the classic Pune restaurants I knew. Instead, she took us to a spot that, upon entering, felt nothing like the Pune I remembered. The city has evolved and so have the lifestyles within it. These young professionals are living lives that we could only imagine decades ago, and I couldn’t be prouder of her. Seeing her balance career, family, and ambition with such ease was inspiring. I can’t wait to see what she and her husband achieve in the years to come.

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A few days later, we visited another couple—friends who had lived in St. Louis for just a year but bonded with us in a way that goes beyond explanation. Some connections in life defy logic; they just happen. Though we are not related by blood, our time together in the U.S. created a bond that was stronger than Fevicol ka jod (as they say in India). Now back in India, they’ve built a thriving life and visiting them was pure joy.

The best surprise was meeting their little one, now a full-fledged chatterbox. In just a few years, their world had transformed and seeing them thrive in an environment so different from the one we first met them in was heartwarming. Their move back to India wasn’t about settling – it was about embracing a future that made sense for them. Comparing notes about life in India vs. life in the U.S., I saw yet another reflection of how India is changing.

There was a time when moving abroad felt like the ultimate success story, but today, success has many faces. The opportunities, the lifestyle, and the confidence among young Indians are unlike anything I witnessed when I left. Returning after all these years, I saw a generation that isn’t bound by the same notions of security and stability that shaped my decisions. They are ambitious, they are fearless, and they are thriving.

As I reflect on these moments, I realize that my journey has come full circle. Leaving India 25+ years ago was a leap into the unknown. Coming back this time, I saw a country that had leaped forward in its own way. This wasn’t just a homecoming; it was a glimpse into the future—a future that is bright, confident, and ready to take on the world.

And for me, it was a reminder that no matter how far we go, some bonds—whether through family, friendship, or shared experiences—transcend time and distance.

The best journeys are measured in memories, not miles. Grateful for every moment, every reunion, and every laugh shared. So here is the collage of some of those pics.

India may have changed in ways I didn’t expect, but one thing remains—its ability to surprise, overwhelm, and embrace you, all at once.

Until next time, India. Jai Hind.

If you missed the opening blog post about this series, please read it here.

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