After spending nearly two decades in the United States, Dhara — an Indian-American woman who moved abroad at the age of 15 — made the life-changing decision to return to India. Her story, shared through a series of candid Instagram videos, has resonated with thousands of NRIs who often weigh the emotional pull of home against the comforts of life abroad.
Dhara’s journey is more than a relocation; it’s a reflection of identity, motherhood, and the search for a deeper sense of belonging. Here’s her story — rewritten as a warm, thoughtful blog about rediscovering home.
A Return to Roots: Choosing India After 17 Years
Dhara grew up in the US, built a life there, married an Indian-origin man, and even became a mother to twins. Yet, somewhere along the way, she and her husband began to feel a shift — a yearning to reconnect with their homeland.
After extensive conversations and months of planning, they finally decided to return to India. But why leave a country known for its stability, opportunities, and comfort?
Dhara breaks it down beautifully.
1. A Sense of Community for Her Children
Her first reason is one that almost every NRI parent understands deeply — culture.
Dhara wanted her children to experience India not as a vacation spot, but as home.
She explains:
“In India, my twins are growing up with our prayers, our stories, and what culture truly feels like — not just what it sounds like on a holiday.”
For her, culture wasn’t something to be taught occasionally — it was something she wanted her children to live every day. She wanted them surrounded by grandparents, festivals, family rituals, and the warmth of community life, something she felt was hard to replicate abroad.
2. The Harsh Reality of US Healthcare
While many dream of the American lifestyle, Dhara’s experience as a mother highlighted a stark contrast between perception and reality.
She recalls how difficult it was after giving birth:
“I had twins and just six weeks of maternity leave to recover and figure out motherhood.”
Six weeks — to heal, rest, understand her newborns, and adjust to a new phase of life. After that, she was expected to return to work as if nothing had changed.
For Dhara, this was a painful awakening to the limitations of the US healthcare and maternity support system.
In comparison, India offers 26 weeks of maternity leave, allowing new mothers far more time to recover and bond with their babies.
This difference — both emotional and practical — played a huge role in her decision to return.
Coming Home: A New Beginning
Returning to India after 17 years was not an impulsive decision for Dhara. It was a carefully considered, deeply emotional choice driven by:
- A desire for cultural connection
- A longing for family bonds
- A need for kinder maternity and healthcare support
- A search for belonging
Today, she is raising her children in an environment that feels familiar, rooted, and community-driven — exactly what she always hoped for.
Dhara’s story is a reminder that “home” isn’t just where you live — it’s where your heart, your values, and your future feel most at peace.
Source:Hindustantimes
