What do you think?
Rate this book
r2i: Return to India: A tale of living India-genously
Many NRIs dream about r2i (Return to India) but spend years grappling with a nagging Would moving to India be a wise decision or would it be a choice I would come to regret? In ' Return to India', Parth Pandya offers a glimpse of his own experience of moving back to India. He converted his r2i dream to r2i reality and lived to tell the tale! Filled with anecdotes, this book chronicles his adventurous journey of surviving the move, embracing the change and living India-genously!
133 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2018
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 18, 2019
Exactly what I wanted to read. I discovered this book while browsing on Amazon and got myself a Kindle copy. The author talks about his return to India and the book was insightful. I have already done a r2i in the past so I was able to relate to all the differences between US and India that the author mentioned in this book. This would be my second r2i and I want to plan properly this time. I knew most of these pros and cons but it was still worth reading. I highly recommend this book and r2i Dreams if you are planning r2i yourself.
August 29, 2018
Disclaimers: (1) I am a friend of the author (2) I have been mentioned in the acknowledgements and (3) I had provided feedback during the writing stage of the book.
I wanted to get those disclaimers out of the way, because I genuinely liked this book so much that I didn't want anyone stumbling across those facts from somewhere else and getting the wrong impression. This book is a must read for the millions of NRIs (and as I think more about it, also for any Indian planning to move abroad and is considering the pros and cons).
Go to any desi gathering in the US (likely true for other parts of the world too) and the question of whether we should return "home" is an intrinsic part of the conversation and Parth and his co-authors had captured this wonderfully in their 1st r2i book.
However, r2i: A tale of living India-genuosly goes many a step further because Parth has actually taken the plunge of returning and resettling in India, and has 2 years+ experience in Bangalore to compare with the decade and a half he spent here in the US. He touched upon every concern that comes up - how safe is it? how reliable the support staff that's everywhere? is the traffic really as much of a problem as we hear? is red-tape/bureaucracy/babudom still the horror that we remember it to be? what about schools for the kids?
He uses his trademark subtle humor and balanced writing style to address these and more issues bouncing in every NRIs head. The best part according to me is he shares a lot of anecdotes, both scary and heart warming, but lets you decide for yourself if it's the right choice. He doesn't give you an answer, as it's impossible and would have sounded preachy.
Also, unlike the 1st book written by 3 authors, the single, consistent voice and tone in this one is a definite improvement. Parth is a joy read when he's in flow, and he's in a flow for the entire length of the book.
I wanted to get those disclaimers out of the way, because I genuinely liked this book so much that I didn't want anyone stumbling across those facts from somewhere else and getting the wrong impression. This book is a must read for the millions of NRIs (and as I think more about it, also for any Indian planning to move abroad and is considering the pros and cons).
Go to any desi gathering in the US (likely true for other parts of the world too) and the question of whether we should return "home" is an intrinsic part of the conversation and Parth and his co-authors had captured this wonderfully in their 1st r2i book.
However, r2i: A tale of living India-genuosly goes many a step further because Parth has actually taken the plunge of returning and resettling in India, and has 2 years+ experience in Bangalore to compare with the decade and a half he spent here in the US. He touched upon every concern that comes up - how safe is it? how reliable the support staff that's everywhere? is the traffic really as much of a problem as we hear? is red-tape/bureaucracy/babudom still the horror that we remember it to be? what about schools for the kids?
He uses his trademark subtle humor and balanced writing style to address these and more issues bouncing in every NRIs head. The best part according to me is he shares a lot of anecdotes, both scary and heart warming, but lets you decide for yourself if it's the right choice. He doesn't give you an answer, as it's impossible and would have sounded preachy.
Also, unlike the 1st book written by 3 authors, the single, consistent voice and tone in this one is a definite improvement. Parth is a joy read when he's in flow, and he's in a flow for the entire length of the book.
September 26, 2018
I recently finished the book r2i: Return to India written by my friend Parth. The book is an entertaining read, of Parth and his family’s experiences of taking the giant leap of faith from Seattle’s cul-de-sac to a multi-building apartment complex in Bangalore.
However those who have traversed this route, will agree with me that return to India after spending significant time outside is not for the weak hearted. Parth has aptly captured this in his book with his witty narration of incidents that will leave you in splits.
Having made the r2i journey myself 7 years back, this book took me down the memory, as I had many a “Ahh... been there, done that!” moments.
Parth’s words in the last chapter - “India, (is a place) where chaos is life!” absolutely capture the essence of life in India. And yet, there are certain things that make this chaos, worth it! The book does justice to both sides of the story capturing the ecstasies and the challenges of r2i.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has or is thinking or has decided against r2i (return to India).
However those who have traversed this route, will agree with me that return to India after spending significant time outside is not for the weak hearted. Parth has aptly captured this in his book with his witty narration of incidents that will leave you in splits.
Having made the r2i journey myself 7 years back, this book took me down the memory, as I had many a “Ahh... been there, done that!” moments.
Parth’s words in the last chapter - “India, (is a place) where chaos is life!” absolutely capture the essence of life in India. And yet, there are certain things that make this chaos, worth it! The book does justice to both sides of the story capturing the ecstasies and the challenges of r2i.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has or is thinking or has decided against r2i (return to India).
August 28, 2018
Do you have an Indian friend who has returned from USA and looks at things slightly differently now? His exasperation, his joys, his fears, his uncertainties, his India are all a little different from yours? Now imagine this friend to be a great raconteur and a little voluble after a few glasses of wine? Parth Pandya is that friend and this book is that get-together.
What was probably intended as a book for NRIs contemplating a return to India (the eponymous r2i) turned out to be a readable account of a typical upper middle class Indian's life negotiating traffic, finding reliable domestic help and playing cricket with colleagues on Friday afternoons. A book reminiscent of Bangalore's evening breeze - cool, gentle, relaxing.
What was probably intended as a book for NRIs contemplating a return to India (the eponymous r2i) turned out to be a readable account of a typical upper middle class Indian's life negotiating traffic, finding reliable domestic help and playing cricket with colleagues on Friday afternoons. A book reminiscent of Bangalore's evening breeze - cool, gentle, relaxing.
Read
September 11, 2018This is the quintessential story of an Indian NRI who has returned back to India, survived and thrived up until finishing writing the book at least - all his trials and tribulations with a humorous perspective. Any Indian living abroad would relate with all of the anecdotes from the writer's real life. An enjoyable quick read !
December 17, 2018
A succinct summary of the two years of a Indian turned American, turning back into an Indian.
It is a must read for any NRI thinking of moving to India. And for the people already here, it gives interesting anecdotes that we have experienced in our daily life. The best part is that the book never drawls and is a crisp read from start to finish.
It is a must read for any NRI thinking of moving to India. And for the people already here, it gives interesting anecdotes that we have experienced in our daily life. The best part is that the book never drawls and is a crisp read from start to finish.
September 15, 2018
This is a delightful book full of anecdotes that an R2Ier can relate to - I was nodding vigorously at many of them. Parth has done a great job of balancing the frustrations and joys of making the trip back to India after many years spent outside the country. Recommend this short, fun read.
January 2, 2019
A fantastic book! I really liked the candid, engaging and balanced view of r2i. Loved how the humor, quirky incidents and unexpected events have been interspersed to make the story line interesting and exciting. Highly recommended!
October 1, 2018
Crisp, witty and honest.
The book is very well written. Things which stood out for me were - intelligent humor , honest emotions and the wonderful balance between the two making the read not only fun but also endearing.
The book is very well written. Things which stood out for me were - intelligent humor , honest emotions and the wonderful balance between the two making the read not only fun but also endearing.
November 4, 2018
Very unbiased and gripping account of a family's return to India. Unputdownable!
January 24, 2019
Ive read r2i dreams and enjoyed it. This was like reading a very long, well written blog post. Very balanced, obviously would be quite useful and resonate with NRIs, I just read it because I like personal / memoir-ish books
December 25, 2021
A wonderful book about the dilemma facing most NRIs. After spending lots of years away from home, we tend to forget what India is like, for sure we have our memories, our impressions of what is happening back home but returning and living is a completely different thing. This book shares a very honest experience of what Parth and his family faces when re-integrating back to India. Like the way he brings out the funny side of things.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews