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Comment by kops | Hacker News Reader

As an Indian, I am actually pretty happy that not all of our best engineers can leave the country even if they wanted to.

What makes you think that America deserves/needs a good engineer more than India itself?

Disclaimer: I am not in India right now. But having been educated practically for free in a Govt. college, I hope I will be able to repay some of my dues soon. At the very least Govt of India, should be able to tax the runaways like me.

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I think it's even better if someone comes to the US, gets some exposure, learn many soft skills and then go back to India, instead of not coming here at all.

I won't deny the value of exposure. But I think soft skills and a lot of other things are over hyped. Some of the best engineers I know can't put together a sentence in English.

I can't speak for how it is in US because I haven't been there. But I really can't think of anything that can be done only in valley but not in India. But yeah again, I can't be so sure, because I have seen the things only from one side.

How about networking? e.g. meetup.com. I found very good speakers giving talks in my area of interest.

About soft skills, I felt considerable writing efforts are required here as part of the normal master's degree. I am doing my master's degree in CS here. Even if I am writing a simple report on some project I spend extra hours to think from the reader's perspective. That builds up writing skills. You get constructive feedback if you present something. That builds up the presentation skills. May be this is a personal experience.

I also felt that you start appreciating positive things about your country more but this experience may not be specific to US.

Engineers should at least pay their fees if they plan to abandon India. Why put burden of your emigration on tax payers?

Fee is usually peanuts, at least in the govt. colleges. I paid a royal sum of 400$ of tuition fee for a 4 year degree that helps me make way more than that every day. Govt. spent close to 20k on educating me. I did pay taxes in India for 6 years before moving abroad but still that 20k made my life. And that's what I owe to my country. Paying 20k or even 2,3 times that would be an easy exit. The only way to truly pay it back is to make something better in India. But what exactly, is something I think about all day. But I am pretty sure I will have an answer soon.

It's really good that you're thinking of paying back India / helping the country. India definitely needs more of its best talent to go back there are start new companies and really improve the country. Most of the best minds leave the country for elsewhere, and it's understandable why. But perhaps you can change the environment and perhaps more people will stay there then. (maybe - this will probably take years)

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