Staying on in the Developed World after Studies

Since many are faced with the dilemma of deciding between the above, and returning to Sri Lanka, I am posting here something I wrote in response to one (rare) person who actually *asked* me for my opinion. I am posting it here almost in its original form without this person's permission (but sufficiently anonymized).

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Let me start by saying that each of us who went away had equivalent though not identical situations which caused us to hesitate about returning soon after our studies. My Prof's simple reasoning was that there "is no provision" for doing this: in other words, after passing the viva/defense, there is no provision to stay on without returning - in my case (as in some others), not even if a post-doctoral position was involved. I for one, honoured his opinion since I knew he was one who was not afraid to bend rules to near break-point, and yet, in this matter was quite clear in articulating his view.

Later on, when I had to face this situation several times, I realized what any other option would entail: (a) no other definite trigger to mark the end of the period (one post-doc can easily be followed by another), (b) kicking in of the n+1 syndrome (http://www.nriol.com/content/experiences/experience2.html), and (c) the out-of-sight-out-of-mind effect (where the longer you reside overseas, the more alienated from the local realities you get).

Firstly let me say that your feelings of indebtedness to your wife/kids etc are very commendable - in fact as commendable as their willingness to stand by you during your studies. These were exactly my feelings too, even though my wife herself felt that the period we had overseas in the first place was a blessing we had no automatic right to. As such, even though these feelings are valid and appropriate, in the rest of this message, I would be trying my best to persuade you to return without delay. I am declaring this up front since (a) I don't want to 'beat around the bush' and (b) I know you are one person who will read it with an open mind.

A friend of mine who had a very different way of looking at life once remarked that we, who have gone farthest up the ladder of education, contrary to popular belief, don't 'deserve' the best in life - but owe the most to the society that allowed us to enjoy such benefit. He was quoting a famous saying: to whom much has been given, of him much will be expected. But his interpretation of that saying has stuck with me for a long time, and now I realize how true it is. We who have been afforded 13 years of education (sometimes at no cost to us), followed by 4 years of university (again at little cost to us), and in our case, 4 - 6 years of postgrad study (mostly at no cost to us) - how much more do we owe the society that enabled those opportunities, than say a regular Grade 8, O/L or A/L graduate - some of whom incidentally are the very ones who keep our economy going by 'slaving' in the middle east!

The major difference in this kind of thinking is that it is societal - not individualistic. For all the excellent opportunities we have in the west, the biggest difference between them and us is that we were a people of community. However in Colombo and the suburbs, some of that thinking has disappeared, and we have become increasingly individualistic and think only of our own nuclear family (not even extended family). Several years in the west reinforces our individualism and we begin to see things almost exclusively through the spectacles of individualism and our own nuclear family. It takes quite an effort for us to pinch ourselves awake to realize that we are missing an entire dimension of reality. I must mention here someone who really challenges me even today: a CS faculty member from University of Jaffna, who returned during the height of all the trouble - and even returned back from a sabbatical after even more suffering, owing to the deep sense of calling he felt to be *something* in that dark situation.

So, while it is commendable that you feel obliged to your family, I'd like to ask you to take that sense of obligation further: to the people, society that afforded you and your family the opportunity to spend these years overseas - to enjoy and extend your horizons. A person with the level of education and experience that you have, returning to Sri Lanka would have a thousand fold more effect on Sri Lanka, than would have in any developed country. When I look back at those who left the university during the past 3 - 4 years, it is plain to see that most of them are often mere cogs in an institution which itself is a small cog in the large industrialized country they are part of. Contrastingly, those who have returned have more often than not played significant roles in each of the spheres of the Sri Lankan education and IT industries even with all the frustrations and injustices around.

Having said the above, I must let you know that I have *never* tried to persuade someone to return before this! I always believe strongly, that only those who decide for themselves to return, should return. Once they return, I am committed to tell them where I see the greatest opportunities in Sri Lanka. So I am not sure why I am writing to you trying to persuade you to return: most probably because (a) I feel you are a great asset to the the university and Sri Lanka, and (b) Sri Lanka itself is at a place in its history where the opportunities are ripe for breaking out of our third-world state. Unlike in the past decade or more, we are now in the happy position of great hope and open opportunities staring us in our face. However, Sri Lanka needs all the educated people it can count on to help its people to be redeemed from the politician's that can hold them to ransom - to deprive them of what they can truly experience. I myself feel an increasing call to do everything in my power to help Sri Lanka usher in a new political culture where professionalism and competency will overpower connections and party politics when it comes to issues of governance. In order to do that of course we need all the help we can get from the educated elite - that is us!

Unlike in the past too, now, there are lots of opportunities for not only you, but also your wife/family in Sri Lanka. While the kind of opportunities and avenues open in a developed country are much wider and lucrative than those available here, I would still argue that the overall satisfaction one could get while doing whatever one decides to do back in Sri Lanka will far out weigh the difference in width and scope between the opportunities in the two countries. The most challenging of jobs in a company in a developed country pales into insignificance compared to the effect and significance of any job that you or your wife can do in a developing country like Sri Lanka.

There are many Sri Lankans who've lived overseas considering returning permanently to Sri Lanka now than ever before in our history. If we get the political culture right, there will be many more who would come here to actually improve their opportunities for doing significant things with their life. These days very few actually try to go to the US or UK owing to the global economic situation; some still go to Australia but others to China and other countries in Asia! Sri Lanka is also one of those countries which potentially becomes a place where others would be attracted to in this new (2nd) decade of the 21st century.

I do hope that you and your family get a time to ponder again on the larger picture, and make your own decision (not because of my writing) to return rather than to stay on 'for a little while longer' (x + 1). The bottom line is that I want to spare you and your family from settling down to mediocrity, when you can make such an impact here. There will be no time to return like now... no opportunity as compelling as now! Do write if you have any clarifications to make and if you disagree with what I'm saying.