Why Non Resident Gujaratis migrate home every winter

Gujarat has a distinct Non Resident Gujarati (NRG) season, timed in the winter months when the weather is favourable. This is the time when American Gujaratis descend upon the state. Majority of them travel for a family wedding, often to spend time with their ageing parents or even for shopping!

You can tell an NRG from a mile. It is not just the American twang, but also the way they dress and a certain attitude that says, "I am a notch different". They are often found airing opinions, rather loudly, about lack of proper hygiene and cleanliness in common places or lack of discipline in queuing up at ticket counters; can't really blame them, the US as a country is so disciplined, that one just stays inline.

Many people come back, year after year, to spend time with their elderly parents. Given that American society is so nuclear, the culture as a whole propagates strong family values. Most Indian families easily get 3-4 weeks off to visits their relatives in India. If America teaches one thing, it is tolerance. NRGs often live in old homes, which may not have the level of comfort as they are used to, but they do so without so much as complaining.

In the past few years, India has emerged as a good retail shopping destination. NRGs shop almost everything, from Indian clothes, to shoes, accessories and junk jewellery, in Ahmedabad or from major cities like Surat, Rajkot and Baroda. They even carry, much cleverly, packed bhakri and thepla along with achaar and mukhwaas back to the US despite on and off airline restrictions.

Shopkeepers too are well researched and prepared for NRGs that come here during this time, offering them package deals for car rentals, inland travel and shopping. Shops cater to colour, bling and glitter that NRGs normally pick up, accepting even US dollars in return. Special designs and fabrics are also made available as part of the NRG collection.

During the wedding season, if the groom is an NRG, then at least the Mehendi or Sangeet will be done the American way. A typical American desi Mehendi function starts with introduction of all the family members, either directly or by a song and dance sequence.

Small speeches and video clips introducing the members, recounting memories and trivia about the bride and the groom recalling how they met and likewise. Bollywood song sequences are well-rehearsed and practised weeks in advance and staged by family and friends. In recent times, this Bollywood sequence is such a routine that it is not considered an American adoption anymore.

Apart from usual hoopla around shopping and holidays, many NRG youngsters spend quality time volunteering. They have a tremendous sense of giving back to the society and are fully capable of travelling on a shoestring budget into rural areas for doing their bit. Some spend considerable amount of time in slums while others reside in welfare projects, living in tough conditions.

Gujarat's pace of economic success in every stratum of the society can be partially attributed to the direct access that Gujarati families have to American lifestyle.

All said, NRG season adds a lot of colour and spice to the winter months and the entire state looks forward to welcoming and entertaining these special visitors.

— The writer is an entrepreneur and educationist