Ex-Googler's Decision to Return to India for Spirituality After 13 Years in US
Gotham went to US at 19, spent 13 years including 4.5 years at Google, then returned to India to teach in a Himalayan village with population 29. Now 13 years back in India, he shares his unconventional journey, spiritual calling, and life lessons.
Ex-Googler's Decision to Return to India for Spirituality After 13 Years in US
What makes someone leave a dream job at Google to teach children in a Himalayan village with just 29 people? Gotham did exactly that. After 13 years in the US including 4.5 years at Google Mountain View, he returned to India not for a job, but for something deeper. Now 13 years back in India, his story challenges everything we think we know about "success."
Key Takeaways from Gotham's Journey
- Went to US at 19, spent 13 years including 4.5 years at Google Mountain View
- Returned to India not for a job, but for indefinite time to pursue his dreams
- Taught in a Himalayan village (population 29) for about a year
- Now 13 years back in India, based in Gurugram, working in corporate world
- Key message: Have conviction, be prepared to fail, don't imitate others
Gotham's Background & Journey to US
Gotham's story is unlike most NRI return stories. He went to the US when he was about 19 years old, and his path there was unique from the start.
How He Got to the US
"My aunt was a senior scientist during the Clinton administration, so I went on a residency visa. I didn't go on a student visa, so I never had to go through the H1B rigmarole that I keep hearing about. I had a green card."
He recalls a funny story at the airport: "When I was boarding at the prehistoric IGI airport in Delhi, the guy asked me in Hindi what the green card is. I didn't have a freaking clue what a green card is. I said no, but why don't you stamp my passport."
Context: This was pre-liberalization India, pre-smartphone, pre-everything we have now. "If you had to look for an apartment, you had to actually look at a newspaper, which today's generation probably doesn't even know how to do."
Once in the US, Gotham worked extensively to support himself:
- Had about three jobs at one time
- Put himself through college
- Had some financial aid through the US government and scholarships
- Started in the Midwest, then moved to join Google
- Spent 4.5 years at Google in Mountain View, Silicon Valley
His Roots
Gotham belongs to the state of Kashmir, though he never stayed there. His father stayed there, but Gotham grew up near Delhi in the state of Haryana. "It's in my genes, or some previous life," he says about his love for the mountains.
Why He Decided to Return
Coming back was always in the back of Gotham's mind from the very beginning.
The Primary Motivations
- Parents: Wanting to be closer to family
- Mountains: Deep love for the Himalayas
- Wanderlust: Itching to get back to his roots
- Freedom: Wanted indefinite time without deadlines
But here's what made Gotham's return truly unconventional:
Key Insight: "The reason I wanted to move back was I wanted an indefinite amount of time on my hands — whether that was 6 months or two years — to do something that I always wanted to do."
What he wanted to do:
- Travel without deadlines: "When I would come from US, three days before my flight I would know vacation is ending. I didn't want that hanging on my shoulder."
- Do something without a paycheck: Not continue the same corporate trajectory
- Teach: "I wanted to interact with little kids"
- Fusion of travel and purpose: Doing what he wanted, when he wanted
Planning the Move
Gotham announced his resignation at Google in December and had about 4-5 months to plan everything and put things in motion.
Career Decision
"Professionally, I was not looking to continue my career. It was a move not to get a job in India and continue down the same trajectory."
His director tried very hard to place him in Hyderabad through an internal transfer, but Gotham declined: "If I want to do that, I would do it."
Gotham's Three-Phase Framework
Mental Game
The thought of returning must strike within you first. If you're a wanderer without family obligations, you can take more risks.
Physical Planning
"There's a very famous military saying: those who fail to plan, plan to fail." You need to plan logistics, finances, and the move itself.
Psychological Preparation
Be prepared for challenges. Some people resign and regret within a week because they're wired for routine.
Financial Stability: "You have to have some financial stability. If you worked hard, if you've saved up, you don't want to go back and be dependent on somebody else — whether that's your parents or somebody else. I strongly believe you should be self-sufficient. If you can stand on your two legs, then comes everything else."
Gotham lived a very Spartan life in the US, which made the physical move easier:
- Barely owned anything
- All he had was books, one guitar, and clothing
- And more books
Life in the Himalayan Village
After returning to India, Gotham's journey unfolded organically:
The Timeline
| Period | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| First 3 months | Teaching youth at Aurobindo Ashram | Delhi |
| February 2013 | Attended Maha Kumbh Mela (30 million people) | Allahabad |
| March 2013 onwards | Teaching in primary school, NGO work | Village Shitla, Uttarakhand |
| ~11 months | Water, livelihood, grassroot projects | Uttarakhand |
The contrast was stark:
Silicon Valley vs Village Life
- Two months ago: Living in a nice apartment in the Bay Area, Silicon Valley
- Now: A very small room in village Shitla, population 29, in the middle of nowhere
- A family of jackals would pass through at night, howling
- Had to walk 4-6 kilometers through a jungle every day
- A couple of leopards were staying in the area
His Response: "But it all fit in like a glove. I think there is one word that comes to mind: adaptability. How adaptable you are."
Gotham attributes his smooth adaptation to several factors:
- Every year when visiting India from the US, he kept a few days to travel in the mountains
- His lifestyle and how he tackled change
- Taking it one day at a time
- Enjoying what he was doing
Returning to Corporate World
After about a year and a half of volunteer work and travel, Gotham decided it was time to re-enter the corporate world.
Why He Returned to Work
"When the one year was over, it naturally, organically happened. The few projects I was leading folded, I delivered all of them, the school ended, the director changed. When you're in that stage, you have to say — do you want to get married? Are you ready to go back?"
"I decided this is the time to get back, to again become a taxpaying citizen. It's not time to become a monk yet. I can still do something."
His journey back to corporate life:
- January 2014: Rejoined Google (his second stint)
- Wanted to be closer to parents (who live about 60 miles from Delhi)
- Chose Delhi-Gurugram area over Hyderabad because he needed seasons
- "I can't live without winters. Call it the mountain madness."
- Currently based in Gurugram
Interesting Fact: Gotham has joined Google twice. After rejoining, he walked away again. "Some people said you should not have walked away from the second offer in Google, you would have been somewhere else. I said that's where it is."
Life Lessons & Reflections
After 13 years back in India, Gotham reflects on his journey with gratitude.
What the Village Year Taught Him
"The one year that I lived in that village taught me so many things that I could never learn if I spent 50 years in any company. I don't care what company that is."
- Things we take for granted — like water from a faucet — are luxuries for many
- Observing life at a very basic human level
- The value of simplicity and purpose
He credits his wife (a doctor and mountaineer) for opening him up to the universe:
"Before marriage, I was this kurta-wearing guy who nobody could believe had just come from the US. But that's the beauty of life — when you interact with other people, when you live with somebody, both of you bring changes. She has really opened me up to the universe."
What He Misses from the US
There's a family joke about what Gotham misses:
- Interstate driving on the interstates
- The national parks of the US
- That's it.
Work-Life Balance & Career Opportunities
Gotham offers candid insights on work-life balance and opportunities in India today.
Work-Life Balance: Then vs Now
"Work-life balance is much harder now than it was. In 2007-08-09, when smartphones were barely kicking up, you could actually exhaust the search results when trying to find an app."
"When I was working at Google in Mountain View, I would come back, have some night meetings, but there was no 24/7 urgency of getting pings, reminders, getting buzzed on your smartphone."
Reality Check: "I'll be honest — it's a challenge for me. There have been days and days when I sleep at 2am and have to wake up at 6am. Where the hell is the work-life balance? You have to find it."
Career Opportunities in India
On the professional front, Gotham sees significant changes:
- Lot of movement and shift from West to East
- Teams being moved to India — not just call centers and support
- It's gone to another stage, especially with AI coming in
- Need to keep evolving, keep learning
"Earlier we used to say 'let's move to the US, the grass is always greener' — and the grass actually was greener back in the days. But today, I don't see anything... strictly sticking to industry opportunities and profession, I see a lot of opportunities in India."
Spirituality & The Himalayas
For Gotham, the Himalayas represent something deeply personal and spiritual.
Why the Himalayas?
"I would attribute it to my roots, my genes — call it carry forward from last birth. To me, Himalayas have always been that mystic zone."
He shares a mystical experience: "I started getting these dreams and visions. People started showing up out of the blue. There is this individual who showed up in my dream and said 'why don't you visit me, just come over to this place.' A week later, I was chatting with a friend and she said 'by the way, do you know this gentleman passed away a few years ago?' I was like — if he's visiting me from the dead, I better make sure I go there."
His Perspective: "Could I have done that in the US? Probably not. I don't want to compare mountains, but personally, to me, Himalayas are like living mountains. There's a lot of energy. Thousands of years have gone by when people have done unimaginable practices and austerities. That energy still calls to me."
Advice for Aspiring Returnees
Gotham has given talks at Google and received many messages from people considering the move. Here's his advice:
On Risk and the "What If" Question
"Everybody, including my relatives, warned me — 'Gotham, you've never worked in India.' One of my aunts said 'you'll be back in three months.' I said if that's how it is, that's how it is. You make mistakes, you learn from them."
Key Principles
- Conviction & Self-Belief: You need a certain amount of conviction and a lot of self-belief
- Don't Blame: If you fail, don't blame the universe. Don't even blame yourself.
- What Doesn't Kill You: Makes you stronger
- Don't Imitate: Don't imitate anybody else. Everybody has a unique life, their own dynamics, their own circumstances.
- Learn, Don't Copy: Learn from people, then make your own decision
- Don't Romanticize: Don't romanticize with the idea of moving back. Have some sanity and practicality.
Gratitude for Support
Gotham emphasizes the importance of help from others:
- A famous journalist who lives a reclusive life in Uttarakhand opened doors for him in the spiritual and social development sector
- His family provided immense support
- His father never questioned a single decision — when Gotham resigned from Google a second time, all his father said was "okay, let's plan the next travel to Uttarakhand"
"A lot of gratefulness pours out of me to all the known and unknown people who have been immense help. Without that, you wouldn't get anywhere. You have to have some help from the universe and people around you."
If you're considering your own return journey, check out our guide on why moving back home can be a tough decision and how to navigate it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Gotham leave Google and return to India?
Gotham always knew he didn't want to grow old in the US. His primary motivations were: love for the Himalayas (his roots are from Kashmir), wanting to travel without deadlines, desire to teach children, and a calling to return to his roots. He wanted an indefinite amount of time to pursue what he always wanted to do.
What did Gotham do after returning to India from Google?
After resigning from Google, Gotham taught in Delhi for 3 months at Aurobindo Ashram training village youth. Then he spent about a year in Uttarakhand teaching in a primary school in a village called Shitla with population 29, working on water, livelihood, and grassroot development projects with an NGO.
How did Gotham prepare financially for his unconventional return?
Gotham emphasizes having financial stability before making such a move. He lived a Spartan life in the US, saved up, and ensured he wouldn't be dependent on anyone. He believes you should be self-sufficient and able to stand on your own two legs before pursuing such dreams.
What advice does Gotham give for NRIs considering returning to India?
Three key phases: 1) Mental game — the thought of returning must strike within you first. 2) Physical planning — have a plan, those who fail to plan, plan to fail. 3) Psychological preparation — be prepared to fail, have conviction and self-belief. Don't imitate others, learn from them but make your own decision.
How did Gotham adapt to village life after Silicon Valley?
Gotham credits adaptability as key. Despite going from a nice Bay Area apartment to a small room in a village with jackals howling at night and 4-6 km walks through jungle with leopards, he says it all fit like a glove. He had always kept few days during annual India visits to travel in mountains, which helped.
Did Gotham regret leaving Google?
No. Gotham says the one year in the village taught him things he could never learn in 50 years at any company. He learned about things people take for granted — like water from a faucet being a luxury for some. He rejoined Google later but left again, and his father never questioned his decisions.
What does Gotham say about work-life balance in India vs US?
Gotham notes work-life balance is much harder now than in 2007-09 due to smartphones creating 24/7 urgency. He admits sleeping at 2am and waking at 6am some days. He emphasizes finding balance is key — 60 years from now you won't remember presentations, but you'll remember conversations and trips you missed.
What are Gotham's views on career opportunities in India?
Gotham sees significant opportunities in India, especially with the shift from West to East. It's no longer just call centers — teams are moving to India. With AI coming in, one must keep evolving. He believes the grass was greener abroad in the past, but today there's no clear right answer — opportunities exist in both places.
Planning Your Own Return Journey?
Whether you're considering an unconventional path like Gotham or a more traditional return, connect with others who have made the move. Get real insights, practical guidance, and build a supportive community around your return journey.
As Gotham says: "You have to have some help from the universe and people around you."
Frequently Asked Questions
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