The Pendulum Effect and the Nepalese Diaspora

This is simply an attempt to capture a greater trend of conversations happening between the Nepalese diaspora and the population living in Nepal. I am sure that many South Asians living in a foreign country go through similar emotions. We are attempting to illustrate the inner conflict that many Nepalese struggle with while trying to strike this balance. 
We recognize that there are Nepalese that have come to terms with their personal situation while living in America or by returning back to Nepal from America and leading healthy productive lives. 

The pendulum starts at the right most location. That is when you are first in Nepal, before you left America. That is position A.

And when the Pendulum is in the leftmost position, it means that you are you in America. That is position G.





Position G: Living In America

Position A: Living in Nepal

Position D: Laziness and Confusion

The left most picture is of someone currently living in Nepal wanting to come to America. And the right most picture is of someone currently living in America, wanting to go to Nepal.

The force of the Fire of the Stomach (economics, career) is sending the pendulum from position A to position G.
And the force of the Fire of the Heart (Nepali culture, sense of security and belonging and familiarity, love of home and family) is sending the pendulum from position G to position A.

Many Nepalese are all emotionally somewhere in these positions inclined towards moving in one direction or another. No one is static! And the most important thing is that: the more force with which you go in one direction, eventually, you will have to move in an equal and opposite force in the other direction! That is the only way to be balanced.

Laziness and Confusion is in position D. This is where you are static and not moving in one direction or another. You are neither feeling the Fire in the Stomach nor the Fire in the Heart. Nothing is burning you to action. So you are spinning your wheels in a static position, waiting for some other force to push you in one direction or another.


Conversations between the Nepalese Diaspora and their relatives in Nepal:

So there are many people in position G (in America), who, when talking to their relatives in position A (in Nepal), tell them, "Listen, don't come to America, you don't know how good you have life in Nepal. In Nepal, you are free to be yourself. You don't have to apologize to anyone for acting and being a Nepali."

And the people in Position A (in Nepal) who want to come to America say back to their relatives, "What? Now that you are settled and happy in America you are telling us to be satisfied in Nepal? We want to travel and see and experience the beauty that is America. How dare you tell us to stay in Nepal while you are enjoying all the luxuries of America? Do you know how difficult life is in Nepal? Do you have any idea what we have to go through here just to survive day to day? Do you know all the thuggery, insecurity and intimidation there is in our daily life here? Do you have any idea of the kind of problems we go through?"

On the other hand, the people in position G in America are trying to tell their relatives in Nepal: "Please try to understand, I want to come back to Nepal. That is where my heart is. I want to feel at home in Nepal. There is a vacuum in my heart that can only be filled with 'Nepali-ness' (Nepali-pan). Please don't tell me to remain in the States. I have had enough of America. My heart feels dry. I am dying to experience the wetness of the culture of Nepal. I am dying for a sense of familiarity, home, security."

And the people in position A in Nepal are telling their American relatives (in position G) , "You are spoilt and don't know what real problems are anymore. Why would you possibly want to come to Nepal? What do you think is here? We are all trying to get out of here because of all the problems here. And you are saying that you want to leave your career, job and car and house and come to Nepal? For what?"