Why He Left a SUCCESSFUL Career Abroad (20 Years) To Be in India?
Dr. Kondal Reddy spent 20 years in the UK, rose to Deputy Vice Chancellor at University of Greater Manchester, was offered the Vice Chancellor position, but chose to return to India to start Manchester Global School in Hyderabad. Learn his journey and advice.
In this story
- Key Highlights from Dr. Kondal Reddy's Journey
- 📚 Background: From India to UK Academia
- 💼 Career in UK: Research Fellow to Deputy VC
- 🎯 The Decision: Vice Chancellor vs India Dream
- 🛂 Why He Kept Indian Citizenship
- 👨👩👧👦 Kids' Transition: School Selection and Adjustment
- ⚠️ Challenges After Returning
- 💰 Financial Planning Recommendations
- 💡 Advice for NRIs Considering the Move
Dr. Kondal Reddy spent 20 years in the UK, rose to Deputy Vice Chancellor at University of Greater Manchester, was offered the Vice Chancellor position - but chose to return to India to fulfill his dream of starting Manchester Global School in Hyderabad.
Key Highlights from Dr. Kondal Reddy's Journey
- Left UK on January 26, 2001 for Masters at University of Manchester
- Completed Masters in Business Information Technology, then PhD in Knowledge Management
- Rose from Research Fellow to Deputy Vice Chancellor in 20 years
- Was offered Vice Chancellor position - declined to return to India
- Kept Indian citizenship despite being eligible for British since 2012
- Started Manchester Global School in Hyderabad with 6 friends (all knew for 20 years)
- Son was 13, daughter was 7 at time of move - both adjusted within 5-6 months
- Key insight: Come with conviction - don't keep safety net of returning
The Defining Choice: "I had a fantastic opportunity to become the first Indian Vice Chancellor of a British university, probably one of the youngest at 45. But spending another 15 years in Britain meant I could never come back. My dream to do something in India was much stronger."
📚 Background: From India to UK Academia
Dr. Kondal Reddy left for the UK on January 26, 2001. Before that, he completed his Bachelor's degree and MBA in India, and worked for Tata McGraw-Hill for a couple of years.
The Journey to UK
- 2001: Went to University of Manchester for Masters in Business Information Technology
- During Masters: September 11 happened, changing the job market
- After Masters: Didn't get the business analyst role he wanted
- Opportunity: Offered scholarship for PhD in Knowledge Management
- PhD Duration: 4 years
The Tough Early Years
Dr. Kondal Reddy emphasizes that getting a work permit in the UK was much tougher than the US at that time - there was no post-study work visa. But his university processed his work permit and gave him a Research Fellow job.
💼 Career in UK: Research Fellow to Deputy VC
Dr. Kondal Reddy's career progression was remarkable:
Career Progression
| Role | Notes |
|---|---|
| Research Fellow | Started in final year of PhD |
| Senior Research Fellow | Continued research |
| Reader | Academic progression |
| Dean of Strategy | Unplanned - asked to restructure university and cut 15% jobs |
| Assistant Vice Chancellor (Academic) | After restructuring success |
| Pro Vice Chancellor | Continued leadership |
| Deputy Vice Chancellor | Leading whole academic function for 5 years |
Key Insight on Career
"Life throws a lot of opportunities at you - sometimes unwanted opportunities. The Dean of Strategy role was to restructure the university and cut 15% of jobs. My research was in business process re-engineering, so they thought I was best placed. I grabbed it even though it was tough and not many people wanted to do it. That paved my way into leadership."
He notes that while many NRIs get into professorial roles, very few go into leadership positions in UK universities.
Family Life in UK
He got married in 2004 during his final year of PhD. His wife became a qualified UK pharmacist after completing a one-year full-time program. They sent both children to private schools - very expensive but one of the best decisions they made.
🎯 The Decision: Vice Chancellor vs India Dream
Just before COVID (around 2019), after being Deputy Vice Chancellor for 5 years, Dr. Kondal Reddy was offered to become Vice Chancellor.
The Dilemma
The Vice Chancellor position required a 10-15 year commitment - they wanted him to see through at least three strategic plans. This would have made him:
- First Indian Vice Chancellor of a British university
- One of the youngest at 45
- In a university he loved and grew with
But he realized:
He declined the offer and told his university he was leaving. Because he was Deputy Vice Chancellor, he gave 6 months to 1 year notice. They moved to India in April 2021.
Original vs Actual Timeline
- Original plan: Return around 2025
- Actual move: April 2021 (4 years early)
- Reason for acceleration: The Vice Chancellor offer forced a decision
🛂 Why He Kept Indian Citizenship
In 2012, Dr. Kondal Reddy became eligible for British citizenship. But he never took it.
Reasons for Keeping Indian Citizenship
- Always wanted to come back to India
- Wanted to do something in education in India
- Critical: To establish an educational institution in India, you must be an Indian citizen
His wife and son also kept Indian citizenship. Only his daughter has British citizenship - they needed it urgently for a wedding, and Indian passport was taking 40 days while British passport took one week.
👨👩👧👦 Kids' Transition: School Selection and Adjustment
His son Arian was 13 (Grade 9) and daughter Moksha was 7 when they moved.
Giving the Son a Choice
They gave their son a genuine choice:
- Option 1: Stay in UK in a boarding school, decide about university later
- Option 2: Come with family to India
School Selection Criteria
What They Looked For
- Quality of education: Match UK private school quality as much as possible
- Infrastructure: Grounds, playgrounds - his UK school was 50 acres, 300 years old
- Experience with returnees: Schools that have had students return from abroad
- Overall development: Not just academics
They visited 20 schools and shortlisted only 3. They chose IB curriculum because they couldn't find a good Cambridge (UK system) school in Hyderabad that met all their criteria.
Understanding Curriculum Options in India
CBSE
Indian national curriculum - most common choice
Cambridge/IGCSE
UK system - what his son was studying in UK
IB (International Baccalaureate)
Swiss-based international curriculum - their final choice
State Board
Telangana/AP curriculum - rarely chosen by NRI returnees
The Academic Year Challenge
A common challenge for NRI returnees - academic calendars don't align:
Timing the Move
"You can't perfectly finish an academic year and come join because US system, Australian system - they're all different. Sometimes you may need to come halfway through and join in India. Exact match doesn't work."
They came in April (2 months before UK school year ended), had 1.5 months extra holidays, then joined the IB school in July.
Housing for Kids' Safety
Critical Safety Consideration
"In the US, UK, Australia - there are safety nets everywhere. Swimming pools have barricades, roads have proper crossings. In India, it's not like that. Kids from abroad are used to roaming freely. Please make sure the housing community you choose has proper safety - this is very important for the first couple of years."
They chose a gated villa community where children could cycle freely and safely.
Children's Adjustment Timeline
6 Months Before Move
Started preparing children with hypothetical conversations: "If we were in India, this is how it would be."
First Few Weeks
Moved to gated villa community. Children could cycle freely, explore safely.
School Integration
Making friends in classroom is one thing. Making friends while playing, swimming, cycling is different - and faster.
5-6 Months
Both children fully settled. Sleepovers, friend circles established. "Somehow it worked quite well."
⚠️ Challenges After Returning
India Has Changed
Cultural Adjustments
Key Adjustments Needed
- Spending culture: Indians spend much more freely than conservative NRIs
- Relationships: Cultural norms have transformed in 20 years
- Real estate: Prices are shocking even with preparation
- Traffic and infrastructure: Different from what you're used to
His Advice
"Go with the flow rather than being a rebel. You are the alien - they are not. The road traffic is not going to change, people honking is not going to change. Don't lecture people. Try to adopt because you need to enjoy the family connections - that's why you came back."
Business Challenges
Starting Manchester Global School was tough:
- At least 2-3 times in 3.5 years, things were really tough
- Financial, legal, and other challenges
- Because he didn't keep a safety net (sabbatical option), he had to push through
💰 Financial Planning Recommendations
Must-Haves Before Moving
- Debt-free house in India: Absolutely essential
- Children's education fund: Enough to cover up to university level
- 3-5 years sustenance: Even without a job, you should be able to sustain for 5 years
- Maintain lifestyle: You cannot degrade your lifestyle when moving - kids won't adjust
💡 Advice for NRIs Considering the Move
The "Two Boats" Warning
⚠️ The Safety Net Trap
"Sometimes we try to travel on two boats. Some people say: I'll go to India, try for 2-3 years, if it works I'll stay, otherwise I'll come back. If you come with that mindset, majority of times it's not going to work out."
Dr. Kondal Reddy's university offered him sabbatical - go to India for 2-3 years, if it works stay, if not come back. He declined:
The Statistics
He's observed about 30% of people go back to their country abroad because they kept the safety net mindset. When difficulties arise (and they will), having an easy exit makes it too tempting to leave.
When Safety Net is OK vs Not OK
✅ Safety Net OK
- Coming on a job transfer
- Semi-retired with passive income
- House/assets abroad as backup
- Son staying for university abroad
❌ Safety Net Dangerous
- Starting a business in India
- Ambitious project requiring full commitment
- Need to push through tough times
- Your success depends on not having an exit
The Next 30 Years
"Last 30 years belonged to China. Next 30 years is going to belong to India. I strongly believe that. We can come out on top if we can get good talent, educated talent in industries which are lacking the workforce."
The Discussion to Action Gap
Dr. Kondal Reddy observes that while 70% of NRIs talk about returning to India, very few actually make the move. The key difference between those who succeed and those who don't:
Related Resources for NRIs Planning Return
If you're considering a similar move, these resources may help:
- IB vs IGCSE vs CBSE: Which School Curriculum is Best for NRI Kids? - Detailed comparison of curriculum options
- Moving Back to India with a Middle Schooler - Another family's experience with school-age children
- Financial Planning Checklist for NRIs Moving Back - Comprehensive financial preparation guide
For official information on citizenship and education regulations, refer to:
Final Thoughts
- 70% of NRIs want to come back - but discussion to action is the critical part
- Put pros and cons on paper - sleep on it, things will come to your mind
- Make a rational decision, not emotional
- Close friends and family are invaluable - that's what you're coming for
- If starting a business, come with conviction that your life depends on it
Planning Your Return to India?
Dr. Kondal Reddy's story shows that even the most successful careers abroad can be traded for fulfilling dreams in India. Whether you're considering entrepreneurship or simply want to be closer to family, proper planning makes all the difference.
Connect with others who have made similar transitions and learn from their experiences.
