Those visiting US to work should return: Shantamma

Visakhapatnam: It was 8:30 pm on Thursday. Chilukuri Shantamma’s residence at Abid Nagar in Akkayyapalem is bustling with activity.

As soon as the US Presidential election results were announced, the 96-year-old has been quite busy shuttling between meeting her work demands and giving interviews to a steady stream of journalists frequenting her home.

Related to Usha Chilukuri Vance, the first Indian-origin Second Lady and wife of Vice President-elect of the US JD Vance, Shantamma, Usha’s grandfather’s brother’s wife, says Usha’s parents and a number of her relatives left Krishna district to the US long ago.

Appreciating Usha’s flourishing career in the US, the grandaunt says, “JD Vance and Usha Vance are made for each other. They are an ideal couple and are with a purpose to serve the US. However, I never met Usha as her parents left India and settled in the US. But, I am aware of her commitment and dedication. Her great grandfather, her grandfather and father excelled in academics as well.”

However, Shantamma, a retired Physics professor, expresses concern over Indians migrating to the US in search of greener pastures. She opines that people should come back to India after working abroad for a few years. “With her influence, I hope Usha Vance should do something to stop this trend of Indians migrating to the US for good. Let people visit the US for a while to pursue their studies or work and then return to India and contribute to the nation. I knew generations of families who had settled abroad. This trend has to be stopped,” the nonagenarian emphasises.

Decades before, a majority of Chilukuri family members have been settled in the US. “Apparently, eyeing plum jobs and big posts, people are flying to the US with a plan in mind and continue settling there. I think, after serving for a while in the US, even Usha Vance and her family should return to India,” the retired Professor suggests.

Commuting over 140-km to Vizianagaram, Shantamma teaches physics to students of Centurion University as professor emeritus. Apart from teaching, the first lady in India to complete the doctor of Science in Physics focuses on research activity. “In the past seven decades, the education system in India has been changed to a great extent. Investing 20 years, I did extensive research in physics and Vedic Mathematics and Americans should encourage such sutras globally so that the process of numerical computations not just becomes easier but also reaches a wider audience. As long as I live, I want to contribute to the field of education either through teaching or researching,” she shares withThe Hans India.