'Things were really in turmoil': Radhika Ambani explains why she chose India over the US

Radhika Ambani, née Merchant, has said her decision to return to India after studying political science at New York University was shaped by a mix of political timing, economic optimism, and personal conviction.

Addressing an event at the India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) headquarters on Thursday, she said she was weighing her future as the United States was going through an unsettled political moment and India appeared to be entering a period of rapid change.

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Across the pond, a different mood prevailed

“So Trump was just becoming president. The election campaign was going on. Things were really in turmoil at that point,” she said, referring to the period when Donald Trump was emerging on the US political stage.

Radhika contrasted that with India, where, she said, “the BJP was coming in with a huge mandate" and where “unbelievable public infrastructure in terms of Aadhaar, UPI, and Jio had come into effect.” She added that it felt as though the country had grown and was moving forward.

The promise that caught her eye

She also said attending Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in the US left a lasting impression on her.

Recalling the event at Madison Square Garden, she said it “just seemed like there was going to be so much promise in India,” and noted that India was growing at about 8.5% at the time, compared with roughly 2% to 3% in the US. “These were like vital decision points,” she said.

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Duty, as it happened, had the final word

Radhika said the choice was not only about economics or politics.

She described the support of family and community as “emotional infrastructure” and said that such a foundation was a major asset in life.

For her, the final reason was moral rather than financial. “As a person, it depends on your moral standing. Like I had a huge feeling of responsibility to build for the country,” she said, adding that her decision to return was driven by a desire to contribute to India’s growth story.

FAQs

Q1: Why did Radhika Ambani return to India after studying in the US?

Ans: Radhika Ambani said she chose India because she saw strong economic growth, political stability and opportunities to contribute to the country's development.

Q2: What did Radhika Ambani say about the US and India while making her decision?

Ans: She said the US was going through political uncertainty at the time, while India appeared poised for rapid growth with expanding digital and public infrastructure.