I grew up in a small village in Odisha and often wondered why so many people left behind the simplicity and peace of rural life to chase the hustle and bustle of cities. Life in a village, with its clean air, wide-open spaces, and strong community ties, seemed so pure compared to the pollution, traffic, and constant noise that comes with living in a big city. Yet, I understood why my parents, elders, and many others saw cities as the land of opportunity. It was where you could find better jobs, access to education, and mostly all the infrastructure that was lacking in the village. However, as I’ve gotten older and the world is changing more rapidly than ever, that question of “Why the city?” has only grown more relevant. For so long, the idea of success was tied to moving to a big city like Bangalore or Delhi, where opportunities were abundant, although the trade-off was often a loss of peace, personal health, and time spent with family. I somewhat experienced it firsthand, the overwhelming shift from rural life to the fast-paced, relentless energy of metro cities. It felt like I was giving up a part of my soul to keep up with the constant demands of city living.
But as we all witnessed, something shifted during the pandemic. The notion that you had to be physically present in a city to succeed was turned upside down as work-from-home became a new norm. Remote work offered many a taste of a different kind of life—one where the location no longer dictated success. People who had once moved to the city for work were now questioning whether they needed to stay. For those from villages, like me, the possibility of returning to rural life became more appealing. Suddenly, the cost of living in cities seemed unjustifiable when you could have a higher quality of life in the village while doing the same work.
In India, this shift is particularly noticeable. The divide between rural and urban areas has always been evident, but it’s narrowing thanks to improvements in digital infrastructure. With affordable high-speed internet and digital payment systems, professionals can stay connected and work from anywhere, even in remote areas. We’ve seen people, especially from metros like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, moving back to their home states, drawn by the chance to live in a cleaner, quieter, and more affordable environment. And why not? There is clearly no doubt that cities are becoming saturated. Housing prices have surged to outrageous levels, and the quality of life has deteriorated. Delhi, for instance, struggles with extreme pollution that makes the air almost unbreathable for large parts of the year.
In contrast, villages offer a sense of calm, community, and space that is hard to find in urban centers. Having grown up in a village, I often miss that sense of community, where everyone knows each other, and people genuinely care about their neighbors. There’s a warmth and familiarity that’s lost in the anonymity of city life. In a village, you’re not just another face in the crowd—you belong to a collective. There’s a feeling of shared responsibility and connection that I believe many city-dwellers crave but rarely find.
Of course, there are still challenges when it comes to living in a village. Access to healthcare, for instance, remains a major issue. In cities, there are hospitals and clinics within reach, but in many villages, medical facilities are either too far or not equipped to handle emergencies. However, even that is changing. Technology is bridging the gap. Telemedicine allows people to consult doctors online, and advancements in healthcare are slowly making their way into rural areas. Online education is another game-changer. Now, with just an internet connection, children in villages can access the same quality of education as those in the cities. The very infrastructure that once pushed people toward cities is improving, making rural living more practical and attractive.
I believe that as more people start to recognize these changes, we’ll see a gradual shift toward village life. The idea of having the best of both worlds—urban opportunities and rural peace—is no longer a far-fetched dream. It’s becoming a reality. In India, where cities are struggling with overcrowding, pollution, and the rising cost of living, it makes sense for people to reconsider what success and a good life look like. More and more, the benefits of living in a village—clean air, close-knit communities, lower living costs—are becoming clear. I see a future where the rural-urban divide becomes less significant, where people can live wherever they choose without having to sacrifice their career or quality of life. The pandemic has shown us that it’s possible. The question now is whether more people will take the leap and embrace village life once again. I know that for me, it’s something I’ve thought about often, and the allure of going back to my roots has never felt stronger.
As more people start reconsidering life in cities and move back to villages, we can expect to see a major shift in how rural areas operate. Imagine a future where villages are no longer just about farming and traditional livelihoods but become hubs of remote work, sustainable living, and innovation. One of the first things that will change is infrastructure. As more professionals make the move to rural areas, the demand for better connectivity—both digital and physical—will increase. We could see more investment in high-speed internet, better roads, and access to essential services like healthcare and education. This could also lead to a transformation of rural economies. With more remote workers earning salaries comparable to city jobs, local businesses in villages will likely experience a boom. Cafés, co-working spaces, and other urban amenities could start popping up in villages to cater to this new population. Villages will likely embrace sustainable living practices even more. As cities grapple with pollution, waste management issues, and depleting resources, rural areas have the advantage of starting with a clean slate. The rise of eco-friendly homes, renewable energy sources like solar power, and organic farming could make village life not only more sustainable but also more attractive for people who are conscious of their environmental impact.
The sense of community that already exists in villages will probably get stronger. With more people moving back, eager to escape the isolation of city life, village communities could thrive on cooperation, shared resources, and mutual support, and the quality of life in these areas could become even better than in cities. In a time when urban centers are overburdened by population and infrastructure strain, this rural resurgence will be a game-changer. It’s possible that villages, once seen as “left behind,” will become the future of how we live and work—combining the best of both worlds: the opportunities of the city and the peace of rural life.
I highly believe that we are likely to see the creation of “smart villages,” where technology is seamlessly integrated into everyday life, from healthcare to agriculture, with the support of government programs and private initiatives. Telemedicine, virtual learning, and even advanced logistics for e-commerce could all contribute to making village life just as comfortable as living in the city—maybe even more so.
Thanks,
Deb