Why Do People Leave Villages? Why Do Some Stay?

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the question: Why do some people leave their villages while others, like you and me, remain?

My childhood was woven with memories of village life—festivals, close-knit communities, and a peaceful rhythm that felt timeless. Yet, even as I cherished these experiences, I noticed something intriguing: some people never set foot in a village and carried stereotypes about rural life being crude and lacking modern comforts. Others, who were born and raised in villages, eventually left—never to return.

At first, I thought I could classify these people into neat categories. But the more I examined this phenomenon, the more complex it became. The choice to stay or leave is not binary; it is shaped by deeply personal, social, economic, and even existential forces.

The Many Layers of Migration

To analyze this further, let’s explore some of the key forces that shape migration decisions:

• Structural Constraints: Economic hardship, caste discrimination, lack of job opportunities, healthcare, and education.
• Aspirational Agency: The lure of urban success, education, upward mobility, and modernity.
• Cultural Anchors: Land ownership, ancestral traditions, family ties, and community belonging.
• Existential Identity: The search for meaning, self-actualization, and alignment of one’s identity with place.

Migration is not just about economics—it is about belonging, purpose, and identity.

The Psychological Battle: Rural vs. Urban Identity

Take, for example, a young student from a poor rural background. He cherishes his village memories, but education exposes him to urban aspirations. He begins to see a world of possibilities beyond his village, where success is measured by wealth and mobility. Slowly, the village feels smaller, less exciting. The chances of this person leaving are significantly higher than someone who finds deep meaning in rural traditions.

Conversely, consider a farmer whose ancestors have tilled the same land for generations. Despite economic struggles, his identity is intertwined with the land. He finds spiritual fulfillment in the simplicity of rural life. Even with opportunities elsewhere, he stays—not because he lacks ambition, but because his roots provide a stronger sense of self than any city ever could.

A Predictive Framework for Migration

Based on my research, I developed a framework to predict whether a person will leave their village or stay. It can be summarized mathematically as:

$M = \alpha (P + A) + \gamma E_{pull} - \beta C - \theta E_{anchor}$

Where:

• M = Migration likelihood (M > 0: leaves, M ≤ 0: stays)
• P = Push factors (poverty, discrimination, lack of services)
• A = Pull factors (urban education, jobs, status)
• C = Cultural anchors (family, traditions, religious ties)
• E_pull = Urban existential pull (self-actualization, breaking societal constraints)
• E_anchor = Rural existential anchor (ancestral identity, spiritual fulfillment)
• α, β, γ, θ = Weights reflecting personal priorities

Individuals migrate when their aspirational/structural motivations and urban-aligned existential identity outweigh cultural anchors and rural-aligned existential identity.

Real-World Scenarios

Case 1: Dalit Artist Seeking Freedom

• Push: Caste discrimination (7/10)
• Pull: Urban art market (4/10)
• Existential Pull: Desire to redefine identity (8/10)
• Cultural Anchor: Family craft tradition (5/10)
• Existential Anchor: Pride in folk art (6/10)

If personal weights favor existential identity, migration is likely.

Case 2: Upper-Caste Landowner Preserving Legacy

• Push: Low (2/10)
• Pull: Urban investments (3/10)
• Existential Pull: Prestige in city (4/10)
• Cultural Anchor: Landownership (9/10)
• Existential Anchor: Role as village patriarch (8/10)

Here, strong cultural and existential anchors outweigh urban pulls—he is more likely to stay.

Future Discussions on Migration

This discussion only scratches the surface of migration and its impact. There are deeper economic, cultural, and psychological consequences that must be explored further. In a future blog post, I will delve into these aspects more thoroughly, analyzing how migration affects cultural preservation, social structures, and personal identities in the long run.