Young Indians say 'no thanks' to American dream

For decades, the United States beckoned as the land of opportunity for bright, young Indians, lured by the prospect of prestigious university degrees followed by jobs on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley.

Indians have since 2001 been the largest foreign student population on American campuses, comprising around 15 percent of all international students at colleges and universities in the United States, according to the US Embassy in New Delhi.

But now, the economic crisis that has sent the US economy into its worst recession in decades, has tarnished the sheen of the "American Dream" for many Indians who are opting for university studies and career opportunities at home.