“Are We an IT Powerhouse?” – A Hard Look at India’s Technological Reality
Today, I stumbled upon a podcast that left me shaken. The discussion revolved around the technological race among global giants – the US, China, and India. But instead of the usual polite comparisons, this one had a sting.
In a football-themed analogy, the US was called the Messi of technology – an undisputed champion. China? Described as a team from some lesser-known Italian league – still in the game, but far behind the US. And India? Brace yourself – India was mocked as a fatso who has never touched a football.
As someone who proudly celebrates India’s growth story, this hit me hard. I have always believed in our potential. I have cheered for our digital public infrastructure, our space achievements, our thriving startup ecosystem. But this podcast forced me to pause and reflect.
In the same episode, there was a scathing comparison of Indian and Chinese electric vehicles. I learned, to my dismay, that we’re still importing batteries from China – and not even the best ones. Despite the EV buzz, our dependence on foreign components is stark.
And then, the uncomfortable question arose: Why haven’t we created anything truly world-changing in tech? No Google. No Facebook. No Android. No ChatGPT. Can we still call ourselves an IT powerhouse?
As an educationist, my mind immediately turned to the root – our education system. Are we equipping our students to think, innovate, and build? Or are we still obsessed with marks, ranks, and rote learning? We celebrate 100% results but rarely ask, “What did the child create?”
Somewhere, we lost the plot.
We have talent—no doubt. Our engineers, scientists, and coders power Silicon Valley. But what happens when this same talent stays in India? Do they find the environment, the mentorship, and the freedom to dream big and fail? Or are they bogged down by bureaucracy, lack of funding, or a culture that still plays it safe?
Maybe the real question isn’t “Are we bad at tech?” Maybe it’s “What’s holding us back from being great?”
We need to take this criticism not as insult but as a wake-up call. We need to build systems—in education, research, and business—that celebrate risk, reward innovation, and nurture creators.
India has the potential to lead. But potential alone isn’t enough. It’s time to turn the tide – not with slogans, but with substance.