Comment by askar_yu | Hacker News Reader

Comment by askar_yu | Hacker News Reader

"How sad it is that there is not a single startup like Google, Facebook or Twitter from India, even though they are being powered by Indians in the silicon valley"

I have a lot of respect for Indian IT workforce, having worked closely with Indian RnD at my previous company. I think nobody disputes Indian contribution to IT sector be it in US or anywhere else for that matter.

But coming across statements like above, I often shake my head amused. I've even had conversations with people who tried to convince me that it's the Indians behind all US's success in CS/IT and that it's the Indians that are powering Microsoft and NASA, and what not, you name it. Coming across statements like that I've wondered do they really believe that or is it just blowing smoke...

I think there are two opposite angles at play here.

A) Some people who make these statements are asking questions from a talent perspective - i.e. "if these guys are good enough to solve hard problems in the US, why can't they put their skills to use in India?". This is a valid question, with a multi-faceted answer. By and large it comes down to "They can, but it's really hard because... <various issues>".

B) Some people who hear these statements co-opt them into their own semi-jingoistic quasi-xenophobic narrative of a land of geniuses of time immemorial being held down by various modern external forces. They see it as just another factor.

I suspect this author is from category A. This is a very valid question and I know TONS of people (not just the youth) working hard to try and break these issues. Entrepreneurship in India is hard, and trying to cut it without 'influence' is almost impossible. We have many problems and this is just one of them. People are working across the board to solve many of these problems.

Unfortunately, people from category B are a very vocal lot. You're very likely to have run into them because their opinions are abrasive and they stick with people. Shake your head at them and move on - They just crave attention. Or if you want to have some fun ask them about how we invented zero - it's their favourite topic.

They believe it, its information/experience asymmetry, and likely some willing suspension of disbelief.

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