Decolonising Indian Education: Why Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu wants regional languages in classrooms

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu took to the social media platform X to deliver a sharp critique of India's dependency on foreign systems and the persistent colonial mindset in education. His post called for a fundamental re-examination of India's approach to self-reliance, national security, and the medium of instruction in schools.

"Money Cannot Buy Sovereignty or Resilience"

Vembu emphasised that India's educated elite must abandon the belief that "money can buy everything," particularly in critical areas like national security and technological independence.

"By now, I hope it is clear to all of India's educated elite that we must build up our capabilities here," he wrote. "The mindset 'we can buy whatever we lack' or its much deeper axiomatic version 'money can buy everything' won't work in this new era."

He argued that true sovereignty and resilience cannot be purchased but must be developed domestically. "We cannot stand up to bullies if we don't build ourselves up," he added, likely referencing geopolitical tensions and India’s reliance on foreign technology.

Cost and Value of Foreign Degrees

Vembu also challenged the obsession with foreign education among Indian students, questioning why medical education in India remains prohibitively expensive compared to countries like Vietnam.

"Why are we paying so much for a degree from abroad?" he asked, urging Indians to scrutinise the structural issues that make quality education inaccessible at home.

English as a Medium of Instruction: A Colonial Hangover?

One of Vembu’s most provocative arguments was against English as the primary medium of instruction in Indian schools. While acknowledging the importance of learning English as a language, he questioned its dominance in teaching subjects like mathematics, history, and science.

"English as the medium of instruction is a status symbol from our colonial past. Should that be our future as well?" he asked.

He highlighted how this system has deepened class divisions, making English fluency a bigger social barrier than caste in modern India. "I know how deeply it is holding back our rural youth," he wrote.

Education in Indian Languages for All

Vembu proposed that all Indian children, regardless of economic background, should be educated in their native languages, similar to practices in the European Union.

"Every child in Bengaluru must study in Kannada (not just learn Kannada!) and in Chennai must study in Tamil," he suggested. He cited examples like the Netherlands, where children must learn in Dutch within a year of enrolment, proving that adaptation is possible.

He dismissed emotional objections from affluent parents, asking, "Are we bringing up our children to have no pride or attachment towards India, particularly the vast majority of our people who do not speak English?"

IT Jobs Argument

Addressing concerns about employability in the tech sector, Vembu pointed to Zoho's own workforce, where many engineers operate primarily in Tamil while still accessing English technical documentation, a practice that mirrors those in Japan, China, and Germany.

"We never made fluency in English a requirement," he said, adding that non-Tamil speakers in Tamil Nadu learn enough of the language to collaborate effectively, just as Indians abroad adapt to local languages.

Vembu's remarks align with his long-standing advocacy for rural empowerment and self-sufficiency. His message is clear: India must shed colonial-era dependencies and build an education system that fosters pride in indigenous languages and capabilities. "It starts with our mental attitudes towards our nation and our fellow citizens," he concluded.