Bhatia says system in India pulls entrepreneurs down, US helps them succeed. Mallya agrees

Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia has announced that he would soon do a podcast with former owner of Kingfisher Airlines, Vijay Mallya. (Image credit: Instagram, AFP)

Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia, who has been vocal about his disappointment with the systems in India that in part pushed him to do his business in US's San Francisco, recently reiterated that entrepreneurs are more likely to succeed in the Silicon Valley than in India. The 56-year-old businessman credited the success rate in the US to government and civic systems inclined towards helping people succeed, while in India, the same systems work to hold people back or pull them down.

"People ask me, 'Why are Indian people so successful in the Silicon Valley and yet they are unable to replicate the same kind of success in India?'" Bhatia questioned in an Instagram video. "The answer is quite simple -- the system is built to help each other succeed. The system in India is built to pull each other down."

All of this happens at the subconscious level, he added. "Subconsciously, everyone in America has got the message that if we help one American succeed, we will succeed. In India, if one fellow Indian succeeds, there are 10 people trying to pull him or her down. That is the difference, and that's why America is such a great country."

Bhatia added that only if India could adopt the mindset from the US, it could be a superpower.

Several Instagram users agreed with Bhatia, and he also found support in former Kingfisher Airlines owner Vijay Mallya, who shared the post on his story and on X.

https://t.co/39xt17qeF0 Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) June 7, 2025

Mallya had also voiced similar concerns with the system in India. He claimed that despite banks having recovered Rs 14,100 crore from him against his debt of Rs 6,203 crore, he continues to be treated like an economic criminal. The beleaguered liquor baron is also likely to be featured in a podcast with Bhatia soon.

Sharp critique of India

Over the last few months, Bhatia has been offering a sharp critique of what is being portrayed as development in India. In May, while most business leaders have been celebrating India surpassing Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy with a GDP of $4 trillion, Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia questioned the real-world impact of this growth on ordinary citizens.

"Everyone’s gloating about India becoming the 4th largest economy. But where’s the prosperity on the streets? Why are so many still desperate to leave?" he wrote on X. "GDP rankings mean little if people don’t feel the progress. What gives?" His comments directly challenged the narrative of widespread benefit from the economic expansion, especially when India's per capita GDP stands at $2,880, significantly lower than the fifth-largest economy in the world, Japan, whose per capita GDP stands at $33,960.

"India’s greatest asset is her people. Instead of celebrating GDP numbers, we should focus on educating our citizens and transforming India into the IP capital of the world," Bhatia added in a separate post.

Read more: 'Aadhaar is $1.3 billion ill spent': Hotmail's Sabeer Bhatia says it could have been built in $20 million