Chennai, India – Zoho Corporation’s founder, Sridhar Vembu, has sparked a discussion on language accessibility in India’s tech ecosystem, emphasizing the need to eliminate English as a barrier to research and development (R&D).
In a recent X (formerly Twitter) post, Vembu shared insights from his work with highly skilled engineers, noting that many of them are most comfortable conversing in Tamil. He also revealed that he is gradually learning Hindi to collaborate more effectively with engineers who prefer it.
“There is a lot of R&D talent in India if we get rid of the English barrier and the social stigma of not knowing English well,” Vembu stated.
According to him, English should not be seen as a mark of sophistication or achievement, given that 95% of Indians are not fluent in the language. While he acknowledges its utility, he insists that language should not be a limiting factor in India’s technological progress.
A Shift Toward Native-Language Innovation
Vembu’s perspective aligns with the broader movement toward regional language empowerment in India’s education and technology sectors. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 already advocates learning in mother tongues, and several Indian startups are increasingly embracing local languages to reach a wider audience.
Taking Inspiration from China
The Zoho founder also pointed to China’s success as a major inspiration, highlighting how the country leveraged its native language to drive innovation and global competitiveness. Unlike India, where English often dominates corporate and tech environments, China’s R&D sector has flourished using Mandarin.
The Future of Indian Tech in Regional Languages
Vembu’s remarks have sparked conversations on whether India should pivot toward a more inclusive, multilingual R&D environment. With a growing emphasis on AI, deep tech, and software innovation, breaking down language barriers could unlock the true potential of Indian talent beyond urban, English-speaking professionals.
As regional-language adoption in higher education, corporate training, and research accelerates, India’s technology sector might witness a transformation—one where fluency in English is no longer the sole determinant of success.