Zoho founder and Chief Scientist Sridhar Vembu has called on India’s educated elite to rediscover their sense of belonging and commitment to the nation, arguing that a patriotic spirit is essential for the country’s meaningful development. In an interview with MoneyControl, Vembu warned that globalisation has led many urban Indians to see themselves as “global citizens” detached from their roots, and urged them to embrace local languages and regional identities as expressions of true nationalism.“We need, particularly among our educated elite, a sense that we belong to this nation. That patriotic spirit is essential. Without that spirit, development becomes meaningless,” Vembu told MoneyControl. He called for a revival of cultural and linguistic pride, encouraging people to learn regional languages when moving across states. “Within Tamil Nadu, I speak Tamil as much as possible. And I tell people, if you are going to move to Bengaluru, learn Kannada. If you’re going to move to Mumbai, learn Marathi. All our languages are important,” he said.

Vembu says national spirit drives Zoho’s success in rural India

Highlighting a sharp contrast between rural and urban India, Vembu said the spirit of belonging remains strong in India’s villages and small towns but is fading among the urban elite. “If you see rural India, if you see our smaller towns, there is that sense of belonging to the nation. Unfortunately, it has gone missing in our hyper-educated elite. Because of exposure, we think, ‘I’m a global citizen. I’ll live wherever.‘ That attitude has to change,” he said.Vembu linked this nationalistic spirit directly to Zoho’s philosophy and growth. The company, headquartered in Tamil Nadu, has built offices and training centres in rural areas to decentralise opportunity and retain local talent. “The reason Zoho exists is not because I’m a genius. It’s because our average employee feels that national spirit, that we have to build it for this nation, in this nation. That spirit is why Zoho is still ticking,” he said.

Japan, Korea, China show how national pride powers rapid growth

Vembu also cited countries like Japan, Korea, and China as examples where national pride and self-reliance have powered rapid development. “They developed because they had that spirit. Without that spirit, all these questions about growth or brain drain become meaningless,” he added. He emphasised that as globalisation reverses, India must rely on its own vast domestic market, which now stands at over $4 trillion GDP and is growing. He has consistently advocated for a Swadeshi movement in technology, urging India to be self-reliant in tech and trade on equal terms with other nations.