In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Sridhar Vembu, the founder and chief scientist of software giant Zoho, outlined his life’s mission to transform India into a technologically advanced and self-reliant nation. The post comes days after news of his ongoing disputes in the divorce case and his alleged ties to right-wing ideologies broke out.
Vembu, who has built Zoho into a bootstrapped competitor to global tech behemoths like Microsoft and Google, highlighted the need for India to overcome historical setbacks and foster rural development through innovation.
“My single point agenda in life is to make Bharat a technologically strong and self-reliant nation, which I see as critical to our economic prosperity as well as our rural and civilisational revival,” he wrote. He added that India’s civilisation must demonstrate “how to combine prosperity with humility and contentment” while harmonising humanity with nature.
Vembu highlights the need for local R&D
Reflecting on India’s “past 1000 year history,” Vembu described it as leaving “deep civilisational wounds” and a “defeatist, colonial mindset.” He argued that achieving world-class technology, particularly by leveraging rural talent, is essential for restoring national pride and equitable wealth distribution. “We need people to do deep work in R&D. I have some skill in this area and that is the best use of my life for our nation,” he stated.
Vembu also clarified his stance on politics, viewing it as a “public service and democratic duty” but ruling out active involvement in elections due to his priorities. The post ended with “Bharat Mata ki Jai.”
Vembu involved in legal battles and polarised reactions
The statement appears to respond to recent scrutiny. On January 8, The News Minute published an exclusive report revealing that a California court ordered Vembu to post a $1.7 billion bond in his divorce case with ex-wife Pramila Srinivasan to protect her rights to community assets. Srinivasan alleged that Vembu transferred Zoho shares to family members without her consent, violating California’s community property laws, and abandoned her and their son with special needs when he relocated to India in 2019. The court found Vembu’s actions lacked transparency and credibility, appointing a receiver over Zoho’s US entities. Vembu’s lawyer dismissed the order as “invalid,” but it remains in force.
A follow-up profile on January 9 portrayed Vembu as a “Sangh’s Swadeshi mascot,” highlighting his modest rural lifestyle in Tamil Nadu while contrasting it with the divorce allegations and his growing alignment with the RSS and BJP.
Reactions on X have been sharply polarised. Supporters praised Vembu’s vision, with many calling him “an asset to this great nation” and accusing critics of intolerance toward India’s progress. Others linked the articles to foreign-funded “hit jobs,” suggesting ties to Google via the writer’s affiliations and Ford Foundation grants, framing it as an attack on Zoho’s competition with Big Tech.