IBNS-CMEDIA: Sridhar Vembu, founder of Zoho, has urged Indians living in the United States to return home and help build the nation’s future, amid growing anti-immigrant sentiment abroad.
His post on X reignited a nationwide debate on reverse migration, brain drain, and national responsibility.
Vembu wrote, “Like I did 37 years ago, you arrived in America with no money but with a good education and cultural heritage from Bharat. You achieved outstanding success. America was good to us. For that we must remain grateful — gratitude is our Bharatiya way.”
He added that a significant number of Americans now believe Indians are “taking away” jobs and that their success in the US was unfairly earned.
“Yet today, a significant number of Americans — maybe not the majority, but not too far from it either — believe that Indians ‘take away’ American jobs and our success in America was unfairly earned,” he said.
Open letter to Indians in America.
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Dear brothers and sisters from Bharat:
Like I did 37 years ago, you arrived in America with no money but with a good education and cultural heritage from Bharat. You achieved outstanding success. America was good to us. For that we must…— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) April 27, 2026
In a strong message to Indians abroad, Vembu warned against expecting political change in the US to resolve such sentiments.
“You may think the next election will fix this, but your choice would be between people who hate our Bharatiya civilisation and people who hate civilisation itself,” he wrote.
Highlighting the importance of technological self-reliance, he said that respect, prosperity, and security in today’s world depend largely on a nation’s technological strength.
“India produces sufficient brain power to achieve that prowess, but alas, we exported so much of that talent, particularly to America. As we develop that prowess in India, our civilisational strength will assert itself,” he said.
Urging Indians to return, Vembu wrote, “As difficult as it is for many of you to contemplate this, please come back home. Bharat Mata needs your talent. Our vast youthful population needs the technology leadership you gained over the years to guide them towards prosperity. Let’s do it with missionary zeal.”
His remarks sparked a lively debate online, with users sharing mixed reactions in the comments section.
One user wrote, “Sage advice… I returned back in 2022 after living there for 21 years.”
Another commented, “Dear Indians, come at your own risk.”
A third user said, “People left India because of the pathetic system in India. If given a chance, more people will leave. In short, India is doomed.”
