Financial Express: Mission Possible: Self-reliance Through Open Source

‘Why isn’t Indian software helping build India’s IT
infrastructure even as it aids others?’ Stumped? In case you’ve
concluded that this has to be a ‘rhetorical’ question from a
Swadeshi Jagran Manch-type, think again. This pointed poser from a
board member of Japanese electronics giant Matsushita jabbed me out
of my smugness not too long ago. It was a sort of a counter to my
own question on why Japan could not develop a software industry to
complement its strengths in hardware.

“Take a look back at the history of India when it didn’t even
exist except when ‘united’ by various conquerors, the last of which
were the British. A country cobbled together under the Union Jack
and then split as the rulers made their exit, we overlooked our
resources and strengths to chase various economic models that
cooked up a hotch-potch socialist-communist-capitalist broth ruined
by the many cooks who meddled in the kitchen…”

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