A Move Towards Indigenous Innovation
In a significant step towards promoting homegrown technology, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has announced his transition to Zoho’s office suite for managing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. This decision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Swadeshi” India, encouraging the widespread adoption of indigenous tools and services.
Public Declaration of Support
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Minister Vaishnaw shared his commitment to the Indian-made platform, stating:
“I am moving to Zoho — our own Swadeshi platform for documents, spreadsheets & presentations. I urge all to join PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s call for Swadeshi by adopting indigenous products & services.”
This statement not only highlights his personal shift but also serves as a clarion call to government institutions and citizens alike to support local digital ecosystems.
Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu Reacts
The announcement sparked an enthusiastic response from Sridhar Vembu, founder of Zoho Corporation. He reposted the Minister’s message with heartfelt gratitude and pride:
“Thank you Sir, this is a huge morale boost for our engineers who have worked hard for over two decades to build our product suite. We will make you proud and make our nation proud. Jai Hind.”
Vembu’s response underscores the emotional and national significance of such endorsements for Indian tech entrepreneurs.
Zoho: A Pioneer in Indian SaaS
Founded in Chennai, Zoho Corporation stands as one of India’s most prominent SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) success stories. The company offers a broad suite of enterprise and productivity tools used globally. Among its popular offerings is Zoho Sheet, which comes integrated with AI-powered analytics via its assistant Zia, offering data insights and visualization across nearly 40 chart types.
A Step Toward Digital Self-Reliance
Minister Vaishnaw’s shift to Zoho comes amid a broader national push for digital self-reliance and reduced dependency on foreign software providers. The move is more than symbolic—it represents a strategic endorsement of the “Make in India” and “Digital India” initiatives. With such high-level support, the government aims to inspire institutions, developers, and consumers to embrace locally-developed digital tools.
