The Indian Paradox: we do well everywhere but at Home

In a striking paradox, two of the world’s most influential technology companies — Microsoft and Google — are led by Indians. Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai sit at the helm of enterprises valued at trillions of dollars, directing technological innovation that shapes our daily lives. Yet this phenomenon extends beyond these two leaders. Indians have risen to leadership positions across Silicon Valley and beyond, despite representing only 1% of the U.S. population and 6% of Silicon Valley workers[16]. This success abroad stands in stark contrast to the limitations many talented Indians face within their home country, where systems established during colonial rule continue to influence modern institutional structures. This divergence raises important questions about history, opportunity, and the legacy of British colonialism in India.

The Macaulay Blueprint: Creating Servants, Not Leaders

The roots of this paradox can be traced back to February 2, 1835, when Thomas Babington Macaulay presented his infamous “Minute on Indian Education.” This document fundamentally reshaped education in colonial India with a specific purpose that reverberates to this day.

Macaulay’s vision was explicitly clear: to create “a class of persons, Indians in blood and colour, but English in…