Ashneer Grover slams Sridhar Vembu’s diaspora return pitch, says ‘What delulu’
The exchange sparked wider debate online. One user wrote, “The people who left didn’t leave India. They left Indian systems.”
Former BharatPe co-founder and investor Ashneer Grover has publicly criticised Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu’s appeal urging Indians living in the US to return to India and contribute to nation-building, calling the argument economically impractical.
The reaction came after Sridhar Vembu published an open letter to the Indian diaspora in America, asking skilled professionals to consider moving back to India and help strengthen the country’s technological capabilities. In his post, Sridhar argued that India’s long-term global respect would depend on its technological progress and said, “Bharat Mata needs your talent.”
Responding on X, Ashneer Grover dismissed the appeal in his trademark blunt style, writing, “What delulu! Record breaking heat in India is clearly making people dizzy. Just DON’T be scientific in your approach. Look at numbers. $1 = ₹94. Temperature = 50C.”
What delulu ! Record breaking heat in India is clearly making people dizzy. Just DON’T – be scientific in your approach. Look at numbers – $1 = ₹94. Temperature = 50C. https://t.co/NlaG4CwKUw
— Ashneer Grover (@Ashneer_Grover) April 27, 2026
Ashneer Grover’s remarks framed the issue as an economic and quality-of-life decision rather than an emotional or patriotic one, suggesting that professionals abroad are unlikely to return unless India offers materially competitive living and working conditions.
The exchange sparked wider debate online, with several users echoing Ashneer Grover’s skepticism and arguing that the real challenge lies in improving domestic systems rather than appealing to sentiment.
Commenters pointed to structural issues such as bureaucracy, air quality, healthcare access, infrastructure gaps, and work culture as major barriers to reverse migration. One user wrote, “The people who left didn’t leave India. They left Indian systems.”
Vembu’s original post positioned reverse migration as a strategic national priority, arguing that India must retain and attract top talent to build technological leadership and improve its standing in the global order.
The public disagreement highlights a growing divide in India’s startup and technology ecosystem over whether patriotic narratives alone can drive talent repatriation without broader systemic reforms.