Swadeshi Google: Can it be a reality ?

Can we imagine a day or rather few hours without Google, Facebook, Whatsapp etc.Quite difficult isn’t it?

Let me begin by narrating an incident that occurred during mid-1999. Pakistani troops and Kashmiri militants had infiltrated and had occupied positions on the Indian side of LOC. It was a high-altitude mountainous warfare. Though Indians were able to give a body blow to the enemies and send them packing, one incident that made Indian go indigenous and not depend on anyone was when US denied giving GPS data for the region. The space based navigation system was maintained by US government. A day arrived, when our very own and proud the Indian Space Research Organisation came up with IRNSS with operational name NAVIC.

What is IRNSS? Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System is an independent regional navigation satellite system being developed by India. A constellation of 7 satellites. It is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area.

Very soon we will have a full developed Swadeshi GPS and then no more US owned navigation system. As time flies Google apps on our android and Iphone’s will get replaced by a Swadeshi touch! It seems exaggerated, but it is not impossible.

In the backdrop of slowing world economy, India has stood its ground with good growth prior to demonetization. The new regime in US is heading towards a protectionist policy and china’s artificial fiscal stimulus to spur growth-the bubble might burst anytime. It is time, the Indian political class without any political gain and all stakeholders including media give a push for a complete policy reform and promote entrepreneurship.

Though the present government has given that initial push, the aim should be to develop Global Startup.

Global Startup? Just like Google and other tech giants have footprints across many countries, India needs to develop its own. Our countries demographics are in our favour, we need to make the most of it. A platform of opportunities has to be developed so that the big brains working in the West will come back develop and here. 

What does China have?

• BAIDU is the search engine. (Google search).
• Renren is the social networking site (Facebook).
• Sina weibo is the micro blogging site (Twitter).

What else do the Chinese have? The GREAT FIREWALL-internet censorship in china to block all the misdeeds that have been to done and prevent people from revolting. 

So where do we lack?

• Only 5% of India’s population is educated up to graduate or above.
• Though nearly 10 million Indians enter labour market each year, a majority of them are not job-ready.
• Job seekers are qualified but are not a skilled workforce.
• So for an entrepreneur to start a firm, hiring right talent is a serious challenge.
• Brain drain due to lack of opportunities.
• Political class has its say in every possible field.
• Bureaucracy-red tapism.
• Poor labour laws. A major reform needed.

Why do we need a Swadeshi Google?

For instance, all our confidential messages are exchanged via Gmail (even that of our governments). Everything is run on foreign platform. This is a huge threat to our National security.

Wondering how? The famous PRISM project of USA, collects data from major US internet companies such as Google, Facebook, YouTube, Skype etc. stating the reason as “for its security from terror”. All data is being intercepted by the Intelligence of USA. The data of each one of us is being compromised to safeguard itself from external threats. 

What can be done?

•  Encourage the culture of entrepreneurship and limit or rather stop brain drain.
• Introduce a system of education in the graduate level that meets industrial requirements
•  Reform labour laws.
• Minimise or eliminate political interference.
• In Silicon Valley (US), starting a new firm and failing big time is normal, as laws protect and encourage them to come up with new ideas.
• However “The Insolvency and bankruptcy code,2016” passed by our govt is a welcome move which gives the confidence for young entrepreneurs to start a business without the fear of failing. (more reforms welcomed) 
• Provide excellent cyber security.

Read more regarding the Great firewall here The GREAT FIREWALL (click on the hyperlink)          

Read more regarding the Prism project here PRISM (click on the hyperlink)

Also check 

Blog #1 STATE OF EDUCATION IN INDIA

Blog #2 INDIA'S GROWING POPULATION: What do the numbers say?