Zoho's co-founder and former CEO, Sridhar Vembu, has stated that India's international reputation has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade. He attributed this positive shift to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, explaining it as a key reason for the leader's enduring popularity among the Indian diaspora.
Diaspora Perspective on India's Rising Stature
Vembu shared his views on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He was responding to a journalist's post about the limits of performative diplomacy. The tech entrepreneur emphasized that Indians who have lived abroad for extended periods can easily perceive this change.
Vembu, who spent 30 years outside India, wrote that the transformation of the country's image abroad in the last 10 years is the real yardstick of progress. He explicitly thanked the Prime Minister for this development, linking it directly to Modi's high approval ratings within the overseas Indian community.
Online Debate Erupts Over Claims
While Vembu's post garnered thousands of views and likes, it also ignited a sharp division in the comments section. Many netizens challenged his assessment, questioning the basis of his claim and presenting alternative data.
One user pointed to foreign tourist arrivals as an objective measure, noting a decline compared to pre-pandemic levels. Vembu countered by citing travel restrictions during Covid, but the user insisted the data showed a lack of recovery this year as well.
Another critique focused on passport strength. A comment highlighted that in 2025, Indian passport holders can visit only 59 countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival, suggesting the world's trust is a true measure of a nation's rise. Vembu responded by stating that a country's GDP per capita is the ultimate factor determining passport value, and India still ranks low on that metric.
Divergent Views on National Priorities
The discussion broadened beyond specific metrics. Some users supported Vembu's views, adding their own positive experiences of India's growing soft power. Others, however, urged a focus on domestic issues over international perception.
One netizen argued that the nation should be more concerned with the quality of life of its average citizen than with the perceptions held by the global community or the diaspora. This highlighted a fundamental tension in the debate: between national pride derived from external image and the tangible realities of internal development.
The online exchange underscores the complex and often contested nature of measuring a country's global standing, where personal experience, hard data, and political belief frequently collide.
