70 hour work week and IT tech Sector

 I came across a statement from one of the respected legends in the IT service sector: 

       Youth is getting lazy these days; I was succesful becuase we were working more than 70 hours a week, and that's the way forward to make India rich and developed.

Breaking down 70 hours, approximately 12 hours * 6 days, how will a typical day look?

That sounds like a perfectly planned day, but where does family and kids fit in? Maybe we're supposed to manage all that on the remaining one day in a week.

Let's assume we've successfully persuaded everyone to sacrifice a couple of generations for the country. The next question is, what do they work on?

IT Tech Stack

  lets try and visualize Tech stack from far

Excluding multinational corporations (MNCs) that did not originate in India, and setting aside foreign entities that merely aim to fulfill the 'Make in India' initiative by exporting copy machines while retaining key technologies, we can assess India's performance across various levels of the technology stack. In this analysis,

• India would score an absolute zero in the bottom two tiers.
• For the third tier from the bottom, the rating would be disappointingly low, in the range of 20-30.
• However, India's performance improves at the top tier, where it could achieve a score of about 30-40.

The score is determined by evaluating key impact players in each segment. As we observe, our performance is alarmingly poor. Let's examine some of the positives and negatives in this context.

IT Service Sector

The Indian IT service sector is globally renowned for its cost-effective software services, playing a pivotal role in the country's economy. Key points include:

• Global Outsourcing Hub: India is a top destination for IT outsourcing due to its cost efficiency and skilled workforce.
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• GDP Contribution: IT services are a major contributor to India's GDP, reflecting significant growth over recent decades  
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• Inflation & skill:  As we understand, the skills required for this sector are less demanding compared to those at the bottom of the stack, making it easier for other developing countries to quickly catch up. Another significant challenge is inflation. Our success in this field is largely attributed to our competitive pricing. However, given that inflation rates in India are higher compared to developed countries, this cost advantage is rapidly diminishing.

Overall, it wont be long before we loose our edge in this sector.

World War and Cold War effect

From my perspective, one of the key catalysts for technological progress in some countries has been warfare. Wars push nations to the brink, igniting a survival instinct that fuels innovation. Unfortunately, India was neither an independent country during major wars nor a part of alliances in the Cold War era.

Another pivotal factor in technology advancement is the 'copycat' mentality. While some countries have mastered this approach, quickly becoming tech-savvy, India, regrettably, has not embraced this skill with the same fervor or success.

Govt vs Private and Funding Dilema

The foundation of the technology stack requires specialized skills and decades of experience, areas where India falls short. This is largely due to a lack of vision in higher education and insufficient funding.

Unfortunately, the private sector cannot be relied upon for funding in this context. It's more economical and faster for them to purchase technology from established players, and there's no guaranteed return on investment in such high-risk ventures.

Government funding emerges as the primary viable source for these sectors, using public money. However, government investment is hampered by several factors:

• Such investments do not yield immediate political benefits, particularly in terms of electoral gains.
• The opposition often criticizes technology investments, questioning their relevance in a country grappling with basic needs ("Why invest in technology in a country struggling with hunger?"), despite technology being a potential solution to these very problems.
• The absence of war as a catalyst for urgent technological development.
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• External technological restrictions, such as the limitations on AI chip exports to China, are strategies used by developed countries to maintain control. Even a small nation like Taiwan holds significant global importance, yet India, despite its size, does not hold a similar position of necessity in global affairs.

The case of jet engine technology or AI chip restrictions exemplifies how developed nations maintain their dominance. India's current position in the global tech landscape highlights the need for strategic investment and development.

Verdict:

Carrying an 100KG stone day and night and calling it a contribution will not make Coutry developped

India's progress hinges either on the transformative pressure of a conflict like war, or on the presence of a sensible electorate that supports and trusts the government's decisions to invest in key technologies, even when immediate returns are not evident.

" If Taiwan with 23.5 million disappear from earth, world as we know comes to a standstill for atleast a decade! If India with 1.4 billion people disappear, world will blink and mourn but will continue as it is."