The Legacy of India’s IT Revolution
The IT Boom of the early 2000s was a transformative event that propelled India onto the global technological stage. Fueled by a vast pool of skilled and cost-effective labor, coupled with the rise of the internet, India emerged as a central hub for the world’s technology needs. This boom not only lifted millions out of poverty, but also positioned the country as a powerhouse in the global IT landscape.
However, two decades later, the legacy of the IT Boom has brought about a new set of challenges that India must grapple with – challenges of sustainability. To understand these challenges, we must first delve into the rich history that laid the groundwork for India’s technological ascendance.
India’s Long-Standing Tradition of Innovation
For thousands of years, India has been a leader in science, technology, and innovation across Asia. The country’s pioneering contributions span various domains, from the decimal system and the concept of zero, to early advancements in surgery and vaccination by renowned physicians like Sushruta and Charaka. The ancient universities of Nalanda and Takshashila, dating back to 600 BCE, were hubs of knowledge long before the concept of globalization emerged.
This inherent culture of innovation, often referred to as “Jugaad” – a philosophy of flexible problem-solving and frugal engineering – has been a defining characteristic of the Indian mindset. Even in the 18th century, the South Indian kingdom of Mysore made significant strides in rocketry, with Tipu Sultan utilizing iron-cased rockets against the British East India Company, one of the earliest examples of the military use of this technology.
The Foundations of the IT Boom
The groundwork for the IT Boom was laid by esteemed institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), established in 1910 and the 1950s, respectively. These institutions became the primary sources of high-caliber engineering talent, not only proficient in technical skills but also entrepreneurial in spirit.
In the 1970s, the IT industry in the United States first tapped into this talent pool, as a shortage of skilled labor in Silicon Valley led some American companies to recruit top Indian engineers. The pre-Internet solution was to bring this talent onshore, allowing Indian colleagues to work side-by-side with their American counterparts. The establishment of the H-1B visa for technology professionals in 1990 further facilitated the influx of Indian talent to the United States, transforming Silicon Valley into an international hub.
The Transformative Impact of the IT Boom
The IT Boom was not only transformative for India, but for the entire world. Starting slowly in the late 1990s but gaining rapid momentum with the Y2K scare, the demand for IT talent from India exploded. Large global companies, such as Infosys, Wipro, and Tata/TCS, rose to fill this demand, lifting hundreds of thousands of technology professionals out of poverty.
This ripple effect extended beyond the IT industry, catalyzing the growth of related sectors, including real estate, retail, hospitality, education, and healthcare. A new ecosystem emerged, providing opportunities for professionals and their families to thrive.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Indian IT Boom was the innovative business practices that emerged. Companies like Infosys engaged in massive recruitment drives, often hiring thousands or even tens of thousands of new employees per month, even before their graduation. These large firms created extensive training campuses where new hires, known as “freshers,” underwent comprehensive programs, sometimes requiring them to live on-site for weeks or even months.
The “bench system” was another unique practice, where large numbers of employees were trained but not immediately assigned to projects, ensuring a readily available pool of manpower that could be instantly deployed when new IT projects were secured. Some companies even implemented “customer university” programs, where IT employees working for a particular client were put through an exhaustive training regimen to become experts on the customer’s history, corporate culture, and processes.
Sustainability Challenges in Urban India
While the IT Boom brought unprecedented growth and prosperity, it has also created a new set of sustainability challenges for urban India. The concentration of wealth and opportunities in metropolitan centers has put immense pressure on the cities, and the infrastructure has struggled to keep pace.
Traffic congestion is a major issue, with drivers in cities like Bangalore and Mumbai spending an estimated 243 extra hours in traffic each year. Housing shortages are also a pressing concern, with a deficit of 19 million units as of a few years ago. Additionally, the impact of man-made global warming is taking a toll, with extreme weather events, such as flooding and severe heatwaves, becoming the new normal.
Water scarcity has become a critical problem, leading to the need for freshwater to be transported to cities by rail. The demand for electricity often outstrips supply, resulting in prolonged and regular power outages that disrupt both industrial output and quality of life. Furthermore, the metropolises, such as New Delhi, are among the most polluted cities in the world, with particulate matter levels exceeding WHO safe limits by more than 20 times.
Challenges in Rural India
The post-Boom sustainability challenges extend beyond urban centers, affecting rural India as well. The widening digital divide impedes the ability of rural youth to engage with a job market that prioritizes IT skills and English proficiency. Rural educators often lack the necessary resources and training to equip students with these in-demand skills, further exacerbating the problem.
The high attrition rate among teachers, drawn to urban centers for better prospects, disrupts educational continuity, leaving rural students underprepared for a digitized global economy. The migration to urban centers has also strained the social fabric of rural communities, presenting age-related demographic challenges.
The technology gap is increasingly widening, with rural communities lacking access to digital tools and high-speed internet. Unsustainable agricultural practices and industrial pollution are taking a toll on the environment, further compounding the challenges faced by rural India.
Collaborative Efforts to Address Sustainability
The Bern University of Applied Sciences, in collaboration with the Sharada Educational Trust, has been working to combat some of these sustainability challenges in India. One innovative program, known as Marga Darshak, focuses on providing underprivileged female college students from rural villages with the opportunity to interact with and learn from global experts through video conferencing.
This program not only helps the students develop essential global communication skills and cultural fluency, but it also serves as a source of inspiration for the students and their extended circles of fellow learners. The students are exposed to the culture, history, and education systems of countries such as Switzerland, Russia, Australia, Sweden, and the UAE, broadening their perspectives and aspirations.
In another project, a team of BFH computer science students is working closely with the Sharada Educational Trust to develop a “made-for-rural India” software application for teaching English as a foreign language. This endeavor addresses various challenges, such as providing simple access to teaching materials on outdated or low-cost mobile devices, designing user-friendly interfaces for groups unfamiliar with modern applications, and tailoring the English learning curriculum to both students and educators who may have varying levels of proficiency.
These initiatives, while modest in scale, represent important steps towards addressing the post-Boom sustainability challenges facing India. By inspiring and empowering rural communities, particularly young women, and developing innovative technological solutions, these collaborative efforts aim to bridge the growing divides and create a more sustainable future for the country.
Conclusion
The IT Boom of the early 2000s was a transformative event that catapulted India onto the global technological stage, lifting millions out of poverty and positioning the country as a central node in the world’s technology network. However, two decades later, the legacy of this boom has brought about a new set of sustainability challenges that India must now grapple with.
From the strain on urban infrastructure and the widening digital divide in rural areas to the environmental and social impacts, the post-Boom era has presented a multifaceted set of challenges. Addressing these issues will require a concerted effort from various stakeholders, including government, industry, and civil society organizations.
Collaborative initiatives, such as the work being done by the Bern University of Applied Sciences and the Sharada Educational Trust, offer glimmers of hope and inspiration. By empowering rural communities, particularly young women, and developing innovative technological solutions, these efforts aim to bridge the growing divides and create a more sustainable future for India.
As the country navigates this new era, it must draw upon its rich tradition of innovation and problem-solving to chart a course towards a more equitable and environmentally-conscious future. The IT Boom may have been a transformative moment, but the true test lies in the ability to harness the lessons learned and build a sustainable path forward for all of India’s citizens.
