'Revive Our Civilisation': Zoho's Sridhar Vembu On 'Rat Race' Of Higher Education

Education, especially higher education, is seen as an important realm, a platform for many to launch themselves to newer horizons, where young minds could excel beyond what was told to them.

Need to Overhaul System

Over the years, this particular perspective has mutated, with many laying emphasis on earning and building skills over degrees and formal education.

There has been an overwhelming voice that has advocated against the need for such a form of education.

Sridhar Vembu, the founder and now the chief scientist of workplace solutions company Zoho, is one of those voices that has often underscored this philosophy.

Reacting to a post on X, Vembu said, "He makes very important points about the higher education rat race and the chase for credentials where young people go far from home, pay ever more to stay ever longer in higher education, all too often without even gaining useful real world skills."

This was in response to another post, wherein venture capitalist Nate Fischer said, "This hits an important point of the higher ed rat race: the problem is not just the universities themselves—it’s the tremendous waste directed at zero-sum efforts to gain status in that competition."

Reflecting upon the solutions proposed by Fischer, in the 'American Context', Vembu theorised the need for an overhaul in the Indian system as well.

According to him, the Indian education system needs to revive the rural areas to revive the Indian civilisation.

Close to The Roots

This is point, that Vembu had previously raised on the matter of reviving the Indian civilisation and the Indian way of education.

Referring to the massive rates of migration from the country for education, and then later for livelihood, Vembu further claimed that India needs to be able to retain and nurture talent locally.

In Vembu's opinion, India needs to invest a 'lot' of time and resources trying to ensure young people can stay near home and still have a decent economic future while being close to their families and their roots.