Sabeer Bhatia, the Indian-American entrepreneur who co-founded Hotmail, faced strong backlash on social media platform X after he criticized India’s celebration of becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy. Bhatia questioned the celebration, pointing out that around 415 million Indians still survive on just $3.10 a day. His remark was seen as negative and ill-timed by many Indian users online.
Users Slam Inaccurate and Old Data
Bhatia’s post quickly attracted criticism for allegedly using outdated and misleading statistics. Many users accused him of spreading negativity and questioned the intent behind his post. Some users asked who he was trying to impress with his remarks and whether he was attempting to insult India for attention.
Harsh Replies and Personal Remarks
X users didn’t hold back. One person mocked Bhatia by saying, “Change your surname first before hating on India.” Others questioned his own track record, asking what he had done since selling Hotmail in 1997. One user wrote, “You sold Hotmail for $400 million. What have you done since? All your ventures failed.”
Another sharply asked, “Do something productive in life. Now you’re just surviving on X engagement.”
Bhatia Tries to Defend His View
Despite the criticism, Bhatia replied to several comments. He defended his views as introspective, saying India should reflect on its challenges. When someone accused him of attacking India without offering solutions, Bhatia called the comment a personal attack from a “weak minded and insecure” person.
He insisted that his intention was not to insult ordinary Indians, but to urge deeper thinking about national progress.
Post Goes Viral, Hindi Version Shared
As the post went viral and criticism continued, Bhatia doubled down by translating and sharing the same message in Hindi, further provoking reactions from users. Many saw this as a sign that he was standing by his remarks, despite the intense backlash.
Criticism Highlights Emotional Patriotism
The intense reaction to Bhatia’s post highlights how emotionally invested many Indians are in the country’s global image. While some argued for open discussion and criticism, many believed his tone and timing were offensive and unhelpful.
