Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia recently said that India’s education system is failing its students. In a recent NNP podcast interview, Bhatia said that instead of creating original thinkers , India is producing an "army of useless kids" who only know how to follow orders.
He believes the problem starts with a system that rewards obedience rather than curiosity. “We live in a conformist society—people are often told, ‘Listen to others, do what they say’,” Bhatia said, further adding “But why follow a path that’s already been walked?”.
During the interview, Bhatia stated that the Indian education system is wired to produce workers who take ‘orders’ instead of creating ‘visionaries’ with the ability to disrupt systems.
Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia compares education in India vs West
Comparing education in India and the West, Bhatia said that his children in the U.S. are encouraged to write their own stories and express ideas, even if there are spelling mistakes.
“Teachers don’t correct those because spelling is irrelevant. What matters is the thought,” he stated.
In India, he said, children are punished for making errors instead of being supported to think for themselves. The system teaches them to score marks, not to actually learn.
This pressure continues into adulthood. Many students choose careers like engineering or medicine not out of passion, but because society tells them it’s the “right” thing to do.
“You can’t suppress the arts, sports, and culture and expect to build a balanced society,” he pointed out.
Hotmail co-founder criticizes attitude towards failure in India
Even when young Indians want to start their own businesses, Bhatia said the education system holds them back. “You’re never asked to write a paper. You’re asked to memorise 13 chapters and regurgitate them. That is not education,” he added.
Bhatia also spoke about how failure is viewed in India. He shared that people have even asked him, "What have you done since Hotmail?" — showing how one success or failure can define a person unfairly. He believes that unless India stops confusing blind obedience with real intelligence, it will continue to lose talented minds.
He believes the problem starts with a system that rewards obedience rather than curiosity. “We live in a conformist society—people are often told, ‘Listen to others, do what they say’,” Bhatia said, further adding “But why follow a path that’s already been walked?”.
During the interview, Bhatia stated that the Indian education system is wired to produce workers who take ‘orders’ instead of creating ‘visionaries’ with the ability to disrupt systems.
Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia compares education in India vs West
Comparing education in India and the West, Bhatia said that his children in the U.S. are encouraged to write their own stories and express ideas, even if there are spelling mistakes.
“Teachers don’t correct those because spelling is irrelevant. What matters is the thought,” he stated.
In India, he said, children are punished for making errors instead of being supported to think for themselves. The system teaches them to score marks, not to actually learn.
This pressure continues into adulthood. Many students choose careers like engineering or medicine not out of passion, but because society tells them it’s the “right” thing to do.
“You can’t suppress the arts, sports, and culture and expect to build a balanced society,” he pointed out.
Hotmail co-founder criticizes attitude towards failure in India
Even when young Indians want to start their own businesses, Bhatia said the education system holds them back. “You’re never asked to write a paper. You’re asked to memorise 13 chapters and regurgitate them. That is not education,” he added.
Bhatia also spoke about how failure is viewed in India. He shared that people have even asked him, "What have you done since Hotmail?" — showing how one success or failure can define a person unfairly. He believes that unless India stops confusing blind obedience with real intelligence, it will continue to lose talented minds.
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