Sabeer Bhatia, co-founder of Hotmail, sparked intense debate on social media platform X with his criticism of India’s achievement as the world’s fourth-largest economy.
The Indian-American entrepreneur, On Tuesday expressed his disapproval in a strongly worded post, highlighting the country’s widespread poverty as a reason to temper celebrations.
Instead of hanging your head in shame that 415 million people in India survive on $3.10/day, you brag about being the world’s 4th largest economy. Shame on you.
— Sabeer Bhatia (@sabeer) June 10, 2025
He wrote, “Instead of hanging your head in shame that 415 million people in India survive on $3.10/day, you brag about being the world’s 4th largest economy. Shame on you.”
The post sparked a backlash, with many users accusing Sabeer Bhatia of being out of touch with India and seeking attention on social media. One user criticized him, saying, “What happened to Rafael? You were supposed to gift the nation. Do something productive in life.”
Bhatia fired back, responding, “Another personal attack. When losers like you don’t know how to counter my way of thinking, you resort to personal attacks. Weak minded and insecure.” His reply further escalated the online debate.
Some users questioned Sabeer Bhatia’s contributions to India, with one commenter saying, “Come back to India and make something like Hotmail… The irony is that India produces such wasteful talents.”
Another user rebuked Bhatia, stating, “We, Indians living in India, don’t need validation or permission from you to feel proud about something. And if you must know, please consult @WorldBank about facts before blabbering anything you wish!”
A smaller group of users supported Sabeer Bhatia’s views on income inequality, advocating for a more nuanced discussion on India’s development path. They echoed his concerns, emphasizing the need to address poverty and inequality alongside economic growth.
