EP-358 | “India is just screwing parts together…” HCL Co-Founder Ajai Chowdhry on 'Make in India'

Ajai Chowdhry is one of India’s leading tech visionaries and a co-founder of HCL, the company that helped build India’s computer revolution. Over the decades, he has advised governments and industry leaders on how to make India a true technology powerhouse.

He is also the chairman of the EPIC Foundation, an initiative aimed at developing electronic products of national importance and driving India toward self-reliance in technology.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ajai Chowdhry talks about the real state of ‘Make in India’: are we truly manufacturing, or just assembling parts? He shares his insights on India’s tech product gap, China’s deep grip on the electronics supply chain, and what India must do to build world-class technology from the ground up.

He also opens up about his journey with HCL, the early days of India’s tech scene, and why the next big challenge for the country is not coding, but creating. Ajai Chowdhry also talks about how AI is reshaping the future of jobs, and why, without strong R&D, ‘Make in India’ will remain just a slogan.

Timestamps

00:00 - Coming Up

02:24 - Introduction

03:28 - Why India Has No Global Product

13:27 - Layoffs in the Tech Industry

17:40 - India Trapped in US–China Trade War?

20:25 - Why India Needs Its Own Tech IP

27:02 - The Push for Data Localisation

38:47 - The Making of HCL

45:55 - Indian Industries Ready for the AI Boom?

51:50 - Human vs Machine: Who Wins?

56:16 - Quantum Computer Ops in India

01:03:38 - The Fight Over Rare Earths

01:07:28 - Nurturing Tech Talent in India

01:12:11 - Family & Early Life