New Delhi: In a stirring speech delivered on July 12, 2025, at the 4th Convocation of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Kota, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar unveiled a bold vision for India’s technological future, warning that the nation’s sovereignty faces a modern threat: digital colonialism driven by foreign algorithms and infrastructure. Speaking to a gathering of young tech innovators, he redefined national power in the 21st century as rooted in “code, cloud, and cyber,” urging India to build its own digital fortress to protect its autonomy.
The New Face of Colonialism: Algorithms Over Armies
In an era where battles are fought in cyberspace, Vice President Dhankhar highlighted a subtle yet pervasive threat: digital colonialism. This phenomenon occurs when technologically advanced nations and their corporate giants dominate the digital ecosystems of less developed countries, particularly in the Global South. Unlike historical colonialism, which relied on physical conquest, this modern variant uses data and digital platforms to exert influence. Companies like Google and Amazon, based in the United States, harvest data from developing nations to reshape industries such as retail, healthcare, and education, often prioritizing profits over local interests.
Dhankhar warned that this control undermines national autonomy in three critical ways. First, it erodes digital sovereignty, as foreign entities dictate the rules of the global digital landscape. A striking example occurred in 2024 when WhatsApp, a Meta-owned platform, threatened to cease operations in India over a traceability requirement in the 2021 IT Rules, exposing the leverage foreign tech firms hold. Second, it fosters cultural imperialism, with social media and search engines promoting Western perspectives that often overshadow local traditions and values. Third, it fuels surveillance capitalism, where companies collect user data without consent, infringing on privacy and civil liberties.
Redefining Power in the Digital Age
The Vice President painted a vivid picture of a transformed global order where traditional warfare has given way to technological dominance. “The battlegrounds of the 21st century are no longer land or sea but code, cloud, and cyber,” he declared. In this new landscape, a nation’s strength lies in its ability to master digital technologies. However, reliance on foreign tech, especially in critical sectors like defense, poses a grave risk. Dhankhar cautioned that imported technology-driven equipment could be weaponized by foreign powers to disrupt India’s operations, effectively holding the nation hostage.
To counter this, he called for India to develop its own digital infrastructure, positioning its coders, AI engineers, data scientists, and blockchain innovators as the architects of a new India. “We cannot remain mere consumers of foreign technology,” he asserted, urging the nation to reclaim its historical legacy as a global leader by forging its own digital path.
A New Nationalism: Technology as Patriotism
Dhankhar introduced a compelling concept: a “new nationalism” where patriotism is expressed through technological innovation. Speaking to the graduating students of IIIT Kota, he described technological leadership as the cornerstone of national pride. “In this era, being a patriot means striving to make India a world leader in technology,” he said. This vision extends beyond self-reliance to influencing the digital destinies of other nations, positioning India as a global beacon of innovation.
The Vice President also emphasized the transformative role of the National Education Policy (NEP), which he described as a break from the outdated educational frameworks imposed by colonial rulers. The NEP, he argued, equips India’s youth with the skills to navigate and shape the digital frontier, fostering a generation of innovators ready to tackle global challenges.
Inclusivity at the Core of Digital Progress
A central theme of Dhankhar’s address was the need for inclusive digital development, particularly for rural and marginalized communities. He stressed that technology must serve all Indians, not just urban elites. “A smart app that fails in rural India isn’t truly smart,” he remarked, highlighting the digital divide that excludes millions from technological advancements. Similarly, he called for AI models that understand India’s diverse regional languages and digital tools that accommodate the disabled, ensuring that no one is left behind in the nation’s digital journey.
This focus on inclusivity aligns with India’s broader goal of tapping the potential of its youthful and diverse population. By prioritizing accessibility and equity, the nation can harness its demographic dividend to drive innovation and growth.
India’s Blueprint to Combat Digital Colonialism
To address the challenges of digital colonialism, Vice President Dhankhar outlined a multi-pronged strategy that India is actively pursuing:
- Indigenous Digital Ecosystems: India is building its own digital platforms to reduce reliance on foreign systems. Initiatives like the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and India Stack empower local businesses and communities, fostering a self-reliant digital economy.
- Data Localization Policies: Recognizing the importance of data sovereignty, India has taken bold steps to control its data flows. The country’s refusal to join the Osaka Track on data flows and the enactment of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) in 2023 ensure that data generated within India remains under national jurisdiction, safeguarding privacy and security.
- Reducing Import Reliance: Programs like Make in India and the Chips to Startup (C2S) initiative aim to boost local production in critical sectors such as defense, space, and science. By developing homegrown technologies, India reduces its vulnerability to foreign control.
- Policy Evolution: Drawing on recommendations from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 2021 report, Dhankhar advocated for regular reviews of data flow policies. This approach balances economic growth, public welfare, and global digital connectivity, ensuring that India remains a key player in the international digital ecosystem.
The Role of Education and Innovation
Delivered at IIIT Kota, a hub of technological education, Dhankhar’s speech underscored the pivotal role of academic institutions in shaping India’s digital future. By training the next generation of coders, data scientists, and AI engineers, institutions like IIIT are building the workforce that will drive India’s technological sovereignty. The Vice President’s call to action resonated with the students, who represent the vanguard of India’s digital revolution.
A Global Call for Digital Equity
Dhankhar’s warnings about digital colonialism echo global concerns about the dominance of tech giants and the need for digital equity. The UNCTAD’s 2021 report, which he referenced, urges nations to assert control over their digital ecosystems while fostering international cooperation. India’s proactive measures, from data localization to indigenous innovation, position it as a leader in this global movement, setting an example for other developing nations.
Charting India’s Digital Future
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s address at IIIT Kota is a rallying cry for India to seize control of its digital destiny. By embracing code, cloud, and cyber as the pillars of national power, India can protect its sovereignty from the subtle threat of digital colonialism. Through indigenous innovation, inclusive development, and strategic policies, the nation is poised to emerge as a global leader in technology.
As Dhankhar eloquently stated, India’s coders and innovators are the modern-day nation builders, tasked with forging a future where technology serves all. By breaking free from foreign dependence and embracing a new nationalism rooted in digital excellence, India is not only safeguarding its own sovereignty but also shaping the global digital landscape. The journey to a digitally sovereign India has begun, and the world is watching.
FAQs
1. What is digital colonialism, and why did Vice President Dhankhar highlight it as a threat?
Answer: Digital colonialism refers to the control exerted by developed nations and their tech giants over the digital ecosystems of less developed countries, particularly in the Global South, through data collection and platform dominance. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, speaking at IIIT Kota on July 12, 2025, warned that this phenomenon threatens national sovereignty by allowing foreign entities to set digital rules, reshape industries, and erode local cultures. He emphasized that dependence on foreign digital infrastructure, especially in critical sectors like defense, could enable other nations to disrupt India’s operations, making digital colonialism a modern equivalent of traditional invasions.
2. How is India addressing the challenge of digital colonialism?
Answer: India is combating digital colonialism through multiple strategies, as outlined by Vice President Dhankhar. These include building indigenous digital platforms like the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and India Stack, enforcing data localization through the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) of 2023, reducing reliance on imported technology via initiatives like Make in India and Chips to Startup (C2S), and regularly updating data flow policies to balance economic growth and national interests, as recommended by UNCTAD’s 2021 report. These measures aim to enhance India’s digital sovereignty and reduce foreign control.
3. What role does the National Education Policy (NEP) play in India’s digital future?
Answer: The National Education Policy (NEP) is pivotal in breaking free from outdated colonial-era educational systems, as highlighted by Vice President Dhankhar during his July 12, 2025, address. The NEP fosters innovation, critical thinking, and technical skills among India’s youth, preparing them to become coders, AI engineers, and data scientists who can drive technological self-reliance. By empowering institutions like IIIT Kota, the NEP supports the creation of a workforce capable of building and sustaining India’s indigenous digital infrastructure.
4. Why did Vice President Dhankhar emphasize inclusive digital development?
Answer: Vice President Dhankhar stressed inclusive digital development to ensure technology benefits all Indians, particularly rural and marginalized communities. He noted that a smart app ineffective in rural areas, an AI model ignoring regional languages, or a digital tool excluding the disabled is inadequate. Inclusive development taps India’s diverse population, bridging the digital divide and maximizing the nation’s potential. This focus, highlighted in his IIIT Kota speech on July 12, 2025, aligns with India’s goal of equitable technological progress.
5. How does Vice President Dhankhar redefine patriotism in the context of technology?
Answer: In his July 12, 2025, address at IIIT Kota, Vice President Dhankhar introduced a “new nationalism” where patriotism is expressed through technological leadership. He described coders, data scientists, and AI engineers as modern nation builders, urging India to become a global leader in technology rather than a passive user of foreign systems. This redefinition positions technological innovation as a core component of national pride, essential for safeguarding sovereignty in an era dominated by code, cloud, and cyber.
