Expert: Vivek Date: 10/10/2000 Subject: About Indians
Question Hi,
I was just wondering how come India seems to be producing people who are very good in IT and electrical engineering? Silicon Valley is full of them and I was wondering what`s their secret to success? Thank you
Answer Hello Sebastian,
Well, right from ancient times, India has produced many stalwarts in the fields of technology, medicine, science, astronomy, archaeology etc. Why are there so many IT and engineering professionals from India in the US - well, I'd say India has a lot of brilliant young people but just a small percentage of them have the opportunity to really hone their skills in a good institution and then get the chance to make it abroad.
What are the factors which facilitate India producing such people? One of the primary reasons I think is because all those young people in India who get the opportunity to go to school are really motivated to make the best of the chance given to them. It is a tough thing for them to make it into school/university both financially and due to the intense competition and they want to do well. Only doing well will enable them to improve their standard of living, make money etc. It is not like in the U.S. or the Western World where many things come easy in life. Then comes some differences in the way the school system functions, which has some minuses put some pluses too. It is a very tough system forcing the students to really work hard. So by the time the IT professionals and engineers get out of school and come to the U.S. to go to graduate school or to work, working hard is second nature to them. Also, as compared to some other Asian countries, India has the twin benefits of some very good Universities and an education system based upon the English language. This stand the Indians in good stead in the U.S. and other places.
IMO, the above would be some of the reasons why there are many good IT and Electrical engineers from India in the U.S.
