*This article was originally written by Shree and submitted as a paper for the All India Seminar conducted by the Institution of Engineers (India), BLC on Engineers Day 2025.
Before we delve into that, we have to understand that one without knowledge of their past and culture is like a tree without roots. Understanding the previous events will let us see the present situation clearly. So now let's focus on earlier India. Why was India called "Sone ki Chidiya," what happened to it, and why is the bird now more awakened than ever? Let's dive in.
1.0 INTRO - ANCIENT FOUNDATIONS OF ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE
When we talk about deep tech today, we mean the combination of advanced science and engineering to solve complex problems. But if we look back, India has been an ancient land of knowledge and innovation for thousands of years. My father, a civil engineer, used to say that India had engineers and scientists long before those words even existed. What we now call "engineering" or "science" was already part of daily life here, seen in the way people built, created, and solved problems for thousands of years. Our ancient architecture is a perfect example. The Konark Sun Temple, Puri and the Kailasanatha Cave Temple, Ellora and countless other examples are not just places of worship or centres of knowledge, but also marvels of design, engineering, and precision. If we go even further back to the Indus Valley Civilization, cities like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa show how advanced our ancestors were. They built planned urban layouts, drainage systems, and irrigation networks that influenced water management practices even in modern times. Beyond architecture, we excelled in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and metallurgy. Aryabhata revolutionized mathematics, Maharshi Sushruta performed Shalya Kriya (surgeries) in an era where such advanced medical procedures were unimaginable elsewhere, and the Iron Pillar of Delhi still stands rust-free after 1600 years a testament to our metallurgical skill. Our learning centres like Nalanda and Takshashila attracted scholars from across the globe, creating a deep tech legacy.
1.1 WHY INDIA CALLED AS SONE KI CHIDIYA (THE GOLDEN BIRD)?
In earlier times, people called India "SONE KI CHIDIYA" or "THE GOLDEN BIRD." But the question is, how do we know what others were thinking of India at that time? The answer is simple - we have to gaze into world literature for this. There are countless evidences spanning across other countries' literature and texts. The "Sone ki Chidiya" reference came from ancient Roman literature where India was described as the land of luxury goods. We exported the world's finest spices, perfumes, and textiles, and in exchange, Indians demanded only gold. This implies that India was completely self-sufficient, or 'Atmanirbhar'. This made Roman emperors wonder about this mysterious land that hungered only for gold, calling it the "Land of the Golden Sparrow." But India wasn't just an economic powerhouse - it was also a giver of knowledge to the world, sharing science, art, philosophy, wisdom and ideas across continents for centuries. From the ancient practice of Yoga that has now become a global wellness phenomenon to Ayurveda, our traditional medicine system that continues healing people worldwide, India's contributions have transcended borders and time. India's culture and Hinduism, beyond just a religion, is a spiritual path, and one of its great offshoots, Buddhism, also born in India, spread naturally across the world and is still practiced in many countries - not forcefully imposed but freely embraced by the people of those lands. For example, the very name Indonesia means "Indian islands," and its official language "Bahasa" is derived from Sanskrit's word "bhasa." These are just a few examples, but they show how deep this influence was. Odisha's ancient Sadhavas used to trade with Bali, Sumatra, Java, and across Indonesia. Even today, if you go across other Asian countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, you would see many Indian references everywhere. When we gaze into Chinese literature, the Chinese monk Hsüan-tsang (Xuanzang), who studied at Nalanda in the 7th century, described India as a source of deep learning and spiritual thought, demonstrating how our intellectual contributions were respected worldwide. He later spread his experience across China, and scholars believe this is where Buddhism spread in China. Stories from Arabian Nights and tales of Sindbad the Sailor all reference India as this golden bird land where merchants exported luxury goods and imported gold, making us one of the world's most prosperous civilizations before colonial times. There is an interesting historical origin tale of Shaolin Kung Fu. Many scholars believe that "Kalaripayattu," considered the mother of all martial arts, was created by Agasti Muni and embodies the traits of our ancient Yoga. It was introduced to China by Pallava prince “Bodhidharma” (from South India) when Buddhism was starting to spread across China, which influenced the development of Shaolin Kung Fu. This comparison has sparked debates among modern Chinese scholars, as many feel that acknowledging Indian influence diminishes Chinese achievements. But in reality, this isn't about taking credit - it's about recognizing cultural exchange. No one is denying that Kung Fu became the magnificent martial art form it is today because of Chinese culture and tradition. What I'm saying here is that Bodhidharma influenced its development path. Just like how Buddhism spread across China naturally. The beauty of society is that it exchanges values and develops greater things together. There are many instances where China has influenced India in modern time, and this cultural exchange has enriched both civilizations. Indian and Chinese civilizations are among the few great civilizations that still exist today, and if you read Chinese history, their journey has been similar to India in many ways - like how both were attacked by foreign powers, and how historically both civilizations were self-sufficient. I would highly recommend you to read about the "Century of Humiliation" to understand this better about China.
1.2 THE BIRD’S AWAKENING - RECLAIMING THE ANCIENT GLORY
So that was earlier times now let's see what happened with India in recent times, since independence in 1947, India has been gradually started reclaiming the glory it once had. When the world claimed that space was reserved for superpowers, our scientists successfully launched the Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan missions, landing on the Moon and sending an orbiter to Mars at costs comparable to what Hollywood spends on movies. This achievement proves that frugal innovation is our superpower. Our UPI system has revolutionized digital payments globally, processing over 100 billion transactions annually and inspiring countries worldwide to adopt similar models. Our pharmaceutical industry became the "Pharmacy of the World," supplying affordable medicines globally and saving millions of lives during the pandemic. Pick any major tech company in the world today - you'll find Indian minds either running them or making significant contributions. These aren't accidents - they're proof that when India focuses its deep tech capabilities with clear vision and determination, we don't just compete, we lead.
2.0 THE COST OF BEING THE GOLDEN BIRD
Being called the "Sone ki Chidiya" was both our blessing and our curse. The very name that celebrated our prosperity also attracted foreign powers who saw India as a land of unimaginable wealth and knowledge to be plundered. Throughout history, from the destruction of universities like Nalanda by foreign invaders to English colonialism, "divide and rule" was a key strategy to control India. Today, we're witnessing the same pattern through tariffs and sanctions. Picture this: countries lecture India about not buying oil from Russia because it "fuels the war," while secretly increasing their own Russian imports to billions of dollars. So long story short, in 2025, they want broader access to the Indian market, which could potentially affect our domestic market strength. But it is because, as their leaders always say, the West has a trade deficit with India, meaning India buys less and sells more to the West, particularly to the US. So, here's the deeper thing: when they calculate trade, they smartly ignore the trade or services that take place in the digital medium. When their internet technology companies do billions of dollars of businesses here in India, they just don't count it as trade. So that is why we have to be cautious. If we started accounting for digital goods, we might be in trade deficit or break even, not surplus. This is where we should take inspiration from China - how they have various restrictions on Western goods and even internet technology like social media, preventing them to play their favourite game of "divide and rule" in the name of religion and caste. Recently, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro told the world that one community getting so much benefit because of India purchasing oil from Russia is "Brahmin" - "Brahmins profiteering at the expense of the Indian people." This just shows that in modern times, they desperate and continue to employ the same divisive strategies that have been used throughout history to weaken India's unity. The audacity of this hypocrisy is breath-taking, but it also exposes Western double standards. In this digital age, there is a war going on without firing a single bullet that we call "information warfare."
2.1 HOW INFORMATION WARFARE SHAPES PUBLIC OPINION
I've experienced this first-hand. Last year I had a conversation with someone of Ukrainian heritage who has experience working at the UN and was born and lives in North America. We were discussing various topics, and it became very insightful, but when our tangent touched the war, he questioned me about India's energy choices as if our country was directly responsible for the Russia-Ukraine war. This is where we failed at information warfare. Since this is an information age, where people get their news from controlled sources, as we discussed earlier how Western nations were quietly importing billions worth of Russian goods themselves to control inflation in their countries, but this fact is not reaching their citizens. That's why their citizens are being hostile to Indian. As EAM Jaishankar sir rightly quoted: "The West has to grow out of the mindset that its problems are the world's problems, but the world's problems are not the West's problems." (You can watch our full discussion link in the reference section) Let me be clear - this isn't about being hostile toward Western peoples or dismissing their genuine contributions to science, technology, and human progress. This is about recognizing the duplicity of certain leaders and policies that preach one thing while practicing another. When we call out hypocrisy, we're not rejecting valuable knowledge or innovation from anywhere in the world - we're demanding the same respect and fairness that any sovereign nation deserves.
2.2 THE BLESSING IN DISGUISE
But here's the twist: their hypocrisy is becoming our blessing. We now see their true face. The lesson remains: we can't rely heavily on a single source. As the saying goes: "don't put all your eggs in one basket." This realization marks the birth of India's technological awakening - the catalyst for building the three pillars of sovereignty, the Atmanirbhar Bharat.
3.0 THE THREE PILLARS OF INDIA'S TECHNOLOGICAL SOVEREIGNTY
Just as we've overcome countless challenges, I'm sure that in the coming decades the world will experience our true glory. With our theme of Engineers Day being "Driving India's Techade", I believe three technologies hold the key to our future: Semiconductor Chips, AI, and Fighter Jet Engines. Master these, and everything else follows.
(I recently wrote an in-depth article about "*India's Independence from Techno-Colonialism: Why It's Time to Build Our Own Digital Future*
3.1 PILLAR ONE: SEMICONDUCTORS - THE INVISIBLE FOUNDATION
Every device you touch - your phone, car, computer, even modern jet engines, rockets - depends on semiconductor chips. These tiny pieces of silicon containing billions of transistors are the heartbeat of our digital world. No matter what technology we build, we need semiconductors for it. Therefore, creating a semiconductor ecosystem is a goldmine for every nation. This is why we are seeing countries going crazy over semiconductors lately. Here's the most shocking part: India had its semiconductor facilities way before Taiwan's TSMC! (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) which world biggest foundry.
In 1976, India established the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali. However, in a suspicious incident in 1989, a fire destroyed SCL's facility, crippling our industry. Was it a tragic accident or sabotage? Many questions remain unanswered. If SCL was not destroyed, we might have been a significant player in the semiconductor field by now.
But "Jab Jago Tabhi Savera" - when you wake, that's your dawn. The government is now showing strong interest, with the Bharat Semiconductor Research Centre established in 2024 and major companies like TATA partnering with foreign firms to establish fabs in India. Showing this isn't just a government initiative - it's a national movement. Just in a year or two, we might see Made in India chips rolling out from our facilities, producing 28nm-180nm semiconductors in large scale. But why 28nm-180nm chips? when new iPhones talk about 4nm or even 2nm? The answer is simple. These mature nodes power 70% of the global chip market in cars, home appliances, industrial machinery, and defence systems. This is a brilliant strategy: we're focusing on the backbone of modern electronics. Mastering this production teaches us the fundamentals, just as TSMC did, before advancing to cutting-edge technology.
A historical announcement came on September 2nd, 2025: India developed its first indigenous semiconductor, the Vikram 3201 32-Bit Space-Grade Processor, based on 180nm technology at SCL, Mohali. Validated in space during the PSLV-C60 mission, this marks India's transition from a major consumer to a creator of advanced chips.
Furthermore, as a Brahmapurian, we are proud that our own engineering college, PMEC (Parala Maharaja Engineering College) Sitalpahali, developed the High-Performance Multiplier IC-C2S0061, an indigenous chip that marks a significant milestone in our nation's semiconductor journey.
3.2 PILLAR TWO: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - THE BATTLE FOR MINDS
Earlier, advanced AI technology was limited to a few big tech companies that built it with massive investments and years of R&D. But now, with many Gen-AI models becoming open-source, meaning the source code of these technologies is openly available to the public. In other words, it's no longer a secret everyone can see the code of AI and know how essential AI has become across every field. Since November 2022, when ChatGPT first launched, the world quickly realized why AI is the next big leap for humanity. Before that, only experts and enthusiasts discussed AI, but today it's not just a topic of conversation it's an active part of people's daily lives through generative AI.
The biggest issue with generative AI is that every model carries its creator's biases. When DeepSeek, a Chinese AI, answers questions, it echoes Beijing's position. When Western models discuss global events, they reflect Western perspectives. This isn't accidental it's inevitable. I recently had a discussion with Professor Chris Kulp, a scientist and AI/ML researcher from the USA. He explained this through a meaningful analogy: just like eating healthy food keeps your body in good shape, feeding quality data into an AI system makes it more trustworthy. But he added something crucial: there's no such thing as truly bias-free data. Every dataset carries the assumptions, judgments, and blind spots of the people who built it. (You can watch our full discussion here).
So, the real question is: If we can't trust other countries, should we let their AI models dominate our information space and shape our young minds with their narratives? Fortunately, post-DeepSeek, we're seeing positive activity in India's AI space. India has finally entered the AI race with initiatives like IIT Bombay's BharatGen and its language models PARAM-1. Many private players like Ola's Krutrim and Pranav Mistry, the Founder and CEO of TWO, an artificial reality startup. ChatSUTRA, a product of TWO, has developed its own language model in Indian languages, unlike Western models that often treat Indian languages as an afterthought. So, there is some significant development going on in India, including big companies that are now taking this seriously. The future looks very bright. But there's still one issue we need to talk about: brain drain.
It's no secret that the West deliberately captures our brilliant minds. Through strict immigration policies, they identify skilled professionals and offer them higher wages and better opportunities. This systematic brain drain weakens India's technological ecosystem.
The irony is that while Indian tech professionals power the world's biggest AI companies, Western leaders dismiss our potential. Sam Altman's 2023 comment that India would "fail" to build an AI like ChatGPT, while controversial, became a catalyst for India's AI boom. Yet we must also ask ourselves: are we doing enough to make our talent stay here in India?
A famous Odia proverb says “ଯଦି ଆପଣା ସୁନା ହିଁ ଭେଣ୍ଡି ହେବ, ତାହେଲେ ଦୋଷ ଦେବା ବା କାହାକୁ?” which conveys a deep meaning: our own gold is worthless. In this context, the 'gold' symbolizes our attitude toward retaining talent in India, and yet we point fingers at others for this. It really highlights how we've missed the mark in that regard. Often, our own regulations have stifled growth, forcing our brightest minds to seek opportunities abroad. This situation is slowly changing, as restrictive US immigration policies might just be a blessing in disguise for us.
(If you like this article so far, I highly recommend you check out my previous articles on AI. “How UBI can be the answer” (2019), and same year another article where I discuss deeply about “AI impact in healthcare system” and most recently last year in 2024, I wrote an article about unleashing “Animal Intelligence with AI” where I also discussed this AI bias issue and how LLMs work in depth - links in the reference section.)
3.3 PILLAR THREE: FIGHTER JET ENGINES - THE MOTHER OF ALL DEEP TECH
Today, our magnificent Tejas, the first indigenously developed fighter jet of India and a source of pride for the nation, is developed and engineered under the leadership of Dr. Kota Harinarayan, who was born and raised in my city, Brahmapur, Odisha. As Brahmapurians, we take pride in his role as the chief designer of the Tejas fighter jet. The Tejas is known for its advanced avionics, agility, and multi-role capabilities, making it suitable for various combat scenarios. Initially classified as a 4th-generation fighter, it has evolved into what is now considered a 4.5-generation aircraft, showcasing significant advancements in technology and design. Today, we also hear that India is working on developing 5th-generation aircraft, incorporating some 6th-generation technologies, which could further enhance our defence capabilities.
However, the Tejas still relies on foreign GE turbofan engines. While it represents a remarkable achievement in indigenous aircraft design, this engine dependency creates vulnerabilities. The US has deliberately delayed engine deliveries to pressure India into buying their Lockheed Martin F-35 jet instead.
INDIA'S ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECT Our indigenous KAVERI ENGINE PROGRAM, launched in 1986, faced significant setbacks. As we know, jet engines are the pinnacle of engineering the "mother of all deep tech." After decades of investment, the engine remained underpowered, partly because the West deliberately imposed sanctions on key imported components, such as single-crystal turbine blades. Additionally, we lack the ecosystem required to develop fighter jet engines.
But wait, Why India lacks this ecosystem while other countries have it? The answer is World War. During the world wars, countries spent significant amounts of their GDP on warfare, which mostly went into R&D. Due to that, they developed this ecosystem much earlier than India. But the same question applies to China, right? China also wasn't exposed to world wars that much, so how were they able to develop this earlier than India? Well, there are countless theories. Many analysts state that reverse engineering was the biggest turning point for China. China's journey from reverse-engineering Soviet engines to developing their own WS-10 and WS-15 engines took decades, but it transformed their entire aerospace industry.
Similarly, France's collaboration with the UK on the Olympus engine for Concorde led to breakthrough innovations that benefited their entire industrial base. The good news is that there's positive development once again. India is now partnering with key players like France's Safran and American GE to co-develop future engines. Just as we overcame sanctions to conduct the Pokhran nuclear test in 1998, I believe we will overcome these challenges. The cost of dependence is staggering. After the heinous terrorist attack in India's Pahalgam, by Pakistani terrorists, India immediately ordered 26 Rafale jets for about $7.4 billion. Every year we delay our indigenous engine program, we hand over billions to foreign manufacturers. It's like paying rent for our own defence.
Mastering jet engine technology unlocks advances across multiple industries. The metallurgy strengthens our materials sector, while the precision engineering raises standards in automotive and energy.
The tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, and the death of Boeing whistle-blower John Barnett in 2024 are sobering reminders of our dependence on foreign systems and the need for accountability.
4.0 THE TECHADE VISION: COMBINED ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE
As a computer science engineer, you might wonder why I'm discussing fighter jet engines. The reason is straightforward: they represent the pinnacle of deep tech and require flawless collaboration across every engineering discipline from aeronautical and materials to computer science and electronics. The interconnection among AI, semiconductors, and jet engines is profound. AI algorithms, for instance, enhance engine efficiency. Beyond this direct application, AI's broader advancements are catalysing widespread innovation, from breakthroughs in healthcare to the development of quantum computing, generating a flood of new inventions. Semiconductors are the crucial electronics that control these systems. This synergy creates a powerful feedback loop where innovations in one area drive advancements in the others. Together, these three pillars make India's Techade not just possible, but inevitable.
5.0 CONCLUSION: FROM WAKE-UP CALL TO ACTION PLAN
The Indian civilization's never-give-up spirit and the unity is what made us survive in this cut-throat world, and we are here in the land which still maintains the same culture, traditions, values, and philosophy that have been practiced in this land for thousands of years, whereas other great civilizations have unfortunately been lost due to invasions, forced conversions, natural disasters, or internal collapse. So, today's challenges are not new for us. Today's global hypocrisy isn't our crisis - it's our opportunity. Every tariff motivates innovation. Every sanction inspires self-reliance. Every betrayal teaches us to trust our own capabilities. By developing AI that reflects our values, semiconductors that power our devices, and jet engines that propel our aircraft, we're not just building technology - we're building sovereignty through deep tech mastery. As our Prime Minister responds to these tariffs and potential sanctions by cutting the GST on various products, it essentially means that more and more products in our country are becoming cheaper. This will lead to increased economic activity in our country. The message is loud and clear: India will not compromise. As the largest democracy in the world and one of the largest economies, destined to become the third-largest, we will not accept double standards. The path forward may be tough and it requires all of our contributions, but we have to persevere. As citizens, we must support quality Indian products. As engineers, we must push deep tech boundaries and drive excellence in our fields. As a nation, we must see external pressure as internal opportunity. As of writing this article, our Prime Minister concluded his tour in Japan and China, where in China he met Xi Jinping and Putin, and the picture of those three world leaders went viral on social media. This is India's clear sign to the West that, India believes in a multipolar world order and will engage with all major powers on equal terms. And there is another interesting news coming from this tour: Japan says it will invest $68 billion in India over 10 years, primarily in semiconductors. This is one such case, and more cases will come as we work to strengthen the three pillars we discussed earlier. India is now gearing up for its Techade. In this AI era, we must prepare our children to leverage technology effectively. Beyond superficial applications, we need to encourage them to realize that knowledge without meaningful action is powerless. The dream of technological independence is no longer just a vision; it's becoming reality through deep tech convergence and engineering excellence across all disciplines.
The awakening has begun. Now comes the action. Jai Hind.
REFERENCES:
- CNN - "The US and Europe are still doing billions of dollars' worth of business with Russia despite years of war" (August 14, 2025)
- Wikipedia - "Sanitation of the Indus Valley Civilisation"
- The Billion Insights Podcast - Episode 24 with Andy Semotiuk (2024)
- "India's Independence from Techno-Colonialism" - Appsphinx (August 16, 2025)
- Wikipedia - "Semi-Conductor Laboratory, India (1976)"
- The Billion Insights Podcast - Episode E40 with Christopher Kulp
- Wikipedia - Air India Flight 171 Crash (June 2025)
- BBC - Boeing whistle-blower John Barnett found dead in US (March 2024)
- Times Of India - India to tie-up with France for next-generation fighter jet (July 2025)
- CNBC TV18 - US Fed's Christopher Waller hails India's UPI as blueprint for global payment systems
- Deccan Herald - Google wants US Fed to replicate India's UPI model
- Economic Times - "India, France ink Rs 63,000 cr deal for 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets" (April 2025)
- Sputnik News - "Is U.S. Delaying Supplies of Engines for Tejas Jets on Purpose?" (August 2024)
- Devdutt Pattanaik - "Why is India called Sone ki Chidiya? #SpeakingOfGold with Devdutt Pattanaik" (December 2018)
- Visiting India, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tells Indians: You can try to build AI like ChatGPT, but you will fail (June 2023)
- Quote From Marcus Garvey: “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots."
- Xuanzang (2016) is a Chinese/Indian film that talks about Hiuen Tsang's journey to India, also starring Sonu Sood.
- Century of Humiliation
- At meeting with Modi, Japan says it will invest $68 billion in India over 10 years (Aug 2025):
- Brahmins profiteering': Donald Trump's trade adviser's latest jibe at India over Russian oil.
- Odisha CM hails PMEC Berhampur, NIT-Rourkela for semiconductor chip feat
- Vikram-32 bit chip presented to PM Modi at Semicon India 2025?