'We Indians Are Guinea Pigs': Bill Gates Calls India A 'Laboratory', Triggers Outrage
Bill Gates’ recent comments on India during a podcast with Reid Hoffman sparked controversy online, drawing both criticism and defense from various quarters
Referring to India as a “kind of laboratory to try things,” Gates spoke about the country’s potential as a testing ground for solutions in health, education, and nutrition
While some praised his acknowledgment of India’s capacity for innovation, others found the statement patronizing
He highlighted India’s progress and stability, stating, “India is an example of a country where health, nutrition, and education are improving
They are stable enough and generating government revenue to ensure that 20 years from now, people will be dramatically better off
It’s a kind of laboratory to try things that, when proven in India, can be taken to other places.” He further noted that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s largest office outside the US is in India, where the highest number of pilot projects are being executed
Earlier, Gates had lauded India’s strides in addressing malnutrition, giving the country “an A” for its focus on improving nutritional indicators
He had praised the government’s frank acknowledgment of challenges and its targeted efforts to tackle them