Sridhar Vembu, the visionary founder and chief scientist of Zoho, recently joined a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) route march in Tamil Nadu's Tenkasi district. The event, held on Sunday, November 1, in Sankarankovil, was part of the RSS's Vijayadashami celebrations, marking the second and final phase of marches across over 100 locations in the state.
Photographs shared by Ananthan Ayyasamy, BJP's Tenkasi district president and an entrepreneur who considers Vembu his mentor, showed the tech leader actively participating alongside BJP and RSS members. Ayyasamy confirmed Vembu's deep engagement with local RSS activities, including regular attendance at 'baithaks' (meetings) and sponsoring cultural classes focused on Bharatiya traditions.
Vembu on Self-Reliance and Nationalism
During an event associated with the march, Vembu addressed participants, emphasizing themes of self-reliance, nationalism, and the RSS's significant contributions to nation-building. According to Ayyasamy, Vembu highlighted that the RSS operates without discrimination, refraining from granting special status based on caste or wealth.
Vembu also acknowledged the extensive relief efforts undertaken by the RSS during the December 2023 floods in Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts. He specifically cited the work of hundreds of volunteers through organizations like Seva Bharathi, noting their service even in areas predominantly inhabited by non-Hindu residents.
Reflecting on an Ideological Journey
Vembu's participation in the RSS march comes months after he publicly shared insights into his personal ideological evolution. In July, he recounted how, at the age of 14, he was influenced by a Marxist Tamil teacher who led him to embrace Marxism and atheism.
"In my 10th standard in that school, I had a Marxist Tamil teacher. His entire class was about the coming Marxist revolution... For a period, I became a Marxist and atheist thanks to him. I was 14," Vembu wrote on X.
While Marxism eventually lost its appeal, Vembu stated he remained an atheist for several years. He also expressed criticism regarding the Marxist teacher's unchecked influence, especially given that the school had an RSS member as a trustee, yet the RSS's perspective was not presented to students like him.