Table of Contents
Imagine telling a young, bright-eyed engineer in Bangalore today that just a few centuries ago, the land beneath their feet was part of an economic powerhouse that controlled a staggering one-quarter of the entire world’s GDP. It sounds almost fantastical, doesn’t it?
More like a legend whispered during chai-time conversations than a hard economic fact.
Yet, according to meticulous research by economic historians like the late Angus Maddison, this wasn’t a myth.
For a significant period before colonial intervention systematically dismantled its foundations, India was a global economic leader, renowned not just for exotic spices but for sophisticated manufacturing, world-class textiles, advanced metallurgy, and thriving trade networks that spanned continents.
We hear endlessly about the post-liberalisation “India Story”—the rise of our IT giants, the BPO boom, and the service sector driving growth. And rightly so, this success has been transformative.
But could it be that this recent narrative, focused heavily on providing services for the world, has inadvertently overshadowed a deeper, more empowering history? A history where India wasn’t just executing tasks but creating, innovating, and selling high-value products globally?
This isn’t just an academic exercise in dusting off old history books.
Increasingly, a new generation of Indian entrepreneurs is rediscovering this forgotten legacy, and it’s doing something profound: it’s shifting their ambition. The knowledge that India was once a manufacturing and innovation hub is inspiring them to think beyond the lucrative, but often dependent, service model.
They’re daring to dream bigger – not just to serve the world, but to build the next generation of global products right here in India.
From ‘Executing for the West’ to ‘Creating for the World’
Let’s be clear: India’s prowess in IT services, software development, and business process outsourcing is a phenomenal achievement. It created millions of jobs, brought in valuable foreign exchange, and put India firmly on the global tech map.
Companies like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro became household names, synonymous with reliability and skilled execution. We became the world’s back office, and then its indispensable technology partner.
However, this success story primarily revolved around leveraging India’s skilled workforce to implement solutions often designed elsewhere. We excelled at building the engine but rarely designed the car. The intellectual property, the core product concept, the global brand – these often remained headquartered overseas.
“For years, the aspiration for many engineers, including myself initially, was to manage large delivery teams for international clients,” admits Priya Sharma (name changed), founder of a fast-growing SaaS (Software as a Service) startup based in Hyderabad. “It felt like the pinnacle.
Then, during a deep dive into economic history for a personal project, I stumbled upon the sheer scale of India’s pre-colonial trade and manufacturing. We weren’t just exporting raw materials; we were exporting finished goods of incredible quality – textiles the world craved, Wootz steel that was legendary. It was a lightbulb moment.”
“It made me question,” she continues, her voice filled with conviction, “Why are we limiting ourselves now? Why just build for others? We have the talent, the history of innovation… why not build global products from India, for the world?” Priya’s company now develops cutting-edge marketing automation tools, competing directly with established players in North America and Europe. Her inspiration? “Knowing we’ve done it before. Knowing that ‘Made in India’ once meant ‘world’s best’.”
Rediscovering the ‘Maker’ Legacy: Entrepreneurs Speak
Priya isn’t alone. This subtle but significant shift in mindset, often sparked by rediscovering India’s economic past, is bubbling up across various sectors.
Take the story of Rohan Alva (name changed), the founder of a direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand reviving traditional Indian handloom techniques to create high-fashion apparel for international markets. His office walls aren’t just adorned with modern designs, but also with prints depicting ancient Indian trade routes and textile patterns.
“Reading about how Indian textiles dominated global fashion for centuries, how merchants from Rome to Southeast Asia sought our fabrics… it reframed everything,” Rohan explains passionately. “We weren’t just ‘artisans’; we were master manufacturers running sophisticated supply chains. The British systematically destroyed that industry, as documented by historians like Shashi Tharoor. My motivation isn’t just business; it’s about reclaiming a piece of that legacy. Not by replicating the past, but by showing the world that Indian craftsmanship, combined with modern design and marketing, can create globally desirable products, not just provide cheap labour for fast fashion.”
Rohan explicitly cites his understanding of historical economic structures as influencing his business strategy. “Knowing India had complex banking systems (hundis) and extensive trade networks gives you confidence. We’re not starting from scratch culturally; we’re tapping into a dormant entrepreneurial DNA. The goal isn’t just exporting garments; it’s building a global brand rooted in authentic Indian excellence.”
This sentiment echoes in conversations with founders in diverse fields:
- Deep Tech & AI: Entrepreneurs working on AI-driven healthcare solutions or advanced robotics sometimes reference India’s historical contributions to mathematics (like the concept of Zero) and logic systems as foundational inspiration for tackling complex, original problems. The message: We have a history of profound intellectual breakthroughs; let’s create the next ones.
- Agri-Tech: Startups innovating in agricultural technology sometimes draw parallels between modern supply chain optimization and the efficient food distribution and storage systems described in ancient texts, motivating them to build solutions for India’s unique challenges with global application potential.
- Sustainable Manufacturing: Founders focusing on eco-friendly products might find inspiration in traditional Indian practices of resourcefulness and sustainability, aiming to build global brands around conscious consumerism rooted in indigenous wisdom.
The Power of Narrative: Shifting from ‘Job Takers’ to ‘Job Creators’
Why does this historical perspective matter so much?
- Boosts Confidence: Knowing your ancestors built complex economies and globally desired products fosters a sense of capability and challenges limiting beliefs.
- Inspires Originality: It shifts the focus from imitation or execution to genuine innovation and product creation.
- Provides a Unique Identity: Rooting a modern product in a rich historical context can be a powerful differentiator in the global marketplace.
- Reframes Ambition: It encourages entrepreneurs to aim for global leadership, not just participation.
This rediscovery counters the colonial narrative – subtly ingrained in some parts of our education and psyche – that India was historically backward or solely agrarian before Western intervention. Understanding the truth about our economic past empowers us to aim higher.
Challenges on the Path to Global Product Leadership
Of course, inspiration alone isn’t enough. Building globally successful products from India faces real hurdles:
- Access to Risk Capital: While improving, securing funding for deep R&D and long-gestation product development can still be harder than funding service-based models.
- Global Marketing & Distribution: Building international brand recognition and navigating complex global markets requires significant investment and expertise.
- Moving Up the Value Chain: Shifting from cost arbitrage to innovation requires sustained investment in research, design, and quality control.
- IP Protection: Ensuring intellectual property is protected globally is crucial but complex.
However, the crucial first step is the mindset shift. Believing that creating world-beating products from India is not just possible but a natural continuation of our historical legacy is the fuel needed to overcome these obstacles.
The Future is Being Reimagined
The story of India’s 25% share of global GDP isn’t just a historical footnote; it’s a potent reminder of our inherent capabilities. It’s a legacy waiting to be fully reclaimed, not by looking backward, but by using that knowledge to power forward with renewed ambition.
The entrepreneurs citing this history are not just building companies; they are reshaping the narrative.
They are moving beyond the comfortable success of the service economy to embrace the riskier, but potentially far more rewarding, path of creating original, globally competitive products. They are laying the groundwork for a future where “Made in India” signifies cutting-edge innovation and world-class quality, echoing the reputation it held centuries ago.
This shift is still nascent, but it’s palpable. The whispers of India’s glorious economic past are growing louder, inspiring a new generation to build an equally glorious future – one product, one innovation, one global brand at a time.
What are your thoughts? Does knowing about India’s economic history change how you view our potential today? Do you know entrepreneurs inspired by this legacy?
Share your perspectives in the comments below, and please share this article on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter to spark more conversations about India’s incredible journey – past, present, and future!
