Modi’s Call for Homegrown Tech
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently championed the idea of Swadeshi—supporting indigenous goods and services to build self-reliance. That call has now extended into the digital realm, where messaging platforms dominate everyday communication. With ministers echoing Modi’s appeal, attention has turned toward Arattai, an India-made messenger app that promises to be a local alternative to WhatsApp. Its sudden surge in popularity highlights not just the appetite for homegrown apps, but also the potential to reshape India’s digital communication landscape.
Ministers Rally Behind Arattai
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has openly endorsed Arattai, describing it as “secure, user-friendly, and completely free.” His appeal to citizens mirrored that of IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who earlier urged Indians to back indigenous platforms in line with Modi’s Swadeshi mission. Their push had an immediate impact—within three days of the endorsements, Arattai witnessed a 100-fold spike in traffic, catapulting it into the spotlight as a serious contender.
What Exactly Is Arattai?
Developed by Zoho Corporation, Arattai—which means “chat” in Tamil—was launched quietly in 2021. Initially, it gained modest traction. But the renewed spotlight and government backing have brought it roaring back. Much like WhatsApp, Arattai enables text messaging, voice notes, audio and video calls, file sharing, and even story updates. What sets it apart is its wide accessibility—it works not only on Android and iOS devices but also on tablets, Windows PCs, Mac computers, and Linux systems, making it versatile for different users.
Zoho’s Challenge: Scaling Up Fast
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu confirmed the app’s meteoric rise in sign-ups—from about 3,000 per day to 350,000 daily registrations. The sudden growth has forced the company to expand its infrastructure rapidly to cope with the demand. Vembu also revealed plans for a major relaunch in November, with upgraded features, expanded capacity, and a strong marketing campaign. “Exponentials work this way,” he remarked, while asking users for patience as his team strengthens the platform.
Features and Limitations
While Arattai offers many of the same features as WhatsApp, its security protocols present a mixed picture. Calls are secured with end-to-end encryption, ensuring privacy between participants. However, text messages are not yet fully encrypted—a gap that could raise concerns among privacy-conscious users. By contrast, WhatsApp offers full end-to-end encryption across both texts and calls, setting a higher benchmark for security.
Government Push and Broader Context
The promotion of Arattai reflects a broader government strategy: reducing dependency on foreign-owned tech giants and cultivating indigenous innovation. By encouraging citizens to adopt homegrown apps, policymakers hope to create a digital ecosystem that supports Indian companies while safeguarding national interests. The move is part of a larger narrative of technological self-reliance, echoing India’s ambition to build domestic capacity across sectors.
Can Arattai Replace WhatsApp?
Arattai’s rapid ascent demonstrates both the strength of Swadeshi sentiment and the appetite for Indian-built solutions. With government backing and Zoho’s proven track record, the app has a real opportunity to carve out space in a WhatsApp-dominated market. Yet, its current encryption shortfall and the overwhelming global dominance of WhatsApp pose significant challenges.
Whether Arattai becomes a true alternative will depend on its ability to scale, innovate, and assure users of robust privacy. For now, it is less a replacement than a promising parallel option—a symbol of India’s digital self-reliance journey that may one day rival the global giants it seeks to challenge.
(With agency inputs)
