It is clear that technology is a big part of Indian life today. Even street-vendors and rickshawallahs use internet, cellphone, and Aaadhar card. At the same time, we scapegoat technology when things go wrong, get defensive about our technological present vs the past, apply technology to problems that need social solutions, and fear technology's impact on jobs and society.
All of this leads one to ask: How do technology and society impact each other in India?
There are several books on technology in India, but none that focuses on the relationship that exists between technology and society. Reluctant Technophiles (one of GQs “best Indian non-fiction books of 2021”) fills this gap. Using examples, anecdotes, and data, it provides an account of India’s often messy relationship with technology.
In this book, I make observations about India's unique attitudes towards technology, identify some key technology-related challenges and how they relate to these attitudes, and suggest some focus areas.
It is clear that technology is a big part of Indian life today. Even street-vendors and rickshawallahs use internet, cellphone, and Aaadhar card. At the same time, we scapegoat technology when things go wrong, get defensive about our technological present vs the past, apply technology to problems that need social solutions, and fear technology's impact on jobs and society.
All of this leads one to ask: How do technology and society impact each other in India?
There are several books on technology in India, but none that focuses on the relationship that exists between technology and society. Reluctant Technophiles (one of GQs “best Indian non-fiction books of 2021”) fills this gap. Using examples, anecdotes, and data, it provides an account of India’s often messy relationship with technology.
In this book, I make observations about India's unique attitudes towards technology, identify some key technology-related challenges and how they relate to these attitudes, and suggest some focus areas.