For years, I have believed in this poignant statement. Be Indian. Buy Indian.
Well before the ‘Make in India’ initiative provided some more viable alternatives.
(Earlier posts: One, Two, Three)
Patriotism is not subject to dates of a calendar, neither days of adversity.
If we want India to be a great country, a superpower, then the Indians need to invest in it – emotionally, physically and most importantly – financially.
Put your money where your mouth is.
Today, more than ever, this seems to be reverberating at multiple levels.
Thus, this list seems all the more relevant.
This is an attempt by an individual to compile and summarize what I can to the best of my knowledge.
Any correction of oversights or newer insights will always be welcomed. (Comments section or direct email)
As and when time permits, there is an intention to delve deeper into each company’s shareholding pattern, management and ethics.
Most importantly, the aim is to find the right balance of quality and price. No compromise!
Just because it’s cheap, does not mean it’s not good and just because it’s expensive does not always necessarily make it better.
Buying Indian does NOT mean you compromise on quality … but when quality is comparable please make a conscious decision to shift your preference.
Neither does this mean that ALL foreign firms or non-Indian companies are bad. Many of them generate a lot of employment for the Indians as well as often invest in infrastructure and help bring in new technology and practices for us to learn from.
It is never wise, to turn a complete blind eye to the advantages of others, but it is always nice to know our strengths.
The aim is neither to enforce these options, nor discourage the others.
After debating a lot, the order has been arranged in a way that from the time you open your eyes everything can be ‘Indian’ if you try…
(I personally gravitate towards vegan options – faux leather or vegan leather – but this may not hold true for everyone. We respect individual choices)
- Tata Motors
- Mahindra & Mahindra
- TVS
- Hero
- Bajaj
- Eicher Motors – Royal Enfield
- Ashok Leyland
Mobile Phones / Tablets
We don’t have a purely Indian brand at the moment. Micromax has not be very active as it used to be.
Karbonn, iBall etc. are almost out of the picture.
Non-Chinese = Samsung (Korea), Apple (USA), Google (USA), Asus (Taiwan), Sony (Japan), Panasonic (Japan), HTC (Taiwan).
Oppo. Vivo. OnePlus is ONE company. Chinese.
Xiaomi, Amazfit, Poco = One company. Chinese
Huawei, Honor, RealMe = One company. Chinese.
Nokia is owned by HMD – Chinese
BlackBerry owned by TCL – Chinese.
Many of these manufacturers DO build phones in India. Including charger and cables as well.
Samsung’s largest factory in the world is in India.
Laptops
Similar scenario like Mobile phones. Nothing worth noting … yet.
The following categories are constantly changing. Tough to keep track. Most often than not, it’s a company just re-branding existing Chinese products, not investing any effort in R&D or even design and engineering. Just marketing and re-packaging.
Mobile Accessories / Bluetooth headsets / Earphones / Handsfree
Cases / Sleeves / Cables
Chocolates / Candies
Jewellery
Home Interior and Appliances
Wardrobes / Cupboards
Bed
Washing Machine
Refrigerators
Air conditioners
Electrical Appliances (Tubelight / Fans)
Kitchen Appliances (Mixer grinder / Oven / Microwave / Blender)
Security Systems
WiFi Routers
Televisions
Projectors
Audio Systems
Pharmaceuticals / Nutraceuticals / Medicines
Banks / Insurance Companies / Investment Funds
This is grossly subjective and while we do have a lot of Government owned companies (wholly or partially) their service and overall easy of use are often debatable. The private sector companies offer a variety of options, but at the end of the day most of them are often tie-ups with some foreign firms.
Special Mention: RuPay !
Going towards the virtual world. Who can forget Sabeer Bhatia and Hotmail!
While most software companies have Indians at strategic positions in their organization, we have don’t always realize how many of them are purely Indian!
FinTech
HealthCare
Office Management Suites
Messaging Apps
Email services
Hosting Services
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Now that we have some concrete options, repeating what was said earlier with some examples:
From Khadi, Peter England to Westside, to Arrow, Louis Philippe… EVERY quality shirts are available INDIAN.
Yet if you buy USPA or Zara … what is the logic?
Are these not ‘enough’ for your NEEDS.
Of course in toys, automobiles – MANY components are Chinese because they are not YET manufactured here.
The reverse is also true – Xiaomi has a charger to phone made in India … but the company itself is Chinese.
Khadi has wooden toys and there are many board games made in India.
Ludo ka coins ka feel ya scrabble ka tiles ka feel 10% kam hoga … toh chalega na … You anyway play the game barely 20 times.
You also have Decathlon … foreign brand – but 90% of the stuff is Made in India …
SO its NOT that you have to be fanatic … and buy everything ONLY INDIAN … but if we can all make a MINOR shift – of consciously opting for the brand that will BENEFIT INDIA (as a country, as an economy, as our people) – when QUALITY is at PAR … it will go a long way.
Just the way – we sometimes talk of Health. That if we make a small shift of opting for fruits / dry fruits/fruit sugars – instead of the junk binging for ‘snacks’ – it goes a long way …
Something similar.
Nobody is saying … Like Swadeshi movement … that burn everything phoren … but can we not at least – TRY to see the EQUIVALENT quality and HELP some manufacturers who are genuinely trying their best …
Like you check the expiry date … next time, before adding a product in your cart … check the label!
Comments (4)
Unknown
July 3, 2020Great Writeup Doc. Since we are Auto Enthusiasts too, I am surprised you left out the likes of Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Honda. I know their parent companies are not Indian, but between Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai, they have a market share of over 65%. Both these manufacturers source 90% & above parts from within India only. Additionally, due to the sheer market share of these companies combined together, they employ a lot of Indians too. So, all in all, in my opinion the profit going into India thru a sale of one car is much more than that going to the parent company of these manufacturers.
There could be similar companies in other segments too.
Dr. Suraj A. Dhirwani
July 5, 2020Thank you so much for taking the time out to reply to this! It makes the effort worthwhile.
I would like to clarify that I have not written AGAINST Maruti Suzuki or Hyundai or Honda… Neither am I discouraging people from buying these brands.
There is another post where I have mentioned against certain specific brands which are WHOLLY Chinese.
The purpose of THIS POST … is to compile a list of INDIAN Brands ONLY.
Where the parent company is Indian, and most of the production raw material, manufacturing is in India and benefits Indians.
The focus (OF THIS POST ONLY) is to keep updating such a list.
There are often many brands that people don't realise are Indian in origin and many other brands that masquerade (w.r.t to their names or branding) as if they are wholly Indian.
This post is just for THAT.
Yes, there are MANY brands who have invested well in India, employing Indians, setting up R&D in India as well. I am NOT against those brands, especially sometimes when there are NO OPTIONS that are wholly Indian.
Since you mentioned automobile enthusiast – let's put it in a simple perspective:
I have never dissuaded anyone from buying a Kia Seltos. It's a good VFM car and has earned it's position.
Same segment a buyer has an option to also look at Hyundai Creta. Same segment we also have Tata Harrier (now with a diesel automatic, sunroof etc.) and the Mahindra XUV500…
In SUCH a situation, I would hope most Indians will pick one of these 4 options and not pick the 5th which is PURELY Chinese… irrespective of how much they invest or how cheap they offer it.
Same vein – Samsung, Apple, Google – will have to be our choices for now … unless some Indian company comes up with really compelling options. I am not blindly enforcing or expecting others to buy sub-standard Micromax or iBall products just for the sake of patriotism.
Simple point – where possible – pick the Indian alternative.
Unknown
October 10, 2020Very good write up
There are several Indian options very true
Dr. Suraj A. Dhirwani
October 10, 2020Thank you very much for the positive feedback.
If we can not be soldiers who make the ultimate sacrifice, Let us all make a small effort of investing back in our country.