The swadeshi wave is rapidly gaining momentum within the ruling saffron fraternity. Following a section of the top ministers Amit Shah, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Dharmendra Pradhan—who recently shifted from Microsoft’s suite to the indigenous office platform Zoho—the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has now adopted a local alternative for its messaging needs.
On Sunday, the organisation announced that it would be switching to Arattai, an Indian messaging app, for all official and practical purposes. “RSS Delhi has started exchanging messages and announcements on Arattai. You are requested to join Arattai to stay connected,” read a message from the RSS communications wing.
The move aligns closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for digital sovereignty, under which government departments and affiliated organisations have been urged to prioritise indigenous platforms for official work.
In his 79th Independence Day address, PM Modi had emphasised the importance of digital self-reliance, encouraging researchers and innovators to create homegrown social media platforms and secure digital infrastructure to strengthen India’s technological independence.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has also seconded the Prime Minister’s call for self-reliance in the digital domain.
Drawing a parallel with China, which has successfully developed its own robust ecosystem of search engines, social media, and messaging platforms, India’s dependence on American digital services remains stark.
Data underscores this reliance: Google commands nearly 400 million daily users in India, recording over 12 billion monthly visits to its search engine—second only to the United States. WhatsApp, too, dominates the country’s communication landscape, with between 537 million and 853.8 million monthly active users as of 2025, covering almost 92% of India’s internet population.
About Arattai
Arattai, developed by Chennai-based tech entrepreneur Sridhar Vembu, the founder of Zoho Corporation, represents a significant step in India’s quest for digital autonomy. The word “Arattai” means “casual talk” or “chit-chat” in Tamil, symbolising its vision of providing a simple, homegrown communication platform.
The app began October with 2.6 million installs and added nearly 8 million new downloads within a week, reflecting a surge of interest in indigenous digital tools.
Also Read: Sleeping With Power: How ‘Apolitical’ is the RSS? https://www.vibesofindia.com/rss-and-politics/
