Bill Gates says ‘India is kind of a laboratory to try things’, social media divided over remark

Bill Gates’ recent appearance on a podcast hosted by Reid Hoffman has sparked a debate among Indian netizens. During the conversation, the Microsoft co-founder referred to India as a “kind of laboratory to try things”.

Gates said, “India is an example of a country where there’s plenty of things that are difficult there – the health, nutrition, education is improving and they are stable enough and generating their own government revenue enough that it’s very likely that 20 years from now people will be dramatically better off and it’s kind of a laboratory to try things that then when you prove them out in India, you can take to other places.

“And so our biggest non-US office for the Foundation is in India and the most number of pilot roll out things we’re doing anywhere in the world are with partners in India.”

The remarks quickly went viral, dividing opinions online. One user on X wrote, ‘India is a laboratory, and we Indians are Guinea Pigs for Bill Gates. This person has managed everyone from the Government to opposition parties to the media. His office operates here without FCRA, and our education system has made him a hero! I don’t know when we will wake up!’

India is a laboratory, and we Indians are Guinea Pigs for Bill Gates

This person has managed everyone from the Government to opposition parties to the media

His office operates here without FCRA, and our education system has made him a hero!

I don't know when we will wake up! pic.twitter.com/dxuCvQ44gg

— Vijay Patel🇮🇳 (@vijaygajera) December 2, 2024

Others dismissed the outrage as unwarranted. A user defending Gates commented, ‘I genuinely don’t understand this conspiracy theory attitude against Bill Gates in India. There’s no guinea pig-style experiments for vaccines happening in India, period!’