Winning Bizness Desk

Mumbai.Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu’s advice to young entrepreneurs to marry and plan children in their twenties has sparked a wide debate on social media, pulling in opinions on career, gender roles and modern family planning. His comments came in response to businesswoman Upasana Kamineni Konidela’s pitch for egg freezing, which she called a strong financial and emotional safety net for working women.

Upasana, who is expecting her second child, had said that career-focused women should have the option to decide when they want to get married or become mothers. Vembu disagreed, arguing that delaying marriage and children is not a wise decision. His post went viral, drawing support and criticism in equal measure.

Upasana’s view on egg-freezing choice for women

Upasana, speaking at an IIT Hyderabad event, said egg freezing empowers women to make personal life decisions without pressure. She explained how financial independence gave her the courage to make bold choices in her own life.

Key points she highlighted:

• Egg freezing gives women freedom to choose marriage timing
• It helps them decide when to have children
• Financial security strengthens decision-making
• Fewer women think about marriage early compared to men

Upasana noted that her statement was aimed at encouraging career-focused women to prioritise personal agency and long-term stability. Her video gained wide attention online, leading to mixed reactions on social media.

Vembu’s response and online reactions

Reposting her clip, Vembu said that postponing marriage and children was not ideal and described early family planning as a demographic duty. He argued that falling fertility rates in countries like India make early marriages more practical.

However, reactions on X were sharply divided:

• Some users agreed, saying delaying marriage makes family life harder
• Others questioned how ambitious professionals can pause company-building for children
• Many pointed out career setbacks linked with maternity breaks
• Some said Vembu’s view reflects privilege and old values
• Others argued that it ignores modern economic pressures

The debate widened to issues of ideal marriage age, work-life balance, and gender expectations in today’s competitive job market.

Meaning of demographic duty

Vembu said early family planning contributes to population stability. Experts say that while late marriages complicate planning, youth today also face intense work stress and rising financial demands.

Pointers from demographic discussions:

• India’s fertility rate is falling steadily
• Career pressures delay major life decisions
• Traditional values continue to shape corporate expectations
• Many young adults struggle between independence and family norms

His views match Zoho’s long-held preference for family-time culture, but the online debate showed a clear generational divide in how people see marriage and career priorities.

Vembu’s personal background and dispute with family

Vembu married Promila Srinivasan in 1993 and the couple has a son. After years in the US, he moved to a village in Tamil Nadu in 2020, while his wife and son continued living in California. Their marital dispute became public the same year.

Additional details that emerged:

• Promila accused him of moving Zoho shares to relatives’ names
• She said this reduced her rightful share under California property laws
• Vembu denied transferring any shares
• He said he shifted to India for rural development work
• He stated that his family had been invited to join him

The public debate around his advice reflects broader tensions faced by young Indians today, who are balancing ambition, personal freedom and traditional expectations in an evolving social landscape.