In a milestone for India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission, Zoho’s homegrown messaging app Arattai has emerged as a flagbearer of the country’s digital self-reliance movement.
The ‘Made in India’ messaging platform has crossed 7.5 million downloads. It has become a powerful example of how patriotism, technology, and government support can combine to create a new digital success story. Click here to download the app: https://www.arattai.in/download.html
Government endorsements boost Arattai’s growth
Arattai’s turning point came when Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan publicly endorsed the app. Calling it “free, easy to use, secure, safe, and proudly Made in India,” Pradhan urged citizens to adopt Indian digital products over foreign apps.
Soon after, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal joined the platform, creating massive visibility. Adding to the hype, Union Home Minister Amit Shah as well switched to Zoho Mail recently.
Following these endorsements, daily user registrations jumped 100x. Numbers increased from around 3,000 to over 3,50,000 in just three days. Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu said this government backing was a ‘huge morale boost’ for the company’s engineers who have spent two decades building reliable Indian tech solutions.
A cultural movement fueled by Swadeshi sentiment
The name Arattai, which means ‘casual chat’ in Tamil, captures the essence of everyday Indian communication. But its rise is also a cultural statement — symbolising India’s confidence in its own technology.
The app’s surge aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India initiatives. These efforts encourage citizens to reduce dependence on foreign tech ecosystems.
Social media campaigns and organic user promotions helped spread Arattai across the country. Users proudly call it a ‘Swadeshi WhatsApp’.
Arattai: Secure, simple and scalable
Beyond national pride, Arattai’s features are built to compete globally. The app offers instant messaging with end-to-end encryption. It also includes voice and video calls in HD, file sharing and group chats, cross-device sync, and minimal data collection.
These features, combined with Zoho’s privacy-first approach, make Arattai a trusted alternative to global platforms. It aligns with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP) goals.
Driving India’s digital self-reliance vision
Arattai’s rise is part of a broader Digital India transformation. The government leaders, entrepreneurs, and users are collectively pushing for data sovereignty and indigenous innovation. Industry experts believe Arattai’s success showcases how policy support and national sentiment can accelerate adoption of homegrown technology at scale.
The road ahead for Arattai and Indian tech
Zoho continues to expand Arattai’s infrastructure to handle its rapid growth. The company aims to integrate advanced features like multi-device login, AI-powered moderation, and business chat tools. As India embraces its digital independence, Arattai’s success story underscores the nation’s evolving identity — confident, creative, and self-reliant.
“Arattai’s journey proves that when innovation meets national spirit, India can lead the world — on its own terms,”
said Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu.
