Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, recently appeared on a podcast with Reid Hoffman. During the conversation, he referred to India as a "laboratory to try things," which has sparked a lot of controversy, especially among Indian commentators.

His remarks, which were meant to emphasise India's contribution to international development projects, have drawn criticism from a wide range of individuals, particularly on social media sites where people expressed their disapproval. "India is an example of a country where there are plenty of things that are difficult there - the health, nutrition, and education are improving and they are stable enough and generating their own government revenue enough that it's very likely that people will be dramatically better off in 20 years and it's kind of a laboratory to try things that then you can take to other places when you prove them out in India," Gates stated during the discussion.   

He continued by saying that India is home to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's largest office outside of the United States and that the nation is crucial to the piloting of many of the Foundation's programs.  “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,” added Gates. Outrage was instantly triggered by Gates' use of language, calling India a "laboratory." Many reacted negatively to what they saw as a demeaning analogy, and some accused him of using India as a test site for international projects. 

On X, a user voiced frustration by saying, “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!”.

According to a different user, Gates sees Indians as test subjects, suggesting that successful projects be then taken up in the US. “The human beings in India are samples for Bill Gates’ laboratory to try things and once they are proven to be effective, taken to the US. This clip doesn’t sound right no matter in what context you hear this. That’s why research backed by governments can often have vested interests. Didn’t @elonmusk raise this as well?," said the user.

Nevertheless, not each response, though, was unfavourable. Gates was supported by others who claimed that his remark was misunderstood.  One user wrote, “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!” 

Given that Gates has previously praised India's advancements, notably in the fields of nutrition and health, his new comments are especially startling. Gates praised India's dedication to combating malnutrition in an interview with the news agency PTI.

“India, for its income level, acknowledges that some of these nutritional indicators are weaker than it would like. That kind of frankness and focus on it, I think is very impressive,” Gates stated, adding that he would give India an “A” for its efforts in tackling malnutrition.

Bill Gates has been deeply involved in India through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has received both praise and criticism. The Foundation has supported many health projects in India, especially focusing on sanitation, disease prevention and education.