Olas Bhavish Aggarwal Suggests for Rupee Symbol on Keyboards Sparking Online Debate3
Posted on by Nikhil Satish Pawar

Ola’s Bhavish Aggarwal Suggests for Rupee Symbol on Keyboards, Sparking Online Debate


The post, which quickly went viral with over 1.1 million views, has drawn mixed reactions. Some users defended the dollar sign, pointing out its significance in programming and other technical fields. One commenter explained, “The $ symbol is crucial in programming languages like Perl and is used to freeze rows or columns in Excel formulas, which the rupee sign cannot do.”

On the other hand, some commenters supported Aggarwal’s call for greater representation of the rupee symbol, arguing that it reflects national pride.

 They suggested that while the dollar sign’s dominance is understandable in global contexts, it’s time for India to embrace its currency symbol more prominently. “Global products often default to the dollar, but it’s time for Indian users to see the rupee symbol more often,” one user said.

In response to the backlash and confusion, Aggarwal clarified his position in a follow-up X post. He highlighted that the debate around keyboard symbols had gained significant attention and pointed out, “Looks like the keyboard is a real interest for many! Many countries have their currency symbol on keyboards. Many have custom keyboards based on their language. 

Except India. Only a few manufacturers add the ₹ symbol. ALL should.” This clarification aimed to underscore his point about the need for more widespread use of the rupee symbol.

Aggarwal’s post has also been compared to his earlier controversial suggestions, such as recommending that young professionals wear kurtas to work. Critics have accused him of mixing nationalism with business and warned that such moves might not be well-received by investors. One user cautioned, “Playing the nationalism card in business can be risky for investor confidence.”

For now, it seems the dollar sign will remain the standard on keyboards, but Aggarwal’s post has certainly brought the conversation about national identity and currency symbols into the spotlight.