New Delhi, Nov. 21 -- In a forceful public response, Shark Tank India judge and Emcure Pharmaceuticals executive director Namita Thapar has sharply criticised Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu for his recent advice urging young Indians to marry and have children in their twenties.

Vembu's comments, which he framed as a "demographic duty" to society and one's ancestors, ignited a fierce debate on social media - and Thapar has now demanded that influential leaders concentrate on more substantive social issues.

The controversy began when Vembu responded to a post by Upasana Konidela, vice-chairperson of CSR at Apollo Hospitals and spouse of actor Ram Charan, following her visit to IIT Hyderabad. According to Konidela, when she asked students h...