Technical writing in India: Is it as good as anywhere else?

Technical writing generally translates to a piece of writing that conjures up an image in the mind of a layman about any device or software application.

In other words, the job profile of a technical writer involves writing and designing user guides, brochures, and white papers for a large number of products.

Although these procedures are not new, their categorization under the term “Technical Writing” is quite recent. The latest entrant in the software field is not an IIT whiz kid, but could be a journalist or an English literature graduate. This option is here to stay as India slowly accepts the prospect of technical writing as a full career on par with the hottest contenders.

Now, the Indian technical writing scenario would seem very bleak to a viewer who doesn’t delve into the layers. This field was virtually unknown until the 1990s. Tata Consultancy Services pioneered creating a need for today’s generation of technical smiths.

More than a decade old, this profession does not have many interested parties, but it has many followers in the different metropolitan areas. In Bangalore, the number is believed to be 500-600. Even with an optimistic view, the number of technical writers across the country would be around 6,000. These statistics show that corporate bosses and the software industry as a whole recognized the need for a specialized documentation team in recent times.

Technical writing work has long since moved beyond the confines of being a strictly documentation-related activity. In some organizations, technical writers are asked to be involved in test case development, product testing, API code creation, Java documentation creation, etc.

More recently, a technical writer has grown into a graphic designer, web content developer, etc. Since a technical background is not a prerequisite for a technical writer, many writers venture into the field even with a Humanities background.

The only criteria, by today’s Indian standards, would be a firm command of the Queen’s language and a strong analytical mind. However, the overriding need is to comply with international standards in the use of English. Business America recognizes the need for a skilled technical writer and that adds to the hiring and training momentum for technical documenters.

The United States offers a lot of field and opportunities for training and specialized study of the subject. By comparison, Indian universities avoid offering offbeat and lesser-known courses, also known as Technical Writing. Technical writers, who already exist in the industry and have carved out a golden niche, are quickly emerging as the “trainers” for this career option. Some of the Indian universities like the University of Calicut and the University of Mumbai have become aware of this profession and have included the subject in their curricula.

This trend can give the Technical Writing profession the boost it requires. End recruiters, corporations, and multinationals should boldly step in to hire and provide one-on-one training for new technical writers.

This could bring about the golden dawn for technical writing in India!

Copyright © – Nithya K.