While the whole world debates whether humanoids can work in factories and care for the elderly, India has tackled a more important question: can a robot properly tear it up at a garba.
Coach Prashant Chosaliya stepped out to dance, and next to him was a small humanoid in traditional attire. The robot didn't just stand there blinking its lights. It repeated the man's movements almost exactly. The crowd filmed it. Someone had already managed to give it a name — Robotbhai Microsoft Patel.
And that's when the real fun began. This happened in Mumbai, on 6 October.
Because in India, if something dances well, it's immediately a candidate for a role at a wedding. At first people joked. Then not so much. Now in the chats of Gujarati families they calmly discuss:
— Is there a host?
— There is.
— A photographer?
— There is.
— And a robot?
— Not yet, but we're looking at options.
Picture the price list:
- Robotbhai — basic package (dances garba for 45 minutes, doesn't get tired, doesn't ask for whiskey)
- Premium — dances + pretends to understand when an auntie says "one more time"
- Ultra — dances, poses for photos with grandmothers and at the end says "Jai Ambe" with its voice module
The scariest part is that this is almost not a joke anymore. In recent months, robots in India have managed to:
- dance a classical piece,
- take part in Onam dressed as Maveli,
- open a sandwich shop with a tilak,
- and now — garba.
The next logical step is a robot that will explain to the groom's relatives why the bride still shouldn't cook 47 dishes.
But for now Robotbhai Microsoft Patel simply dances. Calmly, precisely, without unnecessary emotions. Like a true professional who knows: at an Indian wedding the main thing is not to lose the rhythm and not to fall into a pile of shoes.
All that's left is to wait for someone to write into the contract:
"The robot undertakes not to freeze during 'Dholida' and not to try to explain blockchain to the guests."
