A King’s Choice, a QR Code, and the Future of Fintech
What does an ancient king saving a tiny fish have to do with India’s fintech revolution? More than you’d think. This article explores how a single act of inclusion shaped civilization — and how UPI, QR codes, and fintech innovations are doing the same today.
A tiny fish gasped in the water, struggling against the currents. “Save me,” it pleaded. “If you don’t, the bigger fish will devour me.”
King Manu, standing by the riverbank, hesitated. The law of nature was clear — the strong survive, the weak perish. That’s how the world worked.
And yet, he bent down, scooping the little fish into his hands.
He nurtured it, let it grow, and eventually, it revealed its true form — Matsya, an avatar of Vishnu. This single act of choosing to protect instead of allowing nature to take its course marked the beginning of civilization. Manu became the first human, the first king — because he saw beyond nature’s raw survival and built something greater: a culture that gave everyone a chance.
Rules that didn’t favor the strong, but protected the weak. A system where even the smallest voice mattered.
I wonder — haven’t we seen this shift happen in our world too?
A System That Left Many Behind
For the longest time, finance followed the same fundamental law of nature: survival of the fittest. Access to banking and digital transactions was a privilege, not a right. The system worked for those who had resources — the educated, the urban, the ones with credit histories and bank accounts.
The rest, like the small fish in the river, were left to navigate a world where cash was king and opportunities were scarce.
If you didn’t have a bank account, if you weren’t fluent in English, if you didn’t own a smartphone — you were simply not a part of the system.
But then, in a single night, everything changed.
The Disruption: When Change Became a Necessity
In 2016, demonetization sent shockwaves through India’s economy. ATMs ran dry, cash-dependent businesses struggled, and people were forced to rethink how they made transactions.
For many, this was a crisis. But for fintech, it was an opportunity.
Almost overnight, people who had never considered digital payments had no other choice. And that’s where design played its part — not just in making payments digital, but in making them accessible to everyone.
Like Manu lifting the fish from the river, fintech products extended their hands to those who had been left behind.
How Fintech Designed for Inclusion
Demonetization may have forced people to try digital payments, but what made this shift permanent was how fintech adapted to meet the needs of everyone — regardless of literacy, location, or technology access.
1. QR Codes: Simplicity Over Complexity
India didn’t need expensive POS machines or bank-linked cards like the West. A simple QR code was all it took.
From high-end restaurants to chaiwalas on the street, anyone could accept payments instantly. No barriers, no learning curves.
It was the perfect example of inclusive design — a solution that worked for both the biggest businesses and the smallest vendors.
2. Language & Accessibility: Meeting Users Where They Are
In nature, if you can’t adapt, you’re left behind. But fintech didn’t let that happen.
Apps like PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay introduced local languages, voice assistants, and icon-based UIs so that even non-tech-savvy users could navigate them with ease.
Financial inclusion didn’t just mean making payments digital — it meant making them understandable to everyone.
3. Soundbox Innovation: When Inclusion Goes Beyond Screens
A street vendor doesn’t always have time to check their phone after every payment. Enter the UPI soundbox.
A small device that speaks out loud when a payment is received, ensuring that even those who can’t read can still trust digital payments.
This wasn’t just a tech innovation — it was design solving a real-world problem.
What This Taught Me About Design
Years ago, King Manu’s simple act of saving a fish led to the birth of civilization. In hindsight, demonetization was a moment like that — chaotic, disruptive, but ultimately paving the way for a new era of financial inclusion.
And when I saw a chaiwala scanning a QR code for a ₹10 payment — something unimaginable just a few years prior — I realized:
The true power of design isn’t just in making things work; it’s in making sure everyone can be a part of it.
The River, the Code, and the Choice
Perhaps that is the true essence of inclusion — whether in mythology or fintech, real change happens when systems acknowledge everyone. The best innovations, like the best leaders, don’t just serve the privileged; they create access, break barriers, and meet people where they are.
And I am just that — a seeker, standing at the riverbank of change, hoping to see a world where no hand is too small to hold opportunity.
Within endless stories, fragments of truth shimmer.
Who can grasp them all?
The weaver of tales sees through many eyes,
The seeker catches glimpses,
You and I, only what we dare to see.
Wandering through stories, always seeking
Yours in curiosity and design
Adarsh Singh
