As he received the prestigious Padma Bhushan award from the Indian envoy to the US, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said, “India is a part of me.”
A padma Bhushan was awarded to Indian-American Pichai in the trade and industry category in 2022. One of this year’s 17 awardees is Madurai-born Pichai.
The third-highest civilian award in India was presented to him on Friday in San Francisco in front of his family.
I’m really grateful to the Indian government and the people for this honor. As he accepted the award from India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, 50-year-old Pichai said: “It’s so meaningful to be recognized this way by my country.”
There’s something about India that I love. I carry it everywhere. (Unlike this beautiful award I’m keeping somewhere safe),” he said.
“I was lucky to grow up in a family that valued learning and knowledge, with parents who sacrificed for me to explore my interests,” Pichai said.
Also at the event was India’s Consul General in San Francisco, T V Nagendra Prasad.
According to Sandhu, Pichai represents the limitless possibilities of technology.
‘He has made commendable efforts to make digital tools and skills accessible to everyone in different parts of the world,’ he said.
Sandhu hoped that Google would take full advantage of India’s digital revolution by combining speed, simplicity, and service.
Seeing the rapid pace of technological change in India over the years was amazing, Pichai said.
From digital payments to voice technology, India’s innovations are benefiting people around the world.
“I’m excited about continuing Google’s great partnership with India so we can bring technology to more people,” he said.
Digital transformation is happening, and more people have access to the internet than ever before, including in rural villages, Pichai said.
“Prime Minister Modi’s Digital India vision has certainly contributed to that progress, and I’m proud to see Google continue to invest in India, partnering with governments, businesses, and communities,” he said.
Whenever new technology comes to our doorstep, it makes our lives easier. That experience inspired me, leading me to Google, where I’m helping build technology that improves people’s lives.”
There are so many opportunities ahead, Pichai said.
India’s G20 presidency is an amazing opportunity to build consensus on advancing an open, connected, secure, and accessible internet. We share those goals, and we’re committed to advancing them together.” India assumed the G20 Presidency on Thursday.
“I’m grateful to work with you and bring technology to more people,” Pichai said.
Using a new advancement in machine learning, Google added 24 new languages this year. Indian languages make up eight of them.
When people can access information and knowledge in their preferred language, the world opens up to them in new ways; it means so much to me. I’m so optimistic about technology and why India can and must lead,” he said.
