Sundar Pichai, Google and Alphabet CEO, was handed over the Padma Bhushan in San Francisco on Friday by Taranjit Singh Sandhu, the Ambassador of India to the United States. Handing over India's the prestigious award to Pichai, Sandhu tweeted: “Delighted to hand over Padma Bhushan to CEO @Google & Alphabet @sundarpichai in San Francisco."
Sandhu, who also shared photographs of Pichai receiving the award, further said: “Sundar’s inspirational journey from #Madurai to Mountain View, strengthening economic & tech ties, reaffirms Indian talent’s contribution to global innovation.”
Delighted to hand over Padma Bhushan to CEO @Google & Alphabet @sundarpichai in San Francisco.
— Taranjit Singh Sandhu (@SandhuTaranjitS) December 2, 2022
Sundar’s inspirational journey from #Madurai to Mountain View, strengthening 🇮🇳🇺🇸economic & tech. ties, reaffirms Indian talent’s contribution to global innovation pic.twitter.com/cDRL1aXiW6
Indian-American Pichai was awarded the Padma Bhushan for 2022 in the Trade and Industry category. The Madurai-born Pichai was named one of the 17 awardees earlier this year.
While accepting the award in the presence of close family members in San Francisco, 50-year-old Pichai said he was deeply grateful to the Indian government and the people of India. “It is incredibly meaningful to be honoured in this way by the country that shaped me,” he said.
"India is a part of me. I carry it with me wherever I go. (Unlike this beautiful award which I will keep somewhere safe)," he said. "I was fortunate to grow up in a family that cherished learning and knowledge, with parents who sacrificed a lot to make sure I had opportunities to explore my interests," Pichai said.
Commenting on the technological advances in India, he hoped Google would make full use of the digital revolution happening in India. “The innovations created in India are benefitting people around the world - from digital payments to voice technology. I look forward to continuing the great partnership between Google and India, as we work together to bring the benefits of technology to more people,” he said.
Google this year added 24 new languages to its translation service using a new advancement in machine learning. Eight of them are languages native to India. "It means so much to see how people can access information and knowledge in their preferred language, and see the world open up to them in new ways. That's why I continue to be so optimistic about technology, and why I believe India can and must continue to lead," he added.
-with PTI inputs
