Dec 3, 2022: Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, received the prestigious Padma Bhushan award from India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, in San Francisco.
Google’s CEO was awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan in the Trade and Industry category for 2022. Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in India. Pichai, who was born in Madurai, received the award on Friday in San Francisco, in the presence of close family members.
Pichai posted on his blog after receiving the Padma Bhushan award from Sandhu,”I want to thank Ambassador Sandhu and Consul General Prasad for hosting me to receive the Padma Bhushan. I am deeply grateful to the Indian government and the people of India for this immense honour. It is incredibly meaningful to be honoured in this way by the country that shaped me.”
“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 added.
The Indian-American continued by saying that he was fortunate to grow up in a family that cherished learning and knowledge, with parents who made significant sacrifices to ensure he had opportunities to pursue his interests.
Sundar Pichai also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of technology and stated, “Prime Minister Modi’s Digital India vision has certainly been an accelerator for that progress and I’m proud that Google continues to invest in India, partnering with governments, businesses, and communities over two transformative decades.”
Pichai additionally stated that he is looking forward to continuing Google and India’s great partnership as we work together to deliver the advantages and benefits of technology to greater people.
