Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai was conferred India’s third-highest civilian award, Padma Bhushan, on Saturday by the Indian envoy to the US.
While accepting the prestigious award Pichai said, “India is a part of me and I carry it with me wherever I go.” He was awarded the Padma Bhushan for 2022 in the Trade and Industry category. He received the award in the presence of his close family members in San Francisco.
“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,” 50-year-old Pichai said while accepting the award from India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. “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.
Pichai said that it had been amazing to return to India many times over the years to see the rapid pace of technological change.
Delighted to hand over Padma Bhushan to Google CEO Sundar Pichai in San Francisco. His inspirational journey from Madurai to Mountain View, strengthening India-America economic & tech. ties, reaffirms Indian talent’s contribution to global innovation: Ambassador Taranjit S Sandhu pic.twitter.com/fxiSouYrIk
— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2022
