“India is part of me and I carry it with me wherever I am going,” Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has stated, as he obtained the celebrated Padma Bhushan award from the Indian envoy to the US.
Indian-American Pichai was awarded the Padma Bhushan for 2022 within the Commerce and Trade class. The Madurai-born Pichai was named one of many 17 awardees earlier this 12 months.
He obtained India’s third-highest civilian award within the presence of his shut relations in San Francisco on Friday.
“I’m deeply grateful to the Indian authorities and the folks of India for this immense honour. It’s extremely significant to be honoured on this approach by the nation that formed me,” 50-year-old Pichai stated whereas accepting the award from India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
“India is part of me. I carry it with me wherever I am going. (Not like this lovely award which I’ll maintain someplace secure),” he stated.
“I used to be lucky to develop up in a household that cherished studying and data, with dad and mom who sacrificed so much to verify I had alternatives to discover my pursuits,” Pichai stated.
India’s Consul Basic in San Francisco, T V Nagendra Prasad, was additionally current throughout the occasion.
Sandhu stated that Pichai represented the limitless potentialities of expertise for transformation.
“He has been making commendable efforts in direction of making digital instruments, and expertise accessible to throughout numerous segments of the society in numerous components of the globe,” he stated.
Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s imaginative and prescient of expertise that mixes 3Ss – pace, simplicity and repair, Sandhu hoped that Google would make full use of the digital revolution taking place in India.
Pichai stated that it had been superb to return to India many instances through the years to see the fast tempo of technological change.
The improvements created in India are benefitting folks all over the world – from digital funds to voice expertise, he stated.
“I look ahead to persevering with the nice partnership between Google and India, as we work collectively to deliver the advantages of expertise to extra folks,” he stated.
Companies are seizing the alternatives for digital transformation, and extra folks have entry to the web than ever earlier than, together with in rural villages, Pichai stated.
“Prime Minister Modi’s Digital India imaginative and prescient has definitely been an accelerator for that progress and I am proud that Google continues to put money into India, partnering with governments, companies, and communities over two transformative many years,” he stated.
“Each new expertise that arrived at our doorstep made our lives higher. And that have put me on a path to Google, and the possibility to assist construct expertise that improves the lives of individuals everywhere in the world,” he stated.
Pichai stated he sees a lot alternative forward.
On India taking on the G20 presidency, Pichai stated: “It is an incredible alternative to construct consensus on strengthening the worldwide economic system by advancing an web that’s open, related, safe, and works for everybody. That is a purpose we share, and are dedicated to advancing with you.” India formally assumed the G20 Presidency on Thursday.
“I’m grateful for the chance to do that work collectively and convey the advantages of expertise to extra folks,” Pichai stated.
Google this 12 months added 24 new languages to its translation service utilizing a brand new development in machine studying. Eight of them are languages native to India.
“It means a lot to see how folks can entry data and data of their most well-liked language, and see the world divulge heart’s contents to them in new methods. That is why I proceed to be so optimistic about expertise, and why I imagine India can and should proceed to guide,” he added.
