Google CEO Sundar Pichai Receives Honorary Doctorate from IIT Kharagpur
Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has been awarded an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, IIT Kharagpur, in a ceremony held in San Francisco.
26.07.2024: In a heartfelt Instagram post, Pichai revealed that his parents always hoped he would pursue a PhD. The ceremony not only honored Sundar Pichai with an honorary Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) but also recognized his wife, Anjali Pichai, with the Distinguished Alumnus Award for her achievements in Chemical Engineering.
Pichai expressed his gratitude towards IIT Kharagpur for shaping his career. “Last week I was grateful to receive an honorary doctorate from my alma mater IIT Kharagpur. My parents always hoped I would get my doctorate, I think an honorary one still counts 🙂 The access to education and technology at IIT put me on a path to Google and helped more people access technology. IIT’s role in technology will only grow in importance with the AI revolution, and I will always be thankful for my time there,” he wrote, sharing images from the ceremony.
The event was attended by notable figures, including VK Tewari, Director of IIT Kharagpur, as well as Pichai’s parents and daughter.
Social Media Reactions
The Instagram post garnered various reactions, with one user commenting, “Parents are all the same. Regardless of who Sundar Pichai is today, his parents are not satisfied without a PhD. They always want to see their children achieve more.” Another wrote, “You deserve it, sir. You did more than any full-time doctorate could do.” A third added, “Brown parents be like: You may be CEO, but you should still have that PhD.”
Sundar Pichai’s Academic Journey
After completing his B.Tech in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from IIT Kharagpur, Sundar Pichai pursued an M.S. in Engineering and Materials Science from Stanford University and an MBA from the Wharton School. He joined Google in 2004, where he has since risen to become the CEO. It was during his time at Stanford that he met his classmate Anjali, who would later become his wife.
Pichai’s journey from IIT Kharagpur to the helm of Google is a testament to the impact of quality education and perseverance. His recognition by IIT Kharagpur underscores the importance of the institute in fostering technological advancements and leadership in the global tech industry.