title: Honoring Sundar Pichai at IIT Kharagpur
Director Chakraborty warmly welcomed Sundar Pichai, an eminent IIT Kharagpur alumnus and the renowned CEO of Google, to the campus. The audience was eager to learn from and emulate Mr. Pichai’s journey, seeking inspiration from his achievements. The Google team initially planned to welcome Mr. Pichai with drums but opted for a more personalized and meaningful KGP-style welcome.

Celebrating IIT KGP’s Influence on Sundar Pichai:
The director highlighted Mr. Pichai’s remarkable leadership of one of the world’s most talented teams, emphasizing their potential to change the world. The event aimed to provide a memorable experience for all attendees, ensuring that Mr. Pichai would be eager to return to the campus.

Acknowledging Sundar Pichai’s Distinguished Alumnus Award:
In 2000, IIT Kharagpur honored Mr. Pichai with the Distinguished Alumnus Award, recognizing his outstanding achievements. Google recognized Mr. Pichai’s capabilities and appointed him as their CEO, further demonstrating his exceptional leadership skills.

Teasing a Future Collaboration:
Director Chakraborty hinted at a potential future collaboration between IIT Kharagpur and Google, keeping the details confidential for the moment.

Welcoming Rajan Anandan:
Rajan Anandan, the head of Google India and Southeast Asia, was invited to address the gathering before Mr. Pichai’s arrival. Director Chakraborty expressed gratitude to Mr. Anandan and his team for their cooperation and the arrangements made for the event.

Introduction:
Google’s Vice President (VP) and Country Manager for India and Southeast Asia, Rajan Anandan, expressed excitement and gratitude as he addressed the IIT Kharagpur (IIT KGP) audience. He emphasized the long-standing partnership between Google and the IITs, where many senior leaders and top-performing engineers at Google come from the IITs.

Sundar Pichai’s Legacy and IITs’ Impact:
The VP acknowledged Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO and an alumnus of IIT KGP, for his leadership in transforming Android and Chrome into global open-source platforms. Anandan expressed hope that each student would have a similar impact on the world.

India’s Contributions to Open Source:
Anandan recognized India’s significant contributions to open-source projects, with KGP students consistently being among the top contributors to Google’s Summer of Code program. He acknowledged IIT KGP’s PhD students and faculty for their world-class research in machine learning.

Opportunities in India for Innovation:
The VP highlighted the stark difference between the past, when many had to leave India to pursue technological innovation, and the present, where India has emerged as a vibrant hub for technology and innovation. With over 350 million internet users, India offers vast opportunities in sectors such as financial services, healthcare, education, and agriculture.

Google’s Commitment to Developers and Entrepreneurs:
Anandan emphasized Google’s commitment to supporting developers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses by equipping them with the skills necessary to build successful new ventures. He mentioned the initiative to train 2 million mobile developers in India, partnering with various institutions to create accessible courses.

Building for India, Building for the World:
Anandan stressed that when products are designed for the unique challenges of India, they can have a global impact. He cited examples of YouTube and Maps being taken offline, which enabled their use in countries with limited internet connectivity.

IITs’ Role in Shaping the Future:
Acknowledging IITs’ contributions to developing the best minds, Anandan expressed admiration for Sundar Pichai and his leadership as Google’s CEO. He envisioned that in the future, one of the students present could be sitting in the same position.

Innovation for a Better Future:
The VP encouraged the students to take advantage of the incredible opportunities that India presents, emphasizing the potential for innovation to positively impact both India and the world. He welcomed Hitesh Oberoi, InfoEdge’s CEO, as the moderator for the fireside chat and thanked the audience for their participation.

Sundar Pichai’s Emotional Homecoming:
After 23 years, Sundar Pichai returned to IIT Kharagpur, where he spent four memorable years as a student. The campus held a special place in his heart, and he couldn’t help but feel nostalgic as he revisited his old hostel and the amphitheater.

Campus Rock Star:
Pichai received a rock star welcome from over 3,500 students eagerly awaiting his address. His presence on campus demonstrated his deep connection to his alma mater.

Reflections on College Life:
Pichai shared his humble beginnings, expressing that his initial goal was simply to have a good time during his college years. He acknowledged the hard work required to gain admission to IIT and expressed gratitude for the life-changing experience.

Rare Glimpse into the Past:
He reminisced about his time at IIT Kharagpur through a series of photos showcasing his wingmates and favorite hangout spots. The images evoked memories of the camaraderie and shared experiences during his college days.

Mess Food and College Antics:
Pichai recalled the unique dining experience at IIT, where students often joked about the indistinguishable nature of the food. He fondly remembered his college escapades, including bunking morning classes and engaging in lighthearted pranks like changing the center of gravity in fellow students’ rooms.

Inspiration for the Next Generation:
Pichai’s down-to-earth demeanor and humble personality resonated with the students, who saw him as a role model and an inspiration. His journey from IIT Kharagpur to becoming the CEO of Google served as a testament to the transformative power of education and perseverance.

Sundar Pichai’s Roommates’ Pranks:
His roommates would rearrange his furniture and put sticks in his clothes, causing a significant shock upon returning to his room.

Addressing People at IIT:
Coming from the South, Sundar Pichai was unfamiliar with the Hindi language. He mistakenly addressed someone as “Abe Saleh,” which caused temporary closure of the mess due to its disapproving reception.

Meeting his Wife, Anjali, at IIT:
Anjali, Sundar Pichai’s wife, was his classmate at IIT. The only girls hostel then required a formal process to call someone, which involved a loud announcement of the person’s name.

Technological Advancements Since His Time at IIT:
Sundar Pichai highlights the significant progress in India’s digital landscape, especially in mobile penetration with over 300 million smartphones. He contrasts the current access to technology with his experiences at IIT, where there were no phones, computers were scarce, and accessing them required booking time and using floppy disks. Despite the advancements, his dorm room in Nehru Hall appears to have remained unchanged from his time there.

The Essence:
Sundar Pichai’s visit to IIT Kharagpur was marked by a series of insightful discussions and reflections on his journey, innovation, AI, and the future of technology.

The Questions:
Sheikh Mohammed Sameer asked about the moment Pichai felt he transitioned from an alumnus to a distinguished alumnus. Chiranjeev Singh Rathore inquired about Pichai’s memories of crazy things he did during his time at IIT Kharagpur.

Pichai’s Responses:
Pichai emphasized that the decision to become a distinguished alumnus was not his to make, highlighting his focus on doing work he truly enjoys. He recalled his close friendships with wingmates and fondly remembered visiting the strip in Bangalore with his classmates.

Innovation at Google:
Pichai spoke about Google’s ambitious approach to innovation, emphasizing the “10x” or “moonshot” mentality. He stressed the importance of working on projects that are relevant to billions of people and solve real problems. Pichai highlighted the use of deep computer science to achieve differentiated solutions and encouraged embracing failure as part of the innovation process.

AI and Machine Learning:
Pichai discussed the recent advances in AI and machine learning, attributing them to increased computational power and access to better data. He highlighted the remarkable improvements in Google Translate as an example of deep learning’s breakthroughs. Pichai emphasized that the field is at an inflection point, and Google is investing heavily to bring the benefits of AI to as many users as possible.

Startups in India:
Pichai praised the quality of startups in India, stating that they are as good as those in other parts of the world. He acknowledged the limited size of the Indian market as a challenge for startups to compete with MNCs. Pichai encouraged Indian companies to think globally and target similar markets like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand. He expressed optimism that big global software companies would emerge from India within a 5 to 10-year timeframe.

Advice for IIT Graduates:
Pichai advised graduates to aim big and build for the international market from the start. He highlighted that building for the Indian market alone may limit their potential for global success. Pichai cited examples from Google of products initially designed for the Indian market but later found global relevance.

Educational Evolution and Passion:
With India’s strong emphasis on education, Pichai highlights the need for education to adapt to changing times. He suggests shifting focus from solely academic pursuits to embracing well-roundedness, risk-taking, and pursuing passions. Emphasizing the disparity between Indian education and the US, where Stanford students choose their majors later, Pichai advocates for exploration and finding genuine interests.

Real-World Experience:
Pichai stresses the significance of acquiring real-world experience. He recommends internships, project work, and hands-on learning to augment academic knowledge.

Risk-Taking and Creativity:
Pichai encourages embracing failure, emphasizing that it’s acceptable to take risks and try various things to discover one’s true passions. He urges institutions to value creativity and experiential learning.

Experiential Learning:
To create a more holistic educational experience, Pichai recommends that educational institutions prioritize experiential learning opportunities. This includes internships, project work, and other real-life experiences.

Conclusion:
Sundar Pichai’s recommendations for India’s educational system focus on evolving traditional methods, promoting well-roundedness, empowering individuals to pursue their passions, and integrating real-world experiences to prepare students for a dynamic world.

Educational Background Does Not Guarantee Success:
Sundar Pichai emphasizes that admission to prestigious institutions does not guarantee success, although it plays a significant role. He encourages individuals to remember that life is a long journey and it’s important to enjoy the process.

Key Leadership Qualities:
Pichai describes his leadership style as one that involves empowering people at all levels of the organization. He believes in trusting individuals to make the right choices and focusing on removing barriers to enable their success. Teamwork and building collaborative cultures are essential aspects of his leadership approach.

Advancements in Machine Learning and AI:
Pichai highlights machine learning and AI as the next big thing in R&D at Google. He mentions a project using machine learning to detect diabetic retinopathy, enabling early detection and treatment, potentially preventing blindness. Pichai expresses his excitement about bringing advancements in machine learning and AI to various fields, benefiting a wider range of people.

Google’s Role in India’s Digitization:
Pichai emphasizes the importance of making Google products accessible in multiple languages to cater to the diverse population of India. He discusses the focus on developing affordable smartphones and improving connectivity, including projects like connecting railway stations with Wi-Fi and the Internet Saathi initiative. Addressing the gender gap in internet usage, Pichai mentions programs that aim to train rural Indian women in using the internet. He highlights the successful public-private partnerships Google has formed in India, such as the Digital India program and Aadhaar and UPI projects.

India’s Potential in the Digital Economy:
Pichai expresses his conviction that India will become a global player in the digital economy, competing with any country worldwide. He recognizes the world-class caliber of Indian startups and entrepreneurs and their innovative approach to building products. While acknowledging that it may take time, Pichai believes India is on a good growth trajectory in this area.

Advice to Students:
Pichai advises students to not limit themselves to just academics but to explore their interests and passions. He encourages them to be passionate about what they do and to stay curious and open to learning throughout their lives. Pichai emphasizes the importance of giving back to society, making a positive impact, and using their talents to help others.

Motivational Message:
Sundar Pichai encourages students to take their time learning and understanding concepts deeply, rather than focusing solely on grades. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance and maintaining hope and dreams despite setbacks. Pichai believes that success is largely determined by personal effort rather than external factors.

Career Advice:
Pichai highlights the success of Google employees from diverse backgrounds, including those from India and non-IIT institutions. He acknowledges that IITs are prestigious globally but emphasizes that there are multiple paths to success. Pichai notes the growth of the Indian startup ecosystem and the opportunities it presents for young entrepreneurs.

IIT Experience:
Pichai recalls his time at IIT Kharagpur fondly, highlighting the cultural festivals and events that contribute to a well-rounded student experience.

Job Interview Experience:
Pichai shares his unique interview experience at Google, where he was asked about Gmail before it was officially launched. He mentions that Larry Page had stopped interviewing candidates around that time, which contributed to Pichai’s successful interview.

Advice for Students:
Pichai encourages students to pursue their passions, even if they differ from their chosen field of study. He acknowledges the feeling of insecurity that can arise when working with talented individuals. Pichai recommends striving to be in environments where people are slightly better than oneself to promote growth and learning.

Holistic Development:
Pichai regrets not engaging more in humanities and soft skills development during his time at IIT. He believes that students should develop themselves holistically by pursuing activities outside their core technical studies.

The value of extracurricular activities:
Sundar Pichai believes that diverse activities and a well-rounded experience make a significant difference in one’s life. He considers writing to be an important skill and emphasizes the value of learning to write better.

Q&A with Sundar Pichai:

The conversation shifts to a rapid-fire Q&A session:
Free time: Sundar enjoys spending time with his family, watching cricket and soccer, and connecting with friends and family. He has two children ages 13 and 9. GPA at IIT: While he was initially embarrassed about his GPA in his first year at IIT, he worked hard to make up for it in the following years. He encourages students not to lose hope even if their GPA starts low. Role models: Sundar admires people from various walks of life, especially those who have made a global impact, like Mr. Narayan Murthy, and sporting legends like Sachin Tendulkar. Favorite Bollywood actress: He names Deepika Padukone as his favorite actress, having had the chance to interview her and Shah Rukh Khan at Google. He also appreciates Prakash Padukone, Deepika’s father, for his achievements in badminton. Favorite IIT Kharagpur professor: He mentions two of his favorite professors: Professor Roy from his department and Professor Indranil Manna, who is now at IIT Kanpur. Keeping in touch with college friends: Sundar stays connected with his college friends through social media like Facebook and WhatsApp and had recently met some of them in Bangalore. Inspiration from cricket: While acknowledging Sunil Gavaskar as a past favorite cricketer, he currently admires Virat Kohli for his exceptional performance and consistency across all formats of the game. Cricket experience: Sundar shares that he was not skilled enough to make it to the IIT Kharagpur cricket team.

Closing remarks:
The session concludes with a round of applause for Sundar Pichai and the other organizers of the event. The audience is thanked for their enthusiastic participation and patience during the session.