Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai obtained India’s highest civilian honour — Padma Bhushan — from India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu in San Francisco on Friday, and mentioned that it’s extremely significant to be honoured on this approach “by the country that shaped me”.
In an acceptance speech posted on his private weblog on weblog.google, Pichai mentioned, “India is a part of me. I carry it with me wherever I go. 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,”.
Further in his weblog, Pichai mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Digital India’ imaginative and prescient has actually been an accelerator, “and I’m proud that Google continues to invest in India, partnering with governments, businesses and communities over two transformative decades”.
Delighted at hand over Padma Bhushan to CEO @Google & Alphabet @sundarpichai in San Francisco.
Sundar’s inspirational journey from #Madurai to Mountain View, strengthening financial & tech. ties, reaffirms Indian expertise’s contribution to world innovation pic.twitter.com/cDRL1aXiW6
— Taranjit Singh Sandhu (@SandhuTaranjitS) December 2, 2022
He additionally took the chance to underline the importance of India’s G20 Presidency and identified that “India taking over the G20 Presidency will be an amazing opportunity to build consensus on strengthening the global economy by advancing an internet that is open, connected, secure and works for everyone”.
Google had lately introduced to take a position $10 billion in India’s digital future. The web behemoth mentioned that it’s working towwards enabling extra inexpensive web entry, constructing merchandise for India`s distinctive wants, serving to companies of all sizes of their digital transformation, and utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deal with massive societal challenges.
“We’re also investing deeply in digital skilling and have trained over 1 million women through our WomenWill Entrepreneurship Program and over 55,000 teachers in partnership with the government and local organisations,” mentioned Pichai.
The tech large additionally sponsored over 100,000 Google Career Certificate sponsorships in collaboration with the Nasscom Foundation and Tata Strive.
“Earlier this year, we added 24 new languages to Google Translate using a new advancement in machine learning. Eight of them are languages native to India,” he added.
Read Sundar Pichai’s Full Blog Post on Accepting the Padma Bhushan:
“I need to thank Ambassador Sandhu and Consul General Prasad for internet hosting me to obtain the Padma Bhushan. I’m deeply grateful to the Indian authorities and the folks of India for this immense honor. It is extremely significant to be honored on this approach by the nation that formed me.
India is part of me. I carry it with me wherever I’m going. (Unlike this stunning award which I’ll preserve someplace protected.)
I used to be lucky to develop up in a household that cherished studying and information, with mother and father who sacrificed lots to ensure I had alternatives to discover my pursuits. Every new know-how 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 know-how that improves the lives of individuals everywhere in the world.
It’s been so superb to return to India many instances over time to see the speedy tempo of technological change. Increasingly the improvements created in India are benefitting folks all over the world — from digital funds to voice know-how. Businesses are seizing the alternatives for digital transformation, and extra folks have entry to the web than ever earlier than, together with in rural villages.
Prime Minister Modi’s Digital India imaginative and prescient has actually been an accelerator for that progress, and I’m proud that Google continues to put money into India, partnering with governments, companies and communities over two transformative a long time.
We lately introduced that we’ll be investing $10 billion in India’s digital future, working to allow extra inexpensive web entry, constructing merchandise for India’s distinctive wants, serving to companies of all sizes of their digital transformation, and utilizing AI to deal with massive societal challenges.
We’re additionally investing deeply in digital skilling, and have educated over 1 million ladies by means of our WomenWill Entrepreneurship Program and over 55,000 lecturers in partnership with the federal government and native organizations. We’ve additionally sponsored over 100,000 Google Career Certificate sponsorships in collaboration with the NASSCOM Foundation and Tata Strive.
And our merchandise are serving to folks entry information and alternative — from the various college students and educators who’re utilizing Google Classroom, to the tens of millions of small companies utilizing Search and Maps to attach with clients, to the distinctive options equivalent to offline mode in Maps.
Earlier this 12 months, we added 24 new languages to Google Translate 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 info and information of their most popular language, and see the world divulge heart’s contents to them in new methods.
That’s why I proceed to be so optimistic about know-how, and why I consider India can and should proceed to guide.
I see a lot alternative forward. Next 12 months, India will take over management of the G20. It’s a tremendous alternative to construct consensus on strengthening the worldwide financial system by advancing an web that’s open, related, safe, and works for everybody, a aim we share.
I look ahead to persevering with the good partnership between Google and India, as we work collectively to deliver the advantages of know-how to extra folks.”