We all love Google because it has answers to all our questions! But how many of us know the man behind the world’s largest search engine? Pichai Sundararajan, popularly known as Sundar Pichai, who left for the USA at the age of 20 made revolutionary changes in one of the largest tech companies in the world – Google.
Sundar Pichai was born in 1972 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, and brought up in Ashok Nagar, Chennai. His interest in technology began in the manufacturing unit of his father, an electrical engineer, who used to share with him the stories of his work challenges which always inspired Pichai.
Hailing from a lower middle-class family, Pichai grew up, along with his two brothers, in a two-room rented apartment. Due to lack of space, Pichai and his brothers had to sleep on the floor of the living room. His family could hardly make both ends meet and could never afford any luxurious items.
“I grew up without much access to technology. We didn’t get our first telephone till I was ten. I didn’t have regular access to a computer until I came to America for graduate school. And, our television, when we finally got one, only had one channel,” said Pichai in his address to a graduating class of 2020.
Having completed his schooling and 12th grade from Chennai, Pichai proceeded to do metallurgical engineering from IIT Kharagpur, Kolkata. Being the brightest of his batch, he eventually earned a scholarship to Stanford University. His father spent for his first-time flight to the U.S., the equivalent of one year’s salary. Even in the U.S., Pichai had a hard time living through the expenses and making ends meet. He also pursued an MBA from Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Pichai’s entry into Google in 2004 was marked with the launch of the free mail service – Gmail! He started his career as a materials engineer and later as a management executive. In those days, Internet Explorer was the popular internet browser. Pichai wanted to create a new Google browser but his seniors discouraged him on account of the expense involved. Being an engineering genius known for his innovative ideas and passion for new technology, he convinced his higher ups, and launched Google Chrome in 2008 which became a huge success with people switching their browser from Internet Explorer to Chrome. Till date, Chrome is the most sought-after web browser in the world under Pichai.
Pichai’s expertise is also reflected in the development of Google Gears, Google Toolbar, Google Pack, Google Drive, Gmail Apps, Maps, and many more. In 2013, he added Android to the list of Google products. His series of incredible success stories led him to the post of CEO of Google in 2015, and in 2019, he also became the CEO of Alphabet, the parent company of Google.
The life and achievements of Sundar Pichai tells a different success story that has nothing to do with wealth or luck. “Success doesn’t come to those who wait, but to those who put efforts in making it happen,’ is the mantra Pichai keeps close to his heart and applies in his life. He delivered the following message to his alma mater, IIT Kharagpur, in 2017: “In the real world, it is important to be well-rounded, try different things, take some risks. I would encourage people to follow their passions more!” Coming from the man who manages the world’s biggest search engine and who took it to another level, it’s something worth remembering and following!
Credit : Dr Sajith Cyriac (The Teenager Today)
Picture Credit : Google
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