Long before Sundar Pichai was running Google, he was a student at IIT Kharagpur, figuring out computers, staying up late to study and making friends on campus.And somewhere along the way, he also met Anjali – the woman who would later become his wife.As IIT Kharagpur celebrates its 75th anniversary, Pichai sent a message to his old campus and shared some of the memories he still carries with him. His career may have taken him from India to the top of one of the world’s biggest tech companies, but some of his favourite memories are still tied to those college years.One of them is particularly personal.“Campus is where I met my wife Anjali,” Pichai said in a video message shared by IIT Kharagpur.He also remembered learning to program there and getting some of his first chances to use a computer. Back then, he said, he would carry floppy disks around campus – a very different picture from the world of smartphones, cloud computing and AI that he works in today.
Before Google, there was IIT Kharagpur
Pichai’s memories weren’t just about studying.He spoke about meals at Harry’s, the Illu festival, nights spent studying in B308 and the friendships he made with his wingmates. He also remembered the professors who made an impression on him.But when you look back at someone’s college years, it’s often the people who matter most. For Pichai, that included Anjali.The two met while studying at IIT Kharagpur and eventually got married. Their relationship began during a time when Pichai was still a student with no idea that he would one day become the CEO of Google.That makes his recollection of the campus feel a little more personal. It wasn’t just the place where he learned to code or began thinking about technology. It was also where he met his future partner.Pichai said those years helped set him on the path that eventually led to Google and gave him a foundation for the work he does today.
His message wasn’t only about the past
While much of his message was filled with old memories, Pichai also looked ahead.He said he expects IIT Kharagpur and its students to play an even bigger role as technology continues to change, particularly with artificial intelligence becoming part of everyday life.He believes AI will increasingly be used by people in all kinds of jobs – healthcare workers, farmers, government officials, developers and entrepreneurs, among others.And he sees India’s younger generation as a big part of that future.Pichai recalled meeting Gemini Student Ambassadors from across India at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi earlier this year. Their excitement about using technology to improve people’s lives, he said, made him optimistic about what’s ahead.Still, amid all the talk about AI and the future, one line from his message felt especially warm.“Campus is where I met my wife Anjali.”For a man whose career has taken him around the world, it’s a reminder that some of the biggest moments in life can start in the most ordinary places – sometimes, simply, on a college campus.