“He was one of the best minds that we have seen," says Professor Sanat Kumar Roy of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur about Sundar Pichai. Roy would know because Google's new CEO is an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur where his name still features among the list of all time toppers.
"His keen interest in electrical materials development was evident during his days at IIT. Its a great achievement that he is set to be the new CEO of Google," the professor said.
Roy came to know about Pichai's elevation today morning from the institute's alumni. Then of course, the calls from media persons flooded him.
"His achievements are definitely worth mentioning," Roy adds.
But just a few months ago when Roy received a call seeking details about his former student, Sundar Pichai, he hung up, claiming that he did not know him.
Its only later he realised that Sundar Pichai – the man taking over as CEO of Google, was actually P Sundarajan, who was awarded the BC Roy Silver Medal in 1993.
The BC Roy Silver Medal is awarded to every topper of each engineering discipline of the IIT Kharagpur. And Pichai was topped the Department of Metallurgical and Material Engineering of the institute.
Recalling the incident, Roy says: “His original name in our record books is P Sundarajan. But when he went to USA, he must have changed it to Sundar Pichai.”
Pichai was an alumnus of IIT-Kharagpur between 1989 and 1993.
IIT- Kharagpur director, PP Chakraborty wrote on his Facebook page
“Congratulations Sundar. You are an inspiration for IITKGP students and the whole IITKGP family is proud of you. Wish you the very best!!
Subsequently, an event page has also been created to congratulate the ex-student.