India has long been a cradle of talent, producing individuals whose contributions have been transformative on the global stage. Across diverse fields such as technology, medicine, arts, politics, and business, Indians abroad have not only excelled but have also etched their names in history as symbols of ingenuity, perseverance, and excellence.
The World of Technology and Innovation
Indian-origin professionals have left an indelible mark on the technology landscape, steering some of the world’s largest tech corporations.
– Sundar Pichai: As the CEO of Alphabet Inc. and Google, Sundar Pichai has been a pivotal figure in shaping the future of technology. Born in Tamil Nadu, Pichai’s rise from humble beginnings to heading one of the most influential tech companies globally is a testament to his brilliance and leadership.
– Satya Nadella: Hailing from Hyderabad, Satya Nadella took the reins as the CEO of Microsoft in 2014. Under his leadership, Microsoft transitioned into a cloud-first company, achieving unparalleled growth and innovation.
– Arvind Krishna: The CEO and Chairman of IBM, Arvind Krishna, has been instrumental in advancing artificial intelligence and quantum computing, ensuring IBM remains at the forefront of technological evolution.
– Vinod Khosla: A co-founder of Sun Microsystems and a renowned venture capitalist, Vinod Khosla has been a driving force behind many Silicon Valley startups, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
– Narinder Singh Kapany: This Punjab-born genius is known for his contribution to the field of fibre optics. He was included in the list of seven ‘Unsung Heroes’ by Fortune magazine in their ‘Businessmen of the Century’ issue. He is considered as one of the founders of fibre optics and revolutionized the way information is transmitted today. Kapany has played many roles in his life including that of an entrepreneur, philanthropist and scholar, which won him major international acclaim.
– S. Chandrasekhar: Born in Lahore, British India, he is famous for his mathematical theory of black holes for which he won a Nobel Prize in 1983. The Chandrasekhar limit is named after him. His most celebrated work concerns the radiation of energy from stars, particularly white dwarf stars, which are the dying fragments of stars. R. J. Tayler in the Biographical Memoirs of the Fellows of the Royal Society of London wrote, “Chandrasekhar was a classical applied mathematician whose research was primarily applied in astronomy and whose like will probably never be seen again.”
– Har Gobind Khorana: This Indian American biochemist won a nobel prize in 1968 for Physiology or Medicine for cracking the genetic code along with Robert Holley and Marshall Nirenberg. Born in Raipur, Punjab, Khorana was the first scientist to chemically synthesize oligonucleotides. His contribution to science is tremendous and has won him immense international acclaim.
– Venkatraman Ramakrishnan: Born in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, this structural biologist won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Thomas A. Steitz and Ada E. Yonath, “for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome”. He is an elite member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. He was awarded with the Louis-Jeantet Prize for his contribution to Medicine in 2007. His great contribution to science also won him India’s second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2010.
– Pranav Mistry: Hailing from Palanpur, Gujarat, this 33-year-old computer scientist and inventor is currently Vice President of Research at Samsung and is the head of Think Tank Team. He has contributed in Wearable Computing, Augmented reality, Ubiquitous computing, Gestural interaction, AI, Machine vision, Collective intelligence and Robotics. He was also honored as the Young Global Leader 2013 by World Economic Forum. His groundbreaking technology ‘SixthSense’ won him international acclaim. SixthSense is a device that interprets human gestures and has both a data projector and a camera.
Medicine and Healthcare
Indian-origin medical professionals have significantly impacted global healthcare, advancing research and patient care.
– Dr. Devi Shetty: Known as the “Henry Ford of heart surgery,” Dr. Devi Shetty has revolutionized cardiac care. Although primarily based in India, his innovative healthcare models have inspired practices worldwide.
– Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee: A Pulitzer Prize-winning author and oncologist, Dr. Mukherjee’s book The Emperor of All Maladies is a seminal work on cancer. Based in the United States, his contributions to cancer research and treatment have been groundbreaking.
– Dr. Soumya Swaminathan: Serving as the Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Swaminathan has played a pivotal role in global public health, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Business and Entrepreneurship
Indian-origin entrepreneurs and executives have been instrumental in shaping global business landscapes.
– Indra Nooyi: As the former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi redefined corporate leadership with her emphasis on sustainable growth and health-conscious product lines. Her tenure saw PepsiCo achieve new heights of success.
– Ajay Banga: Recently appointed as the President of the World Bank, Ajay Banga’s illustrious career includes his transformative leadership at Mastercard, where he spearheaded financial inclusion initiatives.
– Shantanu Narayen: The CEO of Adobe, Shantanu Narayen has driven Adobe’s transition to a cloud-based model, ensuring its position as a leader in digital media solutions.
– Vivek Ramaswamy: A biotech entrepreneur, Ramaswamy founded Roivant Sciences, focusing on drug development and innovation. His vision has reshaped the pharmaceutical industry.
– Sabeer Bhatia: This Indian-American entrepreneur born in Chandigarh founded the Hotmail email services and Jaxtr. He grew up in Bangalore and went to BITS Pilani for his bachelor’s degree. Later on he was transferred to California Institute of Technology from BITS where he completed his graduation. Hotmail was the world’s second largest e-mail provider with over 369 million registered users in 2011. He sold Hotmail to Microsoft in 1997 for $400 million and it was then called MSN Hotmail. He also started a free messaging service called JaxtrSMS. The venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson named him ‘Entrepreneur of the Year 1997’, MIT chose him as one of 100 young innovators who are expected to have the greatest impact on technology and awarded him the ‘TR100’.
– Ajit Jain: Having started his career as an employee with IBM who knew nothing about insurance, Orissa-born Ajit Jain is now the President of Berkshire Hathaway Insurance group. Warren Buffet had once said that Jain’s mind is an “idea factory”. Having worked with Buffet for around three decades, Jain is being speculated as the successor to this renowned American business magnate. The IIT Kharagpur graduate is currently leading Berkshire’s Indian insurance market venture.
Arts, Literature, and Entertainment
Indian-origin artists, writers, and entertainers have bridged cultures and brought Indian narratives to global audiences.
– Mindy Kaling: An acclaimed writer, producer, and actor, Mindy Kaling has carved a niche in Hollywood, showcasing her Indian heritage with pride.
– Priyanka Chopra Jonas: A global icon, Priyanka Chopra has seamlessly transitioned from Bollywood to Hollywood, becoming one of the most recognized faces worldwide.
– Jhumpa Lahiri: A Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Lahiri’s works, including Interpreter of Maladies, explore themes of identity and belonging, resonating with readers globally.
– Zubin Mehta: A world-renowned conductor, Zubin Mehta has led some of the most prestigious orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, bringing Indian artistry to classical music.
– Salman Rushdie: Born in Mumbai, this 67-year-old Kashmiri Indian author is best known for his contribution to English Literature. His second novel, Midnight’s Children, won the Booker Prize in 1981. He also won the ‘Booker of Bookers’ prize in 1993 for the same novel. In 2008, The Times ranked him 13th on its list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945. He started his career as a copywriter with the advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather. He is also known for the controversy due to his book Satanic Verses. He has authored eleven novels so far and written several short stories. His books have been translated in over 40 languages. He was appointed Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France in January 1999 and was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature. More than one reason to be proud of this amazing scholar, right?
– Rohinton Mistry: This internationally acclaimed writer was born in Mumbai and did his BA from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. He later on shifted to Canada in 1975 with his wife. He published his first book, 11 connected short stories titled Swimming Lessons and Other Stories from the Firozsha Bag in 1987. His second book Such a Long Journey, was published in 1991 and achieved huge national and international acclaim. His other works received similar popularity. His third book A Fine Balance is considered to be one of his finest works and was a finalist for the Booker Prize.
– Pan Nalin: This award winning film director, screenwriter and documentary maker was born in Gujarat and is best known for his amazing and award winning films like Samsara, Valley of Flowers and Ayurveda: Art of Being. He received international acclaim just after the release of his first film Samsara which made him win over 30 international awards. His other feature film Valley of Flowers was pre-sold in 35 countries and is considered a major underground hit. He was invited to be on the panel for the France-India Co-production forum at Salon du Cinema in Paris along with the delegation headed by Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. Nalin says that Indians are “hungry for good documentaries”. And we think his amazing work is satiating that hunger.
– Mira Nair: This amazing film maker was born in Rourkela, Orissa and started her career as an independent short-film maker, going on to win the Best Documentary prize at the American Film Festival for India Cabaret, an investigative documentary of Bombay’s strippers. She runs a production company called Mirabai. Her debut feature film Salaam Bombay! (1988), won the Golden Camera award at the Cannes Film Festival and was also a nominee for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Her most popular works include The Namesake and Monsoon Wedding. She was also awarded India’s third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan, in 2012. Her work is globally acclaimed and she even got an offer to direct Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix, which she rejected.
Politics and Public Service
Indians abroad have made significant strides in politics, breaking barriers and becoming voices for their communities.
– Kamala Harris: As the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, whose mother hailed from Tamil Nadu, is a trailblazer. She represents a confluence of African-American and Indian heritage, inspiring millions worldwide.
– Rishi Sunak: Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, of Indian descent, has risen to one of the most powerful political positions globally, exemplifying the Indian diaspora’s influence.
– Nikki Haley: The former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley has been a prominent political figure, advocating for diversity and inclusion.
Science and Space Exploration
Indian-origin scientists have expanded the boundaries of human knowledge, contributing to space exploration and scientific discovery.
– Kalpana Chawla: An astronaut who lost her life in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, Kalpana Chawla remains a symbol of courage and dedication, inspiring countless young women to pursue careers in STEM.
– Sunita Williams: Another NASA astronaut, Sunita Williams has spent over 300 days in space, contributing significantly to international space missions.
– Dr. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan: A Nobel Prize-winning biologist, Dr. Ramakrishnan’s work on the ribosome has been fundamental to molecular biology.
Sports and Athletics
Indian athletes abroad have excelled, bringing glory to their heritage.
– Anirban Lahiri: A professional golfer, Lahiri has represented India on international circuits, earning accolades and inspiring young golfers.
– Santhi Soundarajan: An athlete who has faced challenges, Santhi’s story is one of resilience and perseverance, highlighting issues of gender and identity in sports.
Philanthropy and Social Impact
Indian-origin philanthropists have contributed generously to global causes, championing education, healthcare, and social justice.
– Rohini Nilekani: Though primarily active in India, Nilekani’s philanthropic initiatives have inspired diaspora communities to engage in impactful giving.
– Romesh Wadhwani: A billionaire entrepreneur, Wadhwani has dedicated significant resources to education and job creation through his foundation, focusing on uplifting underprivileged communities worldwide.
Economy
– Amartya Sen: Born in Santiniketan, West Bengal, this Indian economist and philosopher is best known for his amazing contributions to welfare economics, social choice theory, economic and social justice, economic theories of famines, and indices of the measure of well-being of citizens of developing countries. His extraordinary work in welfare economics won him the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998. He is the chancellor at Nalanda University and also a Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows. He is also internationally acclaimed for his writing. The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity is one of his best works.
– C.K.Prahlad: Renowned as one of the most influential business thinkers in the world, he was the distinguished professor of Corporate Strategy at University of Michigan. Born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, he became established as a business guru when he helped Philips in reconstruction as it was on the verge of collapse. He was also a prominent writer until his death in 2010 and had authored many books like The Future of Competition (with Venkat Ramaswamy, 2004), and The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty through Profits. He was a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission of the United Nations on Private Sector and Development. He was also the first recipient of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Award for contributions to Management and Public Administration in India in 1999.