4 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has taken a nostalgic trip down memory lane, recalling his years at IIT Kharagpur, where he learned programming, used some of his first computers and met his wife, Anjali.
Pichai shared the memories in a special video message as IIT Kharagpur celebrates its 75th anniversary, reflecting on the campus experiences that helped shape both his personal life and his eventual journey to Google.
‘Campus Is Where I Met My Wife Anjali’
Among his most personal memories, Pichai recalled that IIT Kharagpur was where he met his wife, Anjali.
“Campus is where I met my wife Anjali,” Pichai said in the video message shared by the institute. Their relationship began during their student years at IIT Kharagpur, long before Pichai went on to become one of the world’s most prominent technology executives.
The couple eventually married, making the institute an important part of both Pichai’s personal and professional journey.
Memories of Harry’s, Illu Festival and B308
Pichai also remembered several details from his student life.
He mentioned meals at Harry’s, the Illu festival, nights spent studying in room B-308, friendships with his wingmates and professors who left a lasting impression on him.
For Pichai, these were more than simple college memories. He said such experiences helped shape the course of his life.
From Floppy Disks to Google
Pichai’s recollection also highlighted how dramatically technology has changed since his college years.
He remembered learning to program at IIT Kharagpur and getting some of his earliest opportunities to use a computer. At the time, he said, he would carry floppy disks around campus to access one of the few available computers.
Those early experiences eventually contributed to a career that would place him at the helm of Google and Alphabet.
IIT Kharagpur Was ‘Truly a Gift’
Pichai described his education at IIT Kharagpur as “truly a gift” and credited the institution with playing a formative role in shaping the way he views technology and its potential impact.
He said the institute helped put him on a path that eventually led to Google and his ambition to use technology to benefit people around the world.
Pichai Looks Ahead to AI
The video was not limited to memories of the past.
Pichai also discussed the future of artificial intelligence, saying AI is likely to move increasingly beyond laboratories and early adopters and into the hands of people working across different sectors.
He specifically mentioned healthcare workers, government officials, farmers, developers and entrepreneurs as groups that could increasingly use AI in their everyday work.
Students Will Play a Major Role
Pichai said students would be central to the next phase of AI development.
He highlighted the enthusiasm of young Indians he encountered through the Gemini Student Ambassadors programme and said their interest in using technology to improve people’s lives made him optimistic about the future.
IIT Kharagpur Celebrates 75 Years
Pichai’s message came as IIT Kharagpur marked 75 years of excellence, innovation and nation-building.
The institute shared his video message on social media, describing the contribution of its distinguished alumnus as a proud moment for the IIT Kharagpur community.
A Campus That Shaped His Life
Pichai’s story offers an unusual perspective on the importance of university years.
At IIT Kharagpur, he not only developed the technical foundation that would influence his career but also formed friendships, encountered early computer technology and met the person who would become his wife.
Decades later, those memories remain closely connected to his journey from an engineering student in India to the CEO of Google and Alphabet.
From Kharagpur to Silicon Valley
Pichai graduated from IIT Kharagpur in 1993 with a B.Tech in metallurgical engineering before pursuing further studies in the United States. His career eventually took him to Google, where he became CEO in 2015 and later assumed leadership of Alphabet.
His latest message shows that despite the distance travelled since his college days, IIT Kharagpur continues to hold a special place in his life.