'I hope that none of you have to leave India': Rajan Anandan, VP, SEA and India, Google addresses students of IIT KGP

The grass always appears greener on the other side. In fact, it does not have to be the other side, it just has to be the person standing next to you. We all have this unchangeable habit that has grown into common mentality, which taunts us about what your friend or colleague has that’s often better. Whether it’s the smartphone you’re holding, or the degree you’ve earned, the job and designation that’s on your resume, we simply love to compare and then keep pondering over, what ifs?

At the Google Back on Campus event held at IIT-Kharagpur, it was Google CEO, Sundar Pichai who stole the show at his alma mater. He reminisced, got nostalgic, and even gave students a good idea about what Google is focussing on next – machine learning. But there was a particular theme, one which Pichai became a part of and at times even opened up about. But Google’s Vice President, South East Asia and India, Rajan Anandan said it like nobody else, “… I hope that none of you have to leave India”.

It was an inspiring talk like nothing else, bold statements made that will surely inspire the thousands of IITians at Kharagpur sitting in the hot sun, questioning their existence, fearing whether the person sitting next to them is better than him or her. And this one statement by Rajan Anandan surely had a bigger impact and acted as a good reminder that you don’t need to leave home anymore, because India is moving ahead and everything from Apple to Google and in between, is already vying to be out here!

And there’s plenty of evidence that there’s no need to go abroad to study, seek guidance and ponder over the next best idea, the next big thing. Anandan began with simple examples before he made his big statement. He (later Pichai) hinted how the top performing engineers at Google come from IITs. Later on at the event, Google CEO Sundar Pichai became a shining example of just that. In fact, he went on to say that IIT KGPs and PHDs are working on a number of world class research projects, some which also include the next big thing, machine learning.

He shouted out stating that “… I hope that none of you have to leave India, that all of you stay in India and all of you innovate for India.” The challenges already exist and it’s time everyone took advantage of them seeking opportunities to innovate. The recent demonetisation move turned out to be good example where multiple startups made leeways around the cash crunch to help India sail its way through the doldrums of what was and still is a cash-friendly economy.

Soon enough Sundar Pichai took to the stage and answered similar queries coming directly from the students of IIT KGP. He was also surprised to know how students who have just joined IITs are already looking at IIMs without any exploration , without any real world experience. Pichai then hinted at the Indian startups space, another area loaded with opportunity, to look broader and think bigger than just limiting their ideas and innovation to the country.

There was also a small hint at the unchanged Indian mentality towards education with involved spending time with books and following set structures without exploration. It points to the cracks in the Indian education system, one that has yet to evolve into a more practical approach that has surprisingly got plenty of people places this far. So what if this changes, what if we have that broader thinking? What if students don’t ever have to leave India? Just may be, that grass on the other side will not matter anymore (forget being better or worse).

Heck if the world’s largest internet company believes that there’s a ton of potential in India, who are we to argue?