Millions of Indians travel to study abroad but only a few have impacted the world order in an irrevocable way. Famous Indians who excelled after studying abroad have not only contributed to the pride of our nation but also changed the world order.
If you look around, you won’t be surprised to find an Indian at the helm of affairs – in nearly every industry or field.
Without a doubt, these Indians have earned their success by persevering and putting in the efforts to excel in their academics too.
Let’s be clear – a degree doesn’t define you or guarantee success. But a good education is an important ingredient of success.
Looking beyond academics, a global education teaches you much more. For an Indian student, the benefits of studying abroad are multi-fold.
What’s one common factor amongst some Indians who rule the world? An excellent global education. Let us look at four powerful Indian personalities who went abroad for their higher studies.
Famous Indians who excelled globally
1. Indira Nooyi
Chennai-born Indira Nooyi went on to conquer the world as the former CEO of PepsiCo. She received her undergraduate degree from the Madras Christian College and her PGP Diploma from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C).
Indira took a leap of faith and applied to the prestigious Yale School of Management and her parents never expected that she would bag a huge scholarship! The Ironwoman had her fair share of struggles as her mother said – “No single woman is going to go to the United States.”
In fact, there was a family meeting organized to decide if Indira Nooyi could pursue her foreign education without being married. With the support of her father and the financial aid offered by Yale, Indira’s dream became a reality.
Moral of the story? No matter how big the tuition fees seem, taking an education loan is not the only way to fund your higher studies. Many foreign Universities grant scholarships to meritorious students.
2. Raghuram Rajan
Meet the game-changer.
Raghuram Rajan was the only RBI Governor who enjoyed the reputation of a celebrity! He was nicknamed ‘Rockstar Rajan’. All over the world, Dr. Rajan has been lauded for his economic analysis and his no-nonsense attitude in politics.
He has a wealth of knowledge and that can be credited to the world-class education he received.
He went to MIT for his Ph.D. and among the many accomplishments to his name, Dr. Rajan served as the Chief Economist at the IMF.
In his capacity, Dr. Raghuram Rajan promotes quality education as a global B-school Professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
3. Sara Ali Khan
Beauty with brains.
Sara Ali Khan has won hearts as a Bollywood actress. But there is more to her background than most people know. She holds a degree from the world-renowned Columbia University in New York.
In an interview, Sara Ali Khan said: “I have an education, even though I am a heroine… so many people are baffled at that and I am so proud of that.”
When you live miles away from home, you have the chance to be fiercely independent. A foreign education can shape your personality and this star is an example of it.
4. Sundar Pichai
Chennai-born Sundar Pichai leads by example. Currently, Sundar Pichai is the face of Google.
He comes from a lower middle-class family but that did not stop this Indian student from going to Stanford University, for his Master’s. Sundar Pichai also holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania.
Sundar Pichai inspired students across the world as he shared, “My father spent the equivalent of a year’s salary on my plane ticket to the US so I could attend Stanford. It was my first time ever on a plane.”
It wouldn’t have been possible for Sundar Pichai, or anyone for that matter, to touch such great heights without relentless hard work, gaining knowledge, and honing one’s skills.
A wise man once said, “Life is like a puzzle. Only if you fit the pieces into the right places, you will see the beauty of it.” Education is that piece of the puzzle that one should not miss.
Famous Indians who studied abroad
1. Mahatma Gandhi
We all know about him and his achievements. He’s known as ‘The father of the nation’. He went to the UK for studying law at The University College in London.
He returned to India later to work as a barrister.
2. Dr. Manmohan Singh
He was India’s 13th prime minister of independent India. He has done his Bachelor’s in economics with honors from The University of Cambridge.
Later he completed his D.Phil in economics from the University of Oxford.
3. Shashi Tharoor
He is a politician and former international diplomat. He is also famous for his extraordinary English vocabulary skills. He has completed his MA in international relations from Tufts University in the USA.
He also completed MA in law and Diplomacy and a Ph.D. in international relations and affairs from the same institution.
4. Kiran Desai
She is an author. She has completed her two master’s degrees in fine arts, one from Hollins University and another one from Columbia University. She also studied creative writing at Bennington College.
5. Ratan Tata
He’s India’s leading industry stalwart. He has studied at Cornell University and Harvard University. He studied architecture and advanced management programs at these universities respectively.
FAQs
Where do most Indians go for higher studies?
Countries like Canada, Australia, and Germany.
Which country is the safest for girls to live in?
Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, etc.
Which is the safest country for Indian students?
New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, etc.
