The ten Indian students proved that genuine talent overcomes national boundaries by going on to rule America. They brought nothing except talent with them. They had eight dollars in their pockets, an IIT or AIIMS degree in their hands, and one aim in mind: to establish themselves in a nation that had never heard of them. They now lead multinational tech companies, transform healthcare, and influence public politics.
Let’s take a look at the lives of these genius minds who not only proved themselves in a foreign country like the USA but also set a benchmark for the Indians who aspire to achieve something in adverse situations.
Vinod Khosla- IIT Delhi Graduate turned Venture Capitalist
Vinod Khosla studied mechanical engineering after being turned down by IIT Delhi's electrical engineering department. He then received his master's degree from Stanford, co-founded Sun Microsystems, and rose to prominence as a venture capitalist around the world. At IIT Delhi, he changed his major from electrical to mechanical engineering. "The only way to get out of your social situation was to enroll in IIT." Looking back on the experience, Khosla said, "It was a fair playing field."
Kanwal Rekhi- IIT Bombay Graduate with only 8 Dollars
Rekhi, an IIT Bombay graduate who arrived in Michigan with eight dollars, had several layoffs before relocating to Silicon Valley. In addition to mentoring a generation of Indian entrepreneurs, he launched Excelan, the first tech business listed on the Nasdaq that was entirely owned by Indians.
Indian Students Who Became Legends
These are some successful people from India who studied in top colleges and proved their worth by achieving a name for themselves.
| Name | University/College | Accomplishment (In Simple Words) |
| Vinod Khosla | IIT Delhi, Stanford University | Co-founded Sun Microsystems; became a global venture capitalist. |
| Kanwal Rekhi | IIT Bombay, Michigan Tech University | Founded Excelan, the first Indian-owned tech firm on Nasdaq; mentor to Indian entrepreneurs. |
| Suhas Patil | IIT Kharagpur, MIT | Invented fabless chip model with Cirrus Logic; transformed electronics manufacturing. |
| Vinod Dham | Delhi College of Engineering (now DTU) | Helped develop Intel's Pentium chip; known as the "Father of the Pentium chip". |
| Shantanu Narayen | Osmania University, University of California, Berkeley | Rose from employee to CEO of Adobe; led its transformation into a subscription-based software giant. |
| Satya Nadella | Manipal Institute of Technology, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee | CEO of Microsoft; drove its shift to cloud computing and massive growth. |
| Nikesh Arora | IIT BHU, Boston College, Northeastern University | CEO of Palo Alto Networks; former Chief Business Officer at Google; one of the highest-paid US CEOs. |
| Siddhartha Mukherjee | AIIMS Delhi, Harvard University, University of Oxford | Won Pulitzer Prize for his book on cancer, blending science and storytelling. |
| Atul Gawande | Stanford University, Harvard Medical School | Doctor and author; improved hospital safety worldwide and changed how we view end-of-life care. |
| Vivek Murthy | Yale University | US Surgeon General under two presidents; key figure in America’s COVID-19 response. |
Suhas Patil- IIT Kharagpur to Chip Innovator
With very little money, Patil came to MIT from IIT Kharagpur. He went on to invent the fabless semiconductor model with Cirrus Logic, which transformed chip manufacturing and made it possible for modern electronics to flourish.
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Vinod Dham- Creator of Pentium Chip
Dham, who came to America with eight dollars, helped create Intel's Pentium chip, which powers millions of computers globally. This innovation made him a legend in the world of technological creativity.
Shantanu Narayen- From a mere Employee to Adobe CEO
Narayen, a Hyderabadi engineering student, joined Adobe as an employee and went on to become its CEO, revolutionizing software economics globally and turning the company's business model into a subscription powerhouse.
Satya Nadella- The Cloud Computing King of Microsoft
Nadella relocated to the United States to pursue his master's degree and master's plan after graduating from Manipal Institute of Technology. He spearheaded Microsoft's transition to cloud computing, rose to the position of CEO, and turned the business into the most valuable in the world.
"He convinced Microsoft to make significant investments in cloud computing because he recognized its transformative potential," says Indian Genius: The Meteoric Rise of Indians in America, authored by journalist Meenakshi Ahamed
Nikesh Arora- One of the Highest-Paid CEO of America
A student of IIT BHU, Arora is now one of the highest-paid CEOs in America. Arora has redefined cybersecurity on a global scale while serving as the CEO of Palo Alto Networks. He also proved his worth by becoming Google's Chief Business Officer in his previous role.
Siddhartha Mukherjee- Pulitzer Prize Winner
Mukherjee attended Harvard and Oxford after graduating from AIIMS Delhi. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his book The Emperor of All Maladies, which combined science, literature, and humanity to provide a thorough history of cancer.
Atul Gawande- US Medical Revolutionary
After graduating from Harvard Medical School, Gawande rose to prominence as a writer and surgeon. His Checklist Manifesto revolutionized hospital safety globally, and Being Mortal revolutionized the conversation surrounding end-of-life care.
Vivek Murthy- US Surgeon General of two US Presidents
Born to Indian immigrants, Murthy attended Yale before serving as the US Surgeon General under two presidents, demonstrating compassion and knowledge while spearheading the country's COVID-19 response and public health campaigns.
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