Since the 1970s and 80s, waves of Indian graduates entering Silicon Valley have made significant contributions in technology and media. Talented individuals of Indian origin have pushed technological boundaries, achieved major breakthroughs, and risen to prominent leadership roles in global tech companies.
A remarkable number of major U.S. tech firms include pioneers of Indian descent, including innovators behind crucial developments like USB and tech blogging.
In February, Satya Nadella became the CEO of Microsoft, taking over from Steve Ballmer. His appointment highlighted the growing influence of Indians in the tech world, though he is far from the first Indian to leave a lasting impact in the industry.
Among the lesser-known yet highly influential figures is Ajay Bhatt, an Indian-American computer architect born in 1957. He graduated from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India, and earned a master’s degree from The City University of New York. He joined Intel in 1990, where he served as the chief client platform architect.
Bhatt is widely recognized as the co-inventor of USB technology, which is now a universal standard in computing devices worldwide. He also played a key role in developing several other essential computing technologies and holds 31 U.S. patents. His work contributed to the PCI Express standard, foundational to many high-speed computer connections today, including Thunderbolt. For his contributions, Bhatt received an Achievement in Excellence Award in 2002.
These trailblazers exemplify how Indian professionals have not only excelled in the tech field but have also helped to shape the future of global technology.
