Independence Day 2025: Five Indian-origin individuals who brought global recognition and pride to India – Trending News

India celebrates its 79th Independence Day today. Though we have heard the stories of well-known Indian-origin individuals like Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella, there are countless unsung heroes whose contributions have made India proud on the world stage. Here are five of them:

Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany

Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany, often hailed as the father of fiber optics, is one of India’s unsung heroes who made a lasting impact on the world. Born on October 31, 1926, in Moga, Punjab, he grew up in Dehradun before completing his degree at Agra University in 1948.

He later earned his doctorate from Imperial College London in 1955. In 1953, while collaborating with Harold Hopkins at Imperial College, Kapany made a groundbreaking discovery by transmitting high-quality images through fiber bundles.

He is credited with coining the term “fiber optics” in a 1960 Scientific American article, which laid the foundation for global communication in the internet age.

Kapany’s contributions didn’t stop there. In 1961, he moved to the US, where he worked at prestigious institutions like Rochester University and the Illinois Institute of Technology.

In 1967, he made history by founding Optics Technology Inc., the first company of its kind in Silicon Valley to go public, making him the first Sikh Indian to achieve such a milestone.

Later, in 1973, he founded Kaptron Inc., which was eventually acquired by AMP Inc. Dr. Kapany passed away in Woodside, California, on December 3, 2020

Reshma Kewalramani

Reshma Kewalramani, the Indian-origin CEO and President of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, has emerged as one of the most influential and wealthiest Indian-origin women business leaders in the world, with an estimated net worth exceeding $100 million as of mid-2025.

Born in Mumbai, Reshma moved to the United States at the age of 11. She earned her medical degree from Boston University and completed medical training at top institutions including Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

In 2015, she completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School, preparing her for leadership roles in the healthcare and biotech sectors.

Reshma joined Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2017 as Chief Medical Officer and rose to become CEO and President in April 2020.

She made history as the first woman to lead a major publicly traded US biotech company.

Jay Chaudhry

Jay Chaudhry, an Indian-American entrepreneur, has earned his place among the wealthiest immigrant billionaires in the United States.

As of 2025, he ranks eighth on Forbes’ list of foreign-born US billionaires. Chaudhry is the founder and CEO of Zscaler, a leading cybersecurity company he established in 2008.

He hails from Himalaya and moved to the US in 1980 to pursue higher education, attending the University of Cincinnati, where he earned master’s degrees in electronic and computer engineering, as well as industrial engineering and management.

Chaudhry also studied at Harvard Business School. Before founding Zscaler, Chaudhry gained valuable experience in the tech industry, having worked in various roles, including co-founding and leading other successful tech ventures.

Today, he and his family own about 40% of Zscaler, his net worth is about an estimated $17.9 billion.

Maya Ajmera

Maya Ajmera is one such social entrepreneur who has made India proud. She is the President and CEO of the Society for Science, Maya Ajmera serves as the Executive Publisher of Science News.

The Society has developed into a vibrant, enterprising organisation under her direction, obtaining a $100 million, ten-year sponsorship with Regeneron for the Science Talent Search and spearheading initiatives to increase outreach to underrepresented STEM students.

Her foundational work with the NGO, ‘Global Fund for Children,’ has given out over $51 million to support vulnerable children and youth worldwide.

Maya’s contributions have earned her the 2020 National Science Board Public Service Award and membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Vivek Chaand Sehgal

Born in Delhi on September 28, 1956, Vivek Chaand Sehgal is an Australian entrepreneur of Indian origin. He attended Delhi University and Birla Public School after growing up in a jewelry-making family. Silver trading was his first business, and he once made just Re 1 for a kilogramme of silver.

He and his mother co-founded Madrasan Company in 1975. Following early financial difficulties, he changed the company’s focus to the production of automotive parts, turning it into the Samvardhana Motherson Group (SMG), a world leader in auto components. His success earned him the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2016.

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