USC India Awards Celebrate India's Innovators And Honour The Legacy Of Ratan Tata
Mumbai: The University of Southern California (USC) brought together industry leaders, academics and distinguished guests at the Taj Mahal Palace on Sunday, December 7, to celebrate the 2025 USC India Awards, an event that underscored the university’s long-standing ties with India. This year’s ceremony was especially notable, with one of the top honours being the USC–Ratan Tata Award, named in memory of USC Life Trustee and iconic industrialist Ratan Tata.
Three leaders who have impacted technology, healthcare, and industry through their work were honored for their contribution. N.R. Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, received the highly esteemed USC-Ratan Tata Award, while Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairperson of Biocon, was honored with the USC Business Management Award. The USC Distinguished Alumni Award went to Sandeep Tandon, an alumnus at USC Viterbi and founder of Infinx.
Beong-Soo Kim, Interim President of USC, addressing guests at the USC India AwardsDuring the awarding ceremony, USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim stressed the common values found within USC and India.
“These awards honour Narayana Murthy, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Sandeep Tandon for their leadership. Much like the late Ratan Tata, they have driven innovation, elevated communities and inspired generations,” he said.
The event’s organising committee included Tata Group Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran, and health-tech entrepreneur Dr. Shriram Nene along with actor Madhuri Dixit, both USC Viterbi parents, further underscoring the university’s deep cultural and academic connections with India. Television host Mini Mathur emceed the evening.
The Infosys CEO, Salil Parekh, praised the honor bestowed on Murthy and said, “It is good to see USC honor Mr. Narayana Murthy with the USC Ratan Tata Award. The late Mr. Tata's vision and humility defined him, and Mr. Murthy embodies these qualities.”
Paying tribute to leaders who defined industries
N.R. Narayana Murthy, who achieved fame for making India a destination for global technology talent, was recognized not only for developing Infosys from a small start-up venture in 1981 but also for promoting ethical leadership and making a difference in society.
Over the years, Murthy has maintained close ties with USC Viterbi, helping build academic collaborations including the establishment of the Center for Research and Education in Advanced Software Technologies (CAST) in 2008.
“This award is an honour for me,” Murthy said. “Ratan was a friend for more than 30 years, and my association with USC spans over 25 years. I am grateful for this affection.”
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, India's pioneering biotech entrepreneur, was recognised for changing the face of biopharmaceutical access around the world. Her journey-from founding Biocon in 1978 to its emergence as a leading biosimilars manufacturer, including the FDA-approved cancer drug Ogivri-marks a deep commitment to innovation and health equity. Shaw, also a member of USC Viterbi's India Advisory Board, called the award confirmation that Biocon's quest "to make biopharmaceuticals affordable and accessible" is well on track.
The DAA winner for leadership across digital payments, electronics manufacturing and health-tech, Sandeep Tandon -a graduate from the classes of 1990 and 1991 from USC Viterbi- shared, "USC taught me the art of how to think and approach problems. It's a place where one acquires bases in analytics and entrepreneurship.
“My gratitude to USC runs deep,” he said. “The values I learned there are woven into every venture I’ve built.” Supported by the Tata Group, The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai, Apeejay Surrendra, Pure Home + Living and Infinx, the USC India Awards have become an important platform celebrating Indo-US educational ties and leadership that creates global impact.