Vice Chancellor, enterprise is a core element of the University of Bath's mission and we see enterprise as a powerful route to benefiting global society through leadership and innovation. It is therefore my privilege to provide this oration for Sunil Bharti Mittal, one of the world's most respected and successful entrepreneurs. Sunil's journey began far from here in the city of Ludhiana in Punjab, India, where he was born in 1957. The son of a parliamentarian, Sunil could have followed his father into public service, but he chose a different path, aiming to change society through enterprise. After earning his bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Punjab University and armed with education and ambition, Sunil founded Bharti Enterprises at the remarkable age of 19. At the time, he was manufacturing crankshafts for local bicycle makers. From these modest beginnings, Sunil forged a business empire. On a trip to East Asia, he noticed modern push-button telephones. At a time when India still relied on rotary phones, Sunil began importing electronic phone components and assembling them in India, effectively introducing India's first push-button telephones. This venture led to the creation of Bharti Telecom in 1985 and by 1992 he had launched Bharti Cellular, entering the nascent mobile phone industry. Over the next decade that venture grew into Bharti Airtel, a flagship company of Bharti Enterprises. Bharti Airtel now operates in over 15 countries and ranks among the top three mobile operators in the world, serving more than half a billion customers. Sunil is widely hailed as a pioneer of the telecom revolution in emerging markets. At a time when mobile telephony was considered a luxury for the few, he dared to dream that everyone, no matter their income or location, could be connected. The result of Sunil's leadership is not only a thriving company, but an industry transformed, one that continues to bridge the digital divide. Beyond his business achievements, Sunil's contributions to global society are profound. In 2000, he established the Bharti Foundation, now known as the Bharti Airtel Foundation, with a mission to support education and rural development. Today, the Bharti Airtel Foundation operates over 160 Satya schools and supports a further thousand government schools, delivering free quality education across such initiatives. Since inception, the foundation's work has impacted the lives of over 3.7 million children. His example sends a powerful message that true leadership is defined not just by what one achieves in business, but by what one gives back to society. Equally impressive is Sunil's leadership on the international stage. Notably, Sunil served as the chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce, the world's foremost business leadership organization, becoming a voice for commerce in emerging economies in global forums. At the same time, he also served as chairman of the GSM Association representing the mobile industry worldwide. At home in India, Sunil has led and advised on economic policy. He was president of the Confederation of Indian Industry and has served on the Indian Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry, advising on national economic strategy. In recognition of Sunil's impact, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, among India's highest civilian honors, by the President of India in 2007. More recently in 2024, Sunil was made KBE, Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, for advancing India-UK business relations, the first Indian citizen to have been bestowed this honor by His Majesty King Charles III. In summary, Sunil's life and career embody values that the University of Bath holds dear: enterprise, leadership, and service to society. He is a self-made entrepreneur who transformed a personal vision into a worldwide reality, a visionary who connected half a billion people, and a humanitarian who has uplifted communities through education and philanthropy. Vice Chancellor, for a lifetime dedicated to improving lives through enterprise, I present to you Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal as eminently worthy to receive the degree of Doctor of Business Administration, Honoris Causa.
