Visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist Sunil Bharti Mittal KBE awarded honorary degree by the University of Bath
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, one of India’s foremost first-generation companies, has been awarded an honorary degree by the University of Bath in recognition of his lifelong dedication to improving lives through enterprise.
Mittal founded Bharti Enterprises at the age of 19, making crankshafts for local bicycle makers. He went on to forge a business empire, with flagship global telecommunications company Bharti Airtel operating in 15 countries across India and Africa, and its associate entities in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – ranking amongst the top three mobile operators globally.
Bharti Enterprises has created world-class businesses in telecom, digital infrastructure, space communications, financial services, real estate, hospitality, manufacturing and food processing.
In tandem with his business achievements, Mittal established the Bharti Airtel Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting education and rural development. It runs over 150 Satya Bharti Schools and supports a further 1,000 government schools, delivering free quality education. The Foundation’s work has impacted the lives of over 3.7 million children.
Professor Steve Brammer, Dean of the University of Bath’s School of Management, who delivered the oration at the ceremony on Wednesday 16 July at Bath Abbey, paid tribute to his pioneering entrepreneurial achievements and his profound contributions to global society.
“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,” said Professor Brammer.
The ceremony was attended by Mittal’s wife, Mrs Nyna Mittal, his daughter Eiesha Bharti Pasricha, who graduated from the University of Bath in 2006 from the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, and granddaughter Reina Pasricha. Sunil’s son, Shravin Bharti Mittal graduated from the School of Management in 2009.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Mittal said: “I’m honoured to receive this recognition from the University of Bath, an institution renowned for its intellectual rigour, spirit of enterprise, and engagement with the world beyond the classroom. This moment is made especially meaningful by the personal connection my family shares with the University.
That education holds the power to open doors of opportunity, uplift communities, and shape nations has always been an article of faith for me. I remain deeply committed in my contributions to the rapidly advancing India–UK collaboration across both industry and academia, given the extraordinary reservoir of talents and skills that the countries have to offer.”
Mittal’s telecommunications venture began on a trip to East Asia when he noticed modern push-button telephones, at a time when India still relied on rotary phones. He began importing electronic phone components and assembling them in India, effectively introducing India’s first push-button landline telephones.
“Sunil is widely hailed as a pioneer of the telecom revolution in emerging markets,” said Professor Brammer. “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.”
In 2024, Mittal was conferred as an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) making him the first Indian citizen to receive this recognition from HM King Charles III. KBE is one of the most prestigious civil honors bestowed by the British Sovereign, in an honorary capacity to foreign nationals.
Professor Brammer said: “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.”
