Tech Commentator Barry Schwartz Draws Attention For Mispronouncing Sundar Pichai’s Name- Details Inside
Leading tech voice Barry Schwartz’s mispronunciation of Sundar Pichai's name sparked a polite correction by India's PR guru Dale Bhagwagar, highlighting the deeper cultural significance of name accuracy.
In the fast-evolving world of tech journalism, accuracy isn’t just about specs and stats — it’s also about respect. And nothing exemplifies that better than saying a person’s name correctly. So, when renowned tech commentator Barry Schwartz — a regular face in the SEO and search community — repeatedly mispronounced the name of Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, it drew attention. India’s most famous publicist, Dale Bhagwagar, pointed it out for correction.
Pronunciation matters when names carry meaning:
It began on YouTube, where Schwartz — who regularly shares updates and insights from events like Google I/O — pronounced the first name of the Google boss as “Sun-dar” (सनदर) rather than “Soon-dar” (सूनदर). To the Western ear, it may have sounded close enough. But for Indians like Bhagwagar, where Sundar is a common name with a literal meaning — beauty or beautiful in Hindi — the mispronunciation stood out.
A respectful nudge toward accuracy:
Recently, under one of Schwartz’s YouTube uploads, Dale Bhagwagar commented with a polite and clear message: “Sundar Pichai's first name is pronounced as Soon-dar (Pichai), not Sun-dar ;-)”
The reply wasn’t hostile or dismissive — it was constructive. But as comments piled up, the tone in the thread shifted. Another viewer, @AlirezaSefati, jumped in to question Bhagwagar’s point by asking, “Do you pronounce all American names correctly?” A moment that could have led to escalation was defused swiftly by Bhagwagar, who responded, “Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t point out a correction for improvement.”
The most interesting twist came when Barry Schwartz himself replied, “I am sorry — but I was at I/O, and so many of his Google colleagues didn't pronounce it that way. Maybe we all got it wrong?”
It was a fair point. Accents differ, and global teams often find themselves settling into the most familiar form of pronunciation. But Bhagwagar clarified further in a follow-up reply, stating, “Since it’s a proper noun, it’s OK... people can pronounce it differently. But the correct pronunciation is what I told you. I'm an Indian, and Sundar is a common name in my country.”
Bhagwagar explained that though Sundar is a male name, it means “beautiful.” He added context about other Indian names often mispronounced in the West, such as Kamala (pronounced “come-la,” not “come-aala”) and Satya, as in Satya Nadella (correctly pronounced “sut-ya,” not “sat-ya”). True that! The correct pronunciation of Satya is सत्या and not सॅातया, as some Westerners tend to pronounce it. Similarly, Kamala is कमला and not कमाला.
Journalists and public figures can lead the way:
Despite the well-meaning correction from Bhagwagar, Schwartz has gone on in future videos to pronounce Sundar’s name the same way he had before — “Sun-dar.” Maybe out of habit, stubbornness, or uncertainty.
Among Indian viewers and the broader SEO community, reactions are normally mixed about name pronunciations. Some find such matters an honest oversight and not worth the fuss. Others, however, say that if journalists and public figures can take the time to pronounce names like Timothée Chalamet or Saoirse Ronan correctly, why should Sundar Pichai be any different?
The value of getting names right:
Search interest around "how to pronounce Sundar Pichai" seems to have steadily grown over time, especially around major tech events like Google I/O or company earnings calls. And while it may seem minor, proper pronunciation feeds into broader themes of inclusivity, global awareness, and cultural intelligence.
Barry Schwartz is undoubtedly a respected figure in the tech space. His insights around search algorithm updates and SEO best practices are considered authoritative. But even authorities can learn, especially when correction comes with context and courtesy — something the Indian PR guru Dale Bhagwagar demonstrated with poise here.
William Shakespeare once famously wrote, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Yet in today’s interconnected, multicultural world, there’s more in a name than mere identification. Names carry culture, history, emotion — even identity. Mispronouncing one, especially in public discourse, can subtly erode that significance. Getting it right, on the other hand, is a mark of respect and care.
For publicists, journalists, tech news editors, or content creators, this serves as a reminder. Saying a name correctly isn’t just good etiquette — it’s good branding, it’s good journalism, and in many ways, it’s good SEO. After all, people Google what they hear. And if what they hear is wrong, the search may lead them somewhere else entirely.
Why we care:
Names matter. Especially the names of public figures who lead global tech giants. And when someone from that person’s home country takes the time to set the record straight, it’s worth listening. Dale Bhagwagar’s intervention wasn’t about ego — it was about getting it right.
The difference between “Sun-dar” and “Soon-dar” might seem small, but in a connected world, small details make all the difference. Let’s just say — if you can pronounce ‘Oppenheimer’ from the film correctly, you can surely get ‘Sundar’ right.
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