Indra Nooyi Honoured, Included In Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery

Indra Nooyi has been inducted into Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery to recognise her brilliance as a former head of PepsiCo, contributing to America’s shared history, culture and development. Kim Sajet, the director of the National Portrait Gallery, picked up her name backed by her accomplishments as a Businesswoman and an immigrant to be enlisted in the prestigious gallery.

Indra Nooyi with her portrait. Image credit: The Hindu

Along with Nooyi, Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos has also been inducted in the gallery for his unmatched accomplishments. Nooyi’s portrait has been drawn by John Friedman who did a “great job.” Among others whose portraits have been inducted are Frances Arnold, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Earth, Wind and Fire.

Key Takeaways:

• Indian American and former PepsiCo. Head, Indra Nooyi’s portrait has been included in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.
• Kim Sajet, the director of the National Portrait Gallery, inducted her name in the Gallery in recognition of her accomplishments as a Businesswoman and an immigrant.
• Along with Nooyi, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Frances Arnold, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Earth, Wind and Fire have also been inducted in the Portrait Gallery.
• Nooyi’s portrait has been drawn by John Friedman.
• The portrait has been drawn with her picture along with all the important factors of her life- a picture of her parents, husband and kids, a picture of a PepsiCo annual report or a Yale (University) hat.
• The portrait of an immigrant woman in the gallery shows the country respects achievements irrespective of cultural difference.

The Unique Portrait of Nooyi

The portrait of Indra Nooyi is a beautiful illustration of her identity conclusive of the major elements of her life. The portrait represents her with the background of a picture of her parents, husband and kids, a picture of a PepsiCo annual report or a Yale (University) hat. Nooyi was enthralled by this uniqueness in her portrait. According to India Today, she said to the reporters at the portrait induction ceremony, “All these are major factors in my life. So, it's in a way an unusual portrait because I have all that behind me, which most portraits don't have,” She also said that the portrait seems to ask her a question that what is more meaningful for her.

“The way John Friedman painted is... he wanted to bring the inner me out in the portrait. So he took hundreds of pictures, then he picked one and drew from that. I watched every hair being painted and so he did a great job”

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Appreciating Friedman for the wonderful portrait, Nooyi said,

The portrait of an immigrant as a symbol of accepting the difference in culture

Being an immigrant woman of colour, Indra Nooyi appreciated the openness of the Gallery to celebrate achievement irrespective of difference. At the induction ceremony, Nooyi said, “To be an immigrant, a South Asian immigrant of colour and a woman to be included in the Portrait Gallery... it really says that we are the country where people look for the people who make a positive impact and celebrate them.”

Besides being the greatest accolade of her life, her portrait in the Gallery is a symbol of inclusivity.  Nooyi said.

“It doesn't matter what your background, colour, creed, ethnicity is. As long as you've made a positive impact to the country, we are going to celebrate you — actually memorialise — which I thought was even more spectacular”

“So, I feel very grateful to be making a home here in this country because this portrait gallery is an accolade which I've never dreamed of. And it's heartwarming to see this,” she further added.

Picture Credit: The Guardian

Rudrani Kumari is an intern with SheThePeople.TV

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