Suparjya swain 
FEATURE: Not every transformation begins with fanfare, some begin with quiet courage, unshakable purpose, and the conviction to act when no one else will.
Over 58 years ago, a young man left behind a promising career in Kolkata, turned down prestigious offers, and stepped into the unknown place -armed only with ₹ 4 in his pocket and a belief that Odisha, then overlooked and underdeveloped, held immense potential. That man was CA Purushottam Lal Kandoi.
Born on April 14, 1945, in Rajgarh, Rajasthan’s Churu district, Purushottam Lal Kandoi grew up in an environment of simplicity, community, and integrity. In his early years, his life was closely intertwined with another boy from Rajgarh—Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, who would later become the global ‘King of Steel’. Their fathers were close friends, and both families moved together to Kolkata in search of better prospects. For nearly a decade, they lived under the same roof on Bedin Street, near Liberty Cinema. The two boys, five years apart in age, played together every morning, nurturing a bond of friendship that would last a lifetime.
While Mr. Mittal’s global journey is well documented, few know that it was Mr. Kandoi’s bold move in 1967—leaving the comforts of Kolkata to venture into the unknown territory of Odisha—that would inspire Mr. Mittal’s first international leap. When offered an opportunity to set up steel plant in Indonesia in 1976 by President Sukarno via India’s Steel Minister Mr. Biju Patnaik, Mr. Mittal recalled Kandoi’s courage. “If he could leave for Cuttack with nothing, why can’t I do the same in Indonesia?” he said. That decision sowed the seeds of ArcelorMittal, now a global steel empire. At one time, Niwas mother Geeta herself confirmed that his growth was only due to motivation by Purushottam’s shifting to Odisha.
Back in Odisha, Mr. Kandoi began from the ground up. After a 17-month tour across India exploring business opportunities, he settled in Cuttack on August 31, 1967, with just ₹ 4 in his pocket—enough for one night’s lodging. Yet, what he brought was more valuable a rare combination of Chartered Accountancy (1965) and Law (LLB, 1967) qualifications, sharp business acumen, and a deep belief in Odisha’s potential.
During his entire stay of 58 years in Odisha, his life was friendless, since all his friends from School, College and CA / LLB friends, were left in Kolkata, and he was alone in Odisha. In Odisha, because of his higher education, he could not mix and make anyone friends. He had one favourable situation that all IAS IPS officers were becoming friends immediately.
He soon secured his first opportunity in Odisha’s iron ore sector, transporting 31 trucks of ore for Daitari Mines with the help of a single local assistant. His first day earnings of ₹310 became symbolic—the humble beginnings of a legacy that would eventually shape policy at the national level.
Through the following decades, Mr. Kandoi watched Odisha’s rich mineral wealth being underutilized, mired in outdated frameworks like the MMDR Act, poor infrastructure, and corruption. Despite the establishment of Paradeep Port in 1964 and the presence of Rourkela Steel Plant, industrial momentum was stifled. But Mr. Kandoi wasn’t just a bystander. His sharp understanding of finance, law, and industry allowed him to engage deeply with policymakers and stakeholders.
In 2004, when the Kalinganagar Steel Cluster was announced, it signalled a turning point. Mr. Kandoi established his own steel plant there in 2005. But the same systemic hurdles persisted — red tape, inefficiencies, and regulatory bottlenecks. That frustration turned into action.
On May 27, 2014, the first working day of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure, Mr. Kandoi, serving as President of the All-Odisha Steel Federation, took a chance to get relief from our new PM and drafted a detailed letter addressed directly to the PM. It outlined the chronic problems with the MMDR Act, corruption in the mining sector, and the pressing need for transparent, accountable reforms.
This letter was sent to Delhi by Air through one staff who waited outside PM office and delivered him directly when he came out of his car.
Mr Modi appreciated this letter and it became the catalyst for a landmark policy change.
- On 15th January 2015, the MMDR Act was amended on First Order of Mr Modi, our Prime Minister. The reforms brought in auction-based mining allocations, eliminated discretionary licensing, and introduced transparency into one of India’s most critical sectors.
- But this amended Act was not accepted by the mine holders, plot holders and lease holders and they started objection after objection. It was a 3 years period of MINING SCAM
- Then Govt appointed Justice M B Shah, the then Supreme Court to stay in Odisha and ensure that the Amended MMDR Act 2015 was implemented. It took him another 3 years.
- CA Kandoi was continuously chasing and working single handed to get the real result which were his lifelong target.
- The result proved historic. Odisha, a state that had been in deficit for over 500-1000 years, began a remarkable turnaround. The state’s annual revenue soared to ₹ 2.3 lakh crore in 2023, and is projected to surpass ₹ 5 lakh crore by 2025. Experts across industries and governance now acknowledge that this transformation was seeded by Mr. Kandoi’s intervention—his pen sparked the policy that changed Odisha’s fate.
Beyond economics, Mr. Kandoi has cultivated lifelong relationships rooted in mutual respect and integrity. His 55-year friendship with Mr. Ajit Jain, now a top executive at Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffett’s closest confidant, began in Cuttack in 1970. Even today, Mr. Jain’s U.S. address remains Mr. Kandoi’s point of contact in America—a symbol of enduring trust.
Now 81, Mr. Kandoi continues to serve as President of the Kalinganagar Industries Association and All Odisha Steel Federation, tirelessly advocating for Odisha’s industrial development. But his dream goes far beyond policy papers and economic graphs. He envisions an Odisha that doesn’t just grow—it leads. An Odisha that outpaces Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, becoming India’s next economic engine, built on transparency, opportunity, and inclusive growth.
Despite his immense contributions, CA Purushottam Kandoi has never sought the limelight. He has worked behind the scenes—strategizing, influencing, and transforming. His legacy is one of quiet reform, ethical leadership, and an unshakeable commitment to the land he chose to serve.
As Odisha shines on the national stage, it’s time for India to recognise the man who helped script its rise.
CA Purushottam Kandoi is not just a Chartered Accountant. Not just a reformer.
He is the Godfather of Odisha’s Economic Revival.
