Interviewtimes 
Mr. And Mrs. Bagchi
The MindTree founder has donned hats aplenty through this lifetime. And, in every stage, he has succeeded. Not just in scaling up businesses and attaining transformational outcomes but in swiping his way into our hearts. His latest humanitarian initiative bears ample testimony to his benevolent temperament. Both Subroto and his better half Susmita have pledged Rs 340 crore for a cancer hospital as well as a palliative care centre in Bhubaneswar. With this generous commitment, Bagchi hopes to transform Odisha into a leading cancer research and treatment centre.
“Susmita & I will donate 340 crores to bring @karunashraya to set up a world class palliative care unit & @shankaracancer for a cutting-edge cancer hospital. Deeply grateful @CMO_Odisha for the shared vision & support. Odisha will soon emerge as a leading oncology player in India”, Bachi tweeted.
The Naveen Patnaik led Odisha government has approved the projects and will allocate 20 acres of land each for the Bagchi-Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital & Research Institute and the Bagchi- Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre at the Infocity-Il in Bhubaneswar.
According to Odisha TV, the cancer hospital will be operational with 250 beds by 2024. 25 percent of the beds will be set aside for free treatment and 25 per cent more will be used for treatment under government schemes.
All the 100 beds in the Palliative care centre will be utilised for free treatment. Set up by the Karunashraya Hospice Trusts, local doctors, support staff will be trained to provide proper service to patients.
Earlier, Bagchi has engineered radical changes in professional skilling of youths in Odisha in his capacity as the Chairman of Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA). He has striven to make ‘Skilled in Odisha’ a global brand.
Bagchi was born to Makhan Gopal Bagchi and Labonya Prova Bagchi in Patnagarh, Odisha, where his father was a junior government servant. He grew up in Odisha, moving from place to place because of the nature of his father’s job. He has narrated the story of his life in his book Go Kiss the World published by Penguin Portfolio.
He started his work life as a clerk in the Industries Department of the Government of Odisha in 1976 after giving up his post graduate studies. After a year of working there, he qualified to be a management trainee in DCM in 1977 where he worked for the ensuing 5 years. In 1981, he entered the computer industry and worked for a number of computer companies between 1981 and 1999 in various functions like sales, marketing and operations. His longest stint was at Wipro where he became the Chief Executive of Wipro’s Global R&D before working for Chairman Azim Premji as corporate Vice-President, Mission Quality. He left Wipro in 1998 to join Lucent Technologies. He left Lucent a year and co-founded MindTree in 1999 along with 9 other co-founders.
When MindTree started, Subroto Bagchi began as chief operating officer. Soon after, the company was hit by a global economic slowdown and then the events of 9/11 took place. Many early-stage companies collapsed during this time and Bagchi moved to the US in response and helped the leadership team stay together through the difficult years.
Between 1999 and 2007, he was instrumental in articulating MindTree’s mission, vision and values. He led leadership development, marketing and knowledge management initiatives that differentiated the company from the beginning. Mindtree’s distinctive physical locations reflect his thought leadership.
Apart from being a successful entrepreneur, Bagchi is an acclaimed business author and figures on the board of the White Swan Foundation, not-for-profit organization that offers knowledge services in the area of mental health.
