'For 8 years, I got 8 cheques': Mindtree founder reflects on serving Odisha for Re 1 a year

In an era where success is often measured by material wealth, corporate titles, and accolades, Mindtree co-founder Subroto Bagchi offered a poignant reminder that true wealth can lie in acts of public service. In a deeply personal post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Bagchi shared a photograph of a cheque issued by the State Bank of India, with a monetary value of just Re 1. The cheque, his last salary as Chief Advisor to the Government of Odisha for Institution and Capacity Building, held, in his words, priceless value.

“What is the biggest wealth in this one life that I would never ever part with?” Bagchi wrote. “For every year of the work I did with the government, the deal was that they paid me Re 1. For the 8 years out there, I got 8 cheques and this one here was my last salary drawn.”

Bagchi served the Odisha government for eight years, receiving a symbolic Re 1 salary for each year of service. He never sought compensation beyond that, choosing instead to dedicate his time and expertise to institution-building efforts in his home state. His final cheque — now framed and shared publicly — quickly went viral, drawing widespread admiration and praise.

Widely recognised as one of India’s leading technology entrepreneurs, Bagchi co-founded Mindtree in 1999, an IT and consulting firm that grew into a globally respected company. He began his journey there as Chief Operating Officer, eventually rising to the position of Executive Chairman. His tenure at Mindtree concluded in 2016, three years before the company was acquired by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and merged into what is now LTIMindtree.