Meet the Gardner !

CnT office Lunch time :D

My first ever meeting with Mr.Bagchi was rather, meek and silent. It was the first time we were meeting the client (calls himself the gardner of MindTree consulting) strange.. But I guess it gives him a sense of scale which humbles him and keeps him rooted. This was for a new project of ‘MindTree’ to be started in Bhubaneswar.

With remarkable turn of events, after few initial meetings regarding the project, The ‘Gardner ‘ felt that we need to actually feel the pulse of what Bhubaneswar was all about, rather than trying to incorporate the aesthetics superficially.

At first instance it got me thinking, at a time where technology was so advanced and where every IT company aspired buildings with so called ‘Hi Tech’ feel for their campus, here I meet this gentleman who is actually not trying to create this. He wants us to study the architecture of Bhubaneswar, get the feel of it, and try and create a sense of campus (IT campus) with the same ‘Indian Feel’.

I did not know much about Mr Bagchi, until I began working on a project for ‘Mindtree’. The first meeting that we had, he left a huge impact on me. I was totally impressed by his command over language, his personality and his capability to intimidate, cause if you are not sure what you are speaking then you had it! . Little did I know that Mr Bagchi was a writer too and he wrote many books including the famous “The High Performance Entrepreneur” an awesome book for a beginner who aspires to start a fresh on their own! And guides young guns…by showing them the right time to fire! Which triggers their growth to a new high?

Bagchi pushed us to do some hardcore research on ‘Bhubaneswar architecture’ and various aspects that a building would need to follow the local architecture of the place.

My first ever firsthand experience on research that too onsite research!! This really exited me. CnT has already provided me a platform where research became fundamental to any design process. To be honest, I haven’t done as much research in college as much I have done in one year at CnT. RESEARCH in true sense, and with Prem setting the precedent in the method of research, man you can’t ask for more in life .

Well the only hitch in this on- site research was that I had to go alone to Bhubaneswar to do the research work. Bhubaneswar a place, that was alien to me, nevertheless I decided and took the plunge, did some 3days of research with extensive traveling right from Konark,Puri, to Bhubaneswar, and Dhauli. Bubaneswer enchanted me with its lush greenery and the type of climate which one would normally find near the costal area, hot and humid. I was sweating like a dog/pig whatever!

The greater shock came to me when I reached Bangalore, I was asked to make a presentation and explain whatever research I did in Bhubaneswar, the presentation was for Mr. Bagchi. !!!!! Now this freaked me because, I was to speak to Mr Bagchi, telling him all about Bhubaneswar. Can one imagine an outsider( ME) who jus got to know Bhubaneswar for 3 days, was going to brief Mr Bagchi who spent all his childhood and was brought up in Bhubaneswar ah!!! That too I had to make this presentation in front of Prem and vikram, I prayed non stop for the days before the presentation I did all the reading I could possibly do to keep my self updated about Bhubaneswar and the local history.

This was indeed an in depth research of, not only the architecture of Bhubaneswar but also abut the legends and tales of important places in Orissa. I actually felt like I did a weeks Ph.D research on Bhubaneshwar.

Well finally came the presentation day. The venue changed jus before the presentation. We were now to meet Mr. Bagchi at his HRBR layout residence in sarjapur. He was waiting for us with two members form his board of directors. Vikram did the intro session and handed over the presentation to me. I was polite and began by greeting every one. Mr Bagchi was patient and listened keenly and validated every piece of research, I exhibited. he added his version of tales in case he knew more about the place. This really got the whole discussion and presentation lively and interesting. I went on and on till I was finally done.

I was now waiting for Mr.Bagchi’s reaction. !! !! !!

Mr. Bagchi was totally impressed with the type of research that was exhibited to him in a week’s time. He congratulated the team and wanted to see how this theories and research could take concrete shape!

2 weeks later when we showed him the direction to design he was quite thrilled and wished us gud luck. By this time Mr Bagchi had released his book “ Go kiss the world” both myself and vikram got hold of both his books “The High Performance Entrepreneur” and “Go kiss the world” both the books are amazing and a must read for any individual.

We got both this book’s autographed by the auther Mr Bagchi. This memory remains fresh! And his encouragement is phenomenal.

Thanks Mr.Gardner !