Outlook Business Desk
Mindtree co-founder Subroto Bagchi shared a ₹1 cheque from SBI—his symbolic salary for the last year of his eight years of public service in Odisha. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he called it “priceless”, reminding that real value isn’t measured in money, but in purpose and integrity.
The cheque wasn’t from a corporate employer, but from the Government of Odisha— Bagchi’s final symbolic salary of Re 1 as Chief Advisor for Institution and Capacity Building. For eight years, he served without seeking financial reward.
“What is the biggest wealth in this one life that I would never ever part with?” Bagchi wrote on X, reflecting on his journey. “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.”
Subroto Bagchi’s post went viral, earning admiration for its humility and message. One user wrote, “Your gesture is a lotus in the mud of public virtue.” Many called him an inspiration and praised his commitment to Odisha and public service.
Many praised him as a rare symbol of integrity in a world driven by self-interest. “True selfless service, sir. A rarity in today’s world,” one user commented, thanking him for his dedication to Odisha.
In 2021, Subroto Bagchi and his wife Susmita Bagchi also pledged ₹340 crore for a cancer hospital in Odisha. They donated ₹213 crore in 2022, ₹110 crore in 2023, and ₹179 crore in 2024 — mostly towards healthcare and public causes.
Bagchi’s Re 1 cheque may be small in value, but it carries a message far greater — that integrity in public service is the highest reward. In a time when money defines success, Bagchi’s gesture is both radical and deeply humbling.