



: “So, even god has feet of clay.” That was an employee reproaching a boss for leaving the company. The ‘god’ referred to here is Subroto Bagchi, co-founder of MindTree, who was also its chief operating officer in the first eight years, and is now its gardener. Yet another sign of how often he has trodden the unusual, but as spectacularly successful paths to reach where he has from modest beginnings. Bagchi’s has been a rich life, lived to the hilt, opportunities taken, new paths trod, and experiences shared. Go Kiss the World, his mother’s advice and last word’s to him, initially started a welcome lecture for the class of 2006 at IIM Bangalore. The book traces his journey through different jobs, offices and professionsg. Note what the author takes away from each, something he hopes young professionals will perhaps emulate. The author explains the secrets of his success to Suman Tarafdar.
How easy has it been to hold a mirror to your own life?
It was not difficult for me to write about my father’s mental illness or my professional mistakes. Three things have clearly helped build comfort with openness. Working with people like Ashok Soota, working with global clients in the IT industry (it teaches you how candour is good for business) and finally my various stints in the US where I learnt how open communication makes that country great. Leaders, I believe, must be transparent. Organisations, societies and the nations at large get the message when leaders demonstrate comfort with their past and let you into their world.
Given its more personal nature, how was it different to write this book from The High Performance Entrepreneur?
The two are very different books: one is for people who want to create what I call “high performance enterprise”; the other is for people who want to treat their own professional life as if it were a high performance enterprise. In Go Kiss the World, I am also speaking to the budding professional from India’s hinterland — so, I have recreated my past so people can see it and feel comfortable enough to step into my world and then experience the lessons I have held forth. Go Kiss the World is tries to build a sense of time and space, it is more personal — I want my reader to feel I am speaking to her; I want her to feel that...
| Single Page Format | 1 - 2 - 3 - Next |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |

© 2009: The Indian Express Limited. All rights reserved throughout the world