Prateek Jena
Planning and Coordination Department, Government of Odisha
PGDM 2013-15

"When I finally landed up in an internship with the Planning and Coordination department, Government of Odisha, my perception about the job was it would be like walking along the corridors of bureaucracy. I am privileged to be under the tutelage of an IAS officer, my mentor, handling the Smart city project that will be implemented in Bhubaneswar. I had never imagined the experience will go beyond coming across or meeting Chief Minister, Secretaries, Ministers and other heads of departments and officers of the Institution associated with the project, till 22nd of May, when I had a surreal experience of having a close encounter with Chairman, Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry. He came to the room where we were working and waited for good 15 minutes to meet an IAS officer with his entire entourage of officials from Tata Steel. He replied to my gentle greeting with a subtle smile. I kept staring at him for the entire time that he was there with us. It was a fabled experience that I will cherish till the next time I meet him. I am keeping my fingers crossed as my internship is yet to be over and I have got more opportunities to meet industrial stalwarts. " â€‹