India > The Aga Khan Palace

I wake up early. It’s not even five o’clock, yet I am fully awake. I’m not sure if it’s the time difference or all the impressions I’ve absorbed over the past days. Sleep won’t come back. A little tired, I step into the shower at 7:30. Down in the restaurant, I meet my colleagues again. Two team members also join us for breakfast. Afterward, they accompany us to the new Agile environment for the ABN Amro teams. In the space, the workstations are no longer in cubicles. Tables with six to eight workstations are spread throughout the room. Along the sides are several rooms set up for calls with the Netherlands. I also see the young man I met in the elevator this morning. He had asked which client I was with and then proudly mentioned that he also works for ABN Amro. I shake his hand. He will be coming to the Netherlands in two weeks—perhaps we’ll meet there.

India - The Infosys campus in Pune

Outside again, I step into a golf cart. The electric vehicle takes me around the campus. I see the cricket field, the swimming pool, and various food courts. I also see the buildings where more than 30,000 employees work. Vinot, from facility management, proudly explains that many buildings are environmentally friendly. The campus also has its own energy supply. At security, I see all the monitors for campus surveillance. The gates are monitored with sensors, and over a thousand cameras are positioned around the grounds. The security guard scans my access badge and types in the recorded entry time. When he rewinds to the moment of my arrival, I can see myself entering the campus. Funny. After checking out the sports facilities, I am driven to the other campus. Because the tour took a bit longer, the program is already running half an hour behind schedule. This delay occurs during a block in which we want to present something about our roadmap and the Agile way of working. In between, we have planned a few games highlighting the cultural principles. Time flies here as well. The Agile discussions have to be cut short for lunch. The management members and Philippe, who followed a different program this morning, are already waiting. After lunch, we quickly return to the Offshore Development Center. In the Netherlands, it’s nine o’clock—the time for the daily calls. It’s interesting to see how these calls are conducted from India. The setup leaves something to be desired. There’s no way to gather around a single screen to join the call, which is an area for improvement. We end the day with sightseeing around Pune. We spend about an hour navigating through the city’s heavy traffic. It’s impressive how the driver maneuvers the car through the congestion. Often, the space between other vehicles is just a few centimeters. If you want to turn, you simply wedge the car between moving vehicles.

India - The Aga Khan Palace just outside Pune

Meanwhile, countless motorbikes weave through the traffic. Does it really always go smoothly? I get out at the Aga Khan Palace. This beautifully designed palace was built in 1892 by order of Sultan Mohammed Shah. However, it is famous because Mahatma Gandhi was arrested here during a revolt against British rule and placed under house arrest for 21 months. During this time, his wife and secretary passed away in the palace. On May 6, 1944, Gandhi was released by the British, who wanted to prevent him from dying in captivity. Three years later, India gained independence. In the palace gardens lie the graves of Gandhi, his wife, and his secretary. For many Indians, this is a true pilgrimage site. It is remarkable to visit a place with such historical significance for India. Nearby is the Hard Rock Café Pune. On the terrace, we order drinks and some starters. We then order the main course inside. By dining close to the palace, we avoid the real evening rush hour. After dinner, I drive back to the Pune campus in about an hour. It’s only half past nine when I return to my hotel room. I don’t mind going to bed a little earlier.