n an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, Surajit Kalita takes us through his journey from being a civil servant and working with the Assam government to creating his own AI special interest group in Hyderabad.
Rashmi Bhumireddy
Life is all about surprises that come to your plate, consisting of unexpected twists and turns. Well, similar is the story of this young man from Assam. Well, many dream of cracking the civil service examination, don’t they? But Surajit Kalita, on the other hand, not only cracked the state civil services examination, but in order to pursue his desire of getting into managing consultancy, he quit his civil servant job.
Hailing from Guwahati, he comes from a family where his late father, K.N. Kalita, worked as the proprietor of a civil construction firm. Having been brought up by his mother, who was a homemaker, who managed to handle the finances, along with the education of his and his other two sisters and other expenses through the properties.
“Since childhood, I always aspired to become a civil servant so that I could contribute to the socio-economic development of Assam,” begins Surajit on a brighter note in this exclusive chat with The Pioneer.
Fortunately, he achieved his dream by passing the state civil service exam on his first attempt in 2018. “I have many fond memories from my time as a civil servant. It provided me with ample opportunities to serve in various leadership roles across different capacities. While working as a civil servant, I joined as an executive magistrate for the government of Assam. I served in three rural districts, taking care of economic development, administration, law and order, revenue collection, disaster management, and the conduct of elections under the ambit of the ECI. I was responsible for managing the state’s response to saving and rehabilitating people during natural disasters.”
He found himself doing the service in the highly flood-prone districts of Morigaon and Kamrup. Additionally, he led the Health Department during the fight against COVID-19. Furthermore, he was also responsible for managing law and order and also led from the front to manage and contain violent mass protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Surajit, who was also involved in many developmental projects aimed at uplifting women and children in rural Assam, somehow shifted his career from a stable government job to a management consultancy. In regards to this, he goes on further and shares, “While a government job undoubtedly offers many opportunities and a secure career, it also comes with limitations in terms of geography and jurisdiction. When I joined, I aimed to serve the people of my state with full dedication and capability. I am proud to say that during my time as a civil servant, I achieved all the goals I had set for myself. However, I realised the need to upskill and prepare myself for the rapid innovation and progress the world is experiencing. Management consulting offers the opportunity to stay updated with these transformations and solve problems for both businesses and people.”
Thus, he went on to pursue a Post Graduate Program (PGP) in Strategy and Information Technology at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.
His learning experience at ISB, he says, was truly enriching and transformative. He further shares, “The program provided me with a holistic understanding of business management, honed my analytical skills, and equipped me with the tools necessary to tackle complex problems in various domains. One of the most valuable aspects of ISB was its faculty and leadership conclaves. The professors and experts in the conclaves brought real-world experience to us, which made the learning more practical and relevant. Their insights into industry trends, case studies, and best practices were invaluable. Moreover, its diverse student cohort enhanced my learning experience since interacting with peers from diverse backgrounds and industries broadened my perspective and allowed me to learn from their experiences. Collaborating with them on projects and assignments not only improved my teamwork and communication skills but also exposed me to different approaches to problem solving.”
During his tenure at ISB, he and other co-founders launched an AI special interest group (SIG). This platform allows students who are interested in AI to share knowledge, resources, and insights. Members discuss the latest developments, research papers, and case studies in the field, enhancing their understanding of AI concepts and applications. It also facilitates networking among students, faculty, and industry professionals interested in AI. Through events like guest lectures, panel discussions, and networking sessions, members connect with experts and potential mentors, expanding their professional network and gaining valuable insights into career opportunities in AI. While the SIG membership is currently limited to the ISB ecosystem, we have organised numerous sessions in collaboration with other prominent institutions, including MIT Sloan and several IITs, that helped build a wider and more accessible community.
