An IAS couple, a course in Cambridge, a photo on mathematical bridge, and an engaging Twitter commentary

Usha and Arvind Padhee

WHEN this Odisha cadre IAS couple of 1996 batch visited UK for a short training programme in Cambridge University earlier this month, their followers in social media— many from their home state Odisha — were excited to find every little detail of their visit, from landing at London’s Heathrow airport to taking leadership lessons from Professor Harold Chee and then taking the photo of India's first licensed pilot JRD Tata at Air India lounge of the airport before taking the return flight to New Delhi — all thanks to their updates in Twitter. Usha Padhee, a joint secretary in civil aviation ministry and Arvind Padhee, a joint secretary in the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers, along with a few other bureaucrats…

participated in a week-long programme at Cambridge. “As a part of our training prog, received productive/meaningful inputs on 'Leader as a Coach'.Thnx Prof Harold Chee” Arvind Padhee tweeted. Prof Chee is known for his research in leadership, marketing and also Chinese business. He has designed tailored programmes for many companies in the  engineering, energy, banking, publishing, food and beverages, steel, telecoms and chemical sectors, according to his bio in Cambridge website.

The IAS officers— Padhee couple and others— also visited the British Parliament and watched the proceedings of the Upper House from the visitors’ gallery. They also met prominent NRI businessman and Parliamentarian Lord Swraj Paul. Paul in a tweet said, “Nice to meet IAS delegates at House of Lords today. Very Bright people and India can be proud of them.”

Padhee couple took the opportunity of their London visit also to meet noted Odiya painter Prafulla Mohanti who has been living in London for the last 56 years. Mohanti who was born and brought up in Nanpur village in Odisha, studied architecture and town planning before pursuing painting. “I paint to communicate with myself”, Mohanti used to say in his earlier interviews. 

The IAS couple also had a privilege to meet Lord Eatwell and listened to him on Brexit and other issues over a dinner at King's College, London, according to their social media updates. Eatwell is a noted British economist and academic. 

Arvind Padhee also posted his photo while posing before the famous Wooden Mathematical Bridge in Cambridge university. The bridge is over a small river called Cam -- the term from which Cambridge derives its name.