'We didn't expect Bill Gates himself to be here': When Microsoft co-founder wowed postal workers in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: "How did it feel when one of the richest persons on this planet paid you a visit?" This is the question that postal department employee Kusuma has had to answer for the umpteenth time after American billionaire business magnate and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates put out a LinkedIn post, describing her as a "remarkable woman working wonders"Gates interacted with Kusuma, 22, and one of her colleagues, Manjushree, 28, during his visit to a camp near Ulsoor Lake this March, set up by India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) to create awareness on providing doorstep banking services. "We didn't expect Gates himself to be here, but he did come. He was unassuming and a humble listener," Kusuma told TOI.Recounting his Bengaluru visit, following an invitation from the postal department for Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates shared his views on how India has emerged a leader in developing digital public infrastructure to accelerate inclusive financial development."It was an out-of-the-world experience for me and my team," Kusuma, who had joined the department in November 2022 as the manager of the Huskur branch, told TOI.At the camp, she had the privilege to explain to Gates how digital transactions worked using smartphones and biometrics. Later, in his LinkedIn post, Gates said about Kusuma: "She is not just providing integrated financial services, she's delivering hope and financial empowerment to her community." Manjushree, who works as a postwoman, said: "Our door-to-door services come in handy for people who are technologically withdrawn or unaware of how the banking system works. Gates was fascinated by the range of public services offered by the payments bank.