BENGAL REDEFINED

Debashis Sen has held senior administrative posts ranging from Managing Director, West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd., and Additional Chief Secretary, IT & Electronics Department, Government of West Bengal, to Chief Electoral Officer, among others.

As the past Chairman of New Town Kolkata, he envisaged the projects as a futuristic Smart City that has become the second IT hub of Kolkata after Salt Lake. But Sen takes more pride in introducing Sonajhuri Haat in New Town, held under a centrally located flyover. The weekend market mimics the essence of the famous Sonajhuri Haat in Santiniketan and not only provides a happy community space to enjoy but also brings traditional arts and crafts closer to the city residents. Sen emphasized that while expanding cities is necessary, giving importance to connectivity and social infrastructure is essential to make sure new towns do not remain unutilized, as has been the case in China with Ghost towns.

WEST BENGAL’S TECH POTENTIAL

Debashis Sen is bullish on West Bengal’s growth as the next start-up hub of India. “There’s a lot of untapped talent here. Drawing on Bengal’s rich history in technology, animation, and design, the state can look outwards and provide IT services & software to neighbouring East Asian countries,” he said. However, he acknowledges that venture capitalists often overlook Kolkata due to outdated perceptions. “My suggestion is to host a startup exhibition during Durga Puja, to introduce the world to the innovative work being done in Bengal, as people from across the world are here on those days.”

Sen’s vision for West Bengal extends beyond urban development and entrepreneurship. As the former Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, he introduced the Ananda Babu initiative, a mascot that helped simplify the voter registration process in the mid-2000s. Sen elaborated, “Ananda Babu, a puppet character, played a vital role in simplifying the voter registration process and engaging citizens. Years later, during Newtown development, we applied the same principle of a 24/7 helpline, just as Ananda Babu, to address civic concerns.”

Sometimes the most effective solutions are the simplest ones. Accessible, transparent systems are crucial for successful governance. Debashis Sen

AI: THE FUTURE

Sen expressed his excitement about AI’s role in shaping the future. “AI is becoming an integral part of our lives, and it’s only a matter of time before we see it being used to improve public engagement and especially speak to the present generation in their language.”

Not to rest on his laurels, in his current role as the Founder and Director of NBC Ltd, Sen brings together his passions for sustainability, city development, and AI art into a unique fusion that aims to drive impactful change. With more than 34 years of Indian Administrative Services experience, Sen now pursues AI Art and plans to hold an exhibition very soon.