Professor Amita Dutt Professor Amita Dutt is a revered Kathak dancer who has served the world of cultural arts for over two decades. She is the Professor of Dance in the Uday Shankar Chair at the Rabindra Bharati University and has also been the Head of the Department of Dance, and the Dean of the Faculty Council. A disciple of Pt. Birju Maharaj, Prof. Bela Arnab, Pt. Vijay Shankar and other Kathak maestros, she brings to life the essence of Kathak through delicate expressions and the subtle sensitivity. A visionary – she never steps back from experimenting with innovative ideas, continuously pushing the boundaries of Kathak. She has performed across three continents, working to spread Kathak to all corners of the world, with her performances being broadcasted in numerous countries including Germany and USA. Being an English Literature student and gold medallist of Calcutta University, she has also published numerous papers about Kathak, and has written on dance forms for Statesman, The Hindustan Times and many other popular dailies. Passionate about cultural preservation, she is deeply committed to safeguarding and promoting the rich heritage of Indian art forms for future generations.

Mita Chatterjee Mita Chatterjee is a veteran actress in the Bengali film and television industry. Born on 22 August 1936 in Calcutta, she is known for films like Paran Jai Jaliya Re (2009), Beadap (1996) and Ek Je Chhilo Raja (2018). When it comes to her, the saying “age is simply a state of mind” feels entirely justified. At 90, the iconic performer- best known for her beloved portrayal of Pishima in Bengal’s longest-running daily soap Janmabhoomi, continues to defy time and expectations. Now, she’s all set to take the stage once again, this time showing off her dance moves at Zee Bangla’s Sonar Awrodh. With her trademark wit and charm, Mita Chatterjee declared at a recent press conference that she can still “give the youngsters a run for their money.” Reflecting on her long career, she said that every phase of her journey has had its own rhythm and brought her immense joy. When asked why audiences don’t see her more often on the big screen, the ever-graceful actress humorously threw the question back at the journalists: “Why don’t you convince a few producers that the wife is still alive and perfectly fit to work?” Apart from her acting prowess, Mita Chatterjee is also an accomplished singer. Her melodious voice has brought to life several timeless songs, including Chhuri Nahi Mera, Chanda O Chanda, Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein, Aabke Sajan, and Kanchi Re Kanchi, among others.

Dr Santanu Sengupta Dr. Santanu Sengupta is a visionary entrepreneur and cultural ambassador with a distinguished career spanning over two decades. In 1998, he founded a software development company that now employs approximately 90 professionals across three offices. His firm specializes in customized software solutions and data processing, serving both domestic and international clients. Notably, he was one of Kolkata’s earliest web developers, designing and developing the first dynamic bilingual website for Kolkata Metro Rail, a groundbreaking achievement in its time. Dr. Sengupta initially pursued Cost Accountancy but later shifted his academic focus, earning an M.Com and MBA, aligning his career with his passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. His expertise has been instrumental in bridging the gap between conventional education systems and the performing arts. Since 1999, Dr. Sengupta has been associated with Sarbabharatiya Sangeet O Sanskriti Parishad (SSSP). Serving voluntarily as its Public Relations Officer (PRO), he has tirelessly propagated the Parishad’s mission to preserve and promote India’s cultural heritage. His efforts have taken him across India and to countries such as the USA, UK, Singapore, Thailand, and Nepal. As a forward-thinking administrator, Dr. Sengupta has played a pivotal role in enhancing the value of SSSP diplomas by securing recognition and equivalencies from various reputed universities. His efforts have bridged the gap between traditional education and performing arts, solidifying SSSP’s reputation. In 2023, Dr. Sengupta emerged as a forerunner of India’s National Education Policy (NEP), furthering SSSP’s educational goals. After being elected Assistant Secretary, he supported his father, Shri Kajal Sengupta, the Parishad’s General Secretary, in expanding its global footprint. Under their leadership, SSSP evolved into a globally recognized organization with five offices and a vast network of over 6,000 education centers serving more than six million students annually. Now serving as the Secretary, Dr. Sengupta continues to drive SSSP’s global initiatives, blending traditional values with modern educational practices to ensure cultural education remains relevant and accessible worldwide. His work exemplifies a seamless integration of entrepreneurship, education, and cultural preservation.

Shri Subrata Gangopadhyay Shri Subrata Gangopadhyay is a person whose distinct neo-expressionist paintings have been devoured by and absorbed into the Bengalee subconscious unknowingly for several decades now. His brush has captured both the mundane and the mystical, the fleeting grace of ordinary lives as well as the timeless grandeur of mythology. How we do business, how we communicate and what we do for entertainment are all being transformed by computer scientists and software developers. Quickly changing landscapes in these fields and beyond provide opportunities for people with advanced computer science skills to profoundly impact the world. Biola’s computer science major allows future computer scientists to grow their knowledge in the field of computer science, while honing their abilities to innovate, program, solve problems and succeed across a range of careers. Growing up in the City of Joy, any citizen would always take time out to pause whatever they were doing and just admire the cover of Anandamela’s Pujabarshiki Edition yearly magazine. Those covers weren’t just artwork; they were portals. The colors, the characters, the mystique of Durga Puja wrapped into a single canvas, encapsulating the literary pieces by a few of Calcutta’s very own. Long before one could comprehend the nuances of brushwork or composition, they knew instinctively that those covers were special. They made the festival feel larger than life. And almost every time, the man behind those nostalgic and endearing jackets was Gangopadhyay. Up until recently, he was the mastermind pulling every string to create core memories for hundreds and thousands of individuals. This is just the tip of the iceberg, though. The admiration increases tenfold when one learns that he was also responsible for illustrating Satyajit Ray’s Feluda novels towards the end of the latter’s life. As a matter of fact, he was one of Ray’s most entrusted illustrators; according to the master himself, if there was any person on planet Earth who could aptly illustrate his works, it was Gangopadhyay. Subrata Gangopadhyay’s oeuvre occupies an eminent position in both institutional and private collections. His works are represented in the holdings of RPG Enterprises, the Taj Group, the Chennai Museum, Mayo College, and the Victoria Memorial, among others. Beyond India, his paintings have entered significant private collections across the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, and Dubai, attesting to his global resonance. Over the years, his canvases have been acquired by some of the most distinguished families and patrons of art in India and abroad. Collectors such as the Tata Group, the Jindal Group, the Neotia family, and the Goenka family, alongside many other discerning connoisseurs, have recognized in his practice a rare synthesis of technical mastery and cultural depth.