The Bhawanipur Education Society College organised Networking Meet 5.0 on the theme “Resurgent Bengal – Impact on Careers” on 4th July, from 11:00 a.m. onwards at Jubilee Hall.
The event commenced with the emcees introducing the significance of the theme, followed by the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp. The keynote address was then delivered by Ms. Ruchika Gupta, President of the Sanmarg Group and Founder-Guardian of Aparajita, an initiative dedicated to empowering women. She encouraged students to embrace change, seize emerging opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to society.
The programme then moved into the first panel discussion, moderated by Mr. Anurag Singal. The distinguished panel comprised Mr. Pramod Gupta, Group CFO, Adventz Group; Mr. Sanjay Banka, CFO, Senco Gold & Diamonds; Mr. Harish Agarwal, Managing Partner – Kolkata & East and COO, EY India Consulting; Mr. Kaushik Ghosh, CFO, Berger Paints and an alumnus of The Bhawanipur Education Society College; Mr. Sanjeev Sancheti, Founding Partner, Virtus Advisors; and Mr. Sanjay Jain, Managing Director, TT Limited.
Beginning with an icebreaker, the discussion explored perceptions of Bengal, business opportunities, and the state’s economic resurgence. The panellists shared valuable insights on the measures required to revive Bengal’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Mr. Harish Agarwal cited the example of Zara, whose headquarters are located in a relatively small town in Spain, emphasising that global success is not determined by geography but by vision and execution. He encouraged students to challenge stereotypes about Bengal, highlighting that with the right mindset, guidance, and effective use of technology, entrepreneurs can build successful ventures. A powerful takeaway from the session was the statement, “Bengal is ready for business. Are you?” The discussion concluded with a group photograph of the panellists, followed by their felicitation.
The second panel discussion featured Prof. Dilip Shah, Rector and Dean of Student Affairs; Ms. Shruti Swaika, Advocate, Mediator, and Founder of Swaika & Co.; Mr. Subir Verma, CHRO and Executive Director, CESC, RPSG; Ms. Urvashi Bhura, Vice President – Strategy & M&A, RPSG FMCG; Mr. Ambarish Khaitan, Executive Director, Salasar Insurance Brokers; and Mr. Yogesh Patwari, Executive Director, CredAble.
Responding to a question on Bengal’s opportunities, Prof. Dilip Shah shared a memorable thought: although his son often advises him to move where opportunities are greater, he believes, “I’d rather be in a place where much needs to be done instead of where much is already done.” The panellists discussed why they chose to build their careers in Kolkata, the potential for attracting major corporate headquarters to Bengal, and the role students can play in shaping the state’s future. The session concluded with the felicitation of all the panellists, followed by a group photograph.
The gathering also heard from representatives of Purvanchal Kalyan Ashram, who introduced the audience to their work in the field of tribal upliftment and community development.
The event concluded at 2:00 p.m. with a Vote of Thanks delivered by CA Vivek Patwari, bringing to a close an insightful and inspiring networking meet that encouraged students to view Bengal as a land of emerging opportunities and limitless possibilities.
Reporter: Amna Shamim
Photographer: Sagar Dey, Abhisekh Kumar Ram, Sagarika Biswas
