Being India’s oldest Chamber of Commerce, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I) has been playing a pioneering role as a helmsman, steering the evolution of Commerce and Industry in India since last 189 years. Hence, The Chamber shares an umbilical attachment with the hallowed journey of India since the time the Country achieved independence. BCC&I has been one of the advocators in promoting the growth path of India, one of the largest economies of the world. So, for BCC&I, commemorating the 75th year of India’s independence was just not a celebration of a landmark year but it was an occasion of sharing knowledge by those stalwarts who have traversed the path of making a Self−Reliant India when it was being laid.

“India at 75,” a specially curated programme held on 11th August at The Chamber premises was marked by sharing knowledge and wisdom. The programme commenced with the National Anthem. Mr. Subhodip Ghosh, Director General, The Bengal Chamber spoke on the perspective and the thought process which led to the idea of curating a special evening for reminiscing and learning.

While delivering the Welcome Address, Mr. Abraham Stephanos said that India is now a brand of shared future and opportunities for achieving progress and prosperity for its billion plus citizens, making her a notable power to appreciate and collaborate with.

The panel discussion was moderated by Mr. Ambarish Dasgupta, Past President of The Chamber and Partner of Intueri Consulting LLP. He started with his understanding about the concept of Nation. Referring to his conversations with about 100 people across India from various works of life, he has inferred that the understanding of Nation/Country gradually disappears when one goes down the economic strata. Mr. Dasgupta also referred to his conversations with scholarly people and his understanding of views of world visionaries and stated that it is not nationalism but humanism which is the common thread that binds people defying any geographical boundary. Mr. Aloke Mukherjee and Mr. Indrajit Sen, both Past Presidents of The Chamber, shared their tryst with freedom and their memories of the day on which the independence was achieved after 200 years of struggle. They shared their own journeys which are intertwined with the journey of India and interestingly, the stories were marked by unparallel courage and uncompromising passion when it came to work at the time of building the Nation. Mr. Partha Bhattacharya, a corporate leader of modern India who has steered Coal India Limited from a “Miniratna” to a “Maharatna” shared his stories which reverberate with the stories of an “ordinary” Indian achieving “extraordinary” milestones for the Nation and its people. Their stories reverberated with the lines penned by the Nobel Laureate poet, “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.”

The thought−provoking discussion was brilliantly summarized by Shri Alapan Bandyopadhyay, the Chief Guest of the evening. Shri Bandyopadhyay said that listening to the experiences shared by the panelists rekindled the fire of Patriotism; Patriotism that inspires people to make the Country great, which takes people out of sheer selfishness, makes them less greedy and less cowardly. With his mastery over Literature, History, Philosophy, Polity and Contemporary World Issues, Shri Bandyopadhyay shared his views of Nationalism which were contrary to the views of many left liberal intellectuals. He elucidated the significant distinctions between the Nationalism in its violent xenophobic forms and Patriotism in its spiritual sense. 

While concluding Shri Bandyopadhyay suggested that BCC&I may take the initiative of documentation of its discourses on Decolonization of Bengal as well as India with special focus on trade and business. He laid emphasis on the history of Partition which fragmented Bengal and in turn devasted the economy. Referring to the Partition he said Bengal (West Bengal) overnight became one third of what it was. Hence, while assessments are done on West Bengal's trade and economy a complete understanding of the Partition and its impact should not be forgotten. Citing the example of jute industry, he said that undivided Bengal was the heart of India’s economy. Jute production and market were housed in Bangladesh, part of undivided Bengal while jute factories were located in West Bengal. It was an organically integrated economy and one fine morning that integration was ruptured. The rupture, the disruption resulted in militancy, flight of capital from this part of the country. Shri Bandyopadhyay requested The Chamber to take initiatives for igniting conscious thinking of the Partition which had desolating impression on Bengal. Hence, Shri Bandyopadhyay suggested two initiatives and requested The Chamber to take them up which include:

• A study to understand the scope of economic and trade integration of Bengal and Bangladesh, not in a political sense but in a common economy sense, the model which is practiced in European Union
• A study to reveal how the border related challenges may be turned into opportunities for the State. Bengal shares borders with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan which have hitherto hamstrung the State. The study may reveal the path through which Bengal becomes the gateway to the south eastern part of Asian Continent.

Documenting the evolution of trade and commerce in the Country has been a mandate for The Chamber. Decolonization of the Country’s political and cultural economy, trade and business is an integral part of that mandate; hence, The Chamber looks forward to take up the studies which may reveal an unexplored path for the growth of the Country as well as the State.

The valedictory session of the evening was marked by a musical performance of The Chamber’s very own choir saluting the martyrs whose sacrifice made India an independent nation.