Secretary's Message

I was born in February in the year 1940 in a highly Educated and Cultured Bengali family in undivided Bengal under British Rule and now Bangladesh.

My father, Late Suresh Chandra Sengupta, was in Govt. service and later on was nominated from WBCS rank to IAS (Indian Administrative Service) rank. My mother was housewife.

After completion of my Graduation in Commerce and Post Graduation in Social Welfare and Management under the University of Calcutta I started my career as Labour Welfare and Public Relation Officer in Hasting Jute Mill and later on with M/s. Sen & Pandit Limited, an associate company of Sen Raleigh, pioneer in manufacturing bi-cycles in India.

While in service, to satisfy my cultural craving and creativity in audio-visual art I joined a theatre group in Kolkata and participated in acting for 20 years including set, light and sound designing.

Sonex Pvt. Ltd. (sound and exposure) was my brain child and was established in the year 1981 to generate programs for Doordarshan (Indian Television Network) and was registered with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India in the year 1984 as one of the Pioneer Producers for Doordarshan where I was one of the Promoter Directors and subsequently held the position of the Managing Director. Sonex Pvt. Ltd. has produced number of infotainment and educational fiction and non-fiction programs for Doordarshan both in Regional Bengali Channel, Kolkata and in the National Network in Hindi. I have also directed number of programs for the same.

The concept of making serial (soap opera) from Kolkata was my idea. We, at Sonex Pvt. Ltd., started to produce serials and the TRP of Tero Parbon is still at the top of the list as per the Audience Research Bureau of Doordarshan. We have engaged renowned directors like Asit Sen, Bibhas Chakraborty, Ramaprosad Bank, Jochhan Dastidar and others to direct the serials besides me.

To mention a few, I have directed Tero Parban (6 episodes), Uran Chandi (8 episodes), Nachni (15 episodes), Tagore's Chaturanga (4 episodes) all in Bengali for Kolkata Doordarshsn. I have also directed Ascharya Deepak (13 episodes), Gourav (13 episodes), Aarop (13 episodes) in Hindi for the National Network. The duration of all the episodes at that time for Doordarshan was 25 minutes.

Sonex Pvt. Ltd. gave birth to a number of talents in acting and technicians, besides Sabyaschi Chakraborty, Indrajit Deb, Indrani Haldar, Labony Sarkar, Chaity Ghosal, Shankar Chakraborty, Partha Sarathi Deb, Kharaj Mukherjee, Arindam Ganguly, Arindam Seal, Kushal Chakraborty, Ratna Ghosal, Pallavi Chatterjee, Sonali Chatterjee, Sudipta Chakraborty, Bidipta Chakraborty, Jishu Dasgupta and Kheyali Dastidar.

Later on, I have launched the First Cable TV Channel in Kolkata, CCCN, through RPG Netcom OFC Network in the year 1998 for 10 (ten) hours everyday for 365 days. This interactive channel was very popular in respect of program designing.

While working in media, I felt that a generation should be groomed in creative, technical and administrative sphere to work and contribute to the society and the country as a whole through media both in Print and Electronic. I initiated to prepare a project report earmarking the employment and self-employment areas for the young generation. Prof. Satya Sadhan Chakroorty, the then Minister of Higher Education, Govt. of West Bengal appreciated the project. The Governor of West Bengal and the Chancellor of Universities, through the Department of Higher Education, Govt. of West Bengal, subsequently approved the project. The University of Kalyani gave affiliation to the Institute of Mass Communication Film and Television Studies, registered under the Societies Registration Act, XXVI of 1961, Govt. of West Bengal. Later on University Grants Commission, Govt. of India has approved the Institution.

The Institute started the Diploma Course in Post Graduate level in Mass Communication, Journalism, Film and Television Studies. The course comprises Mass Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing, Audio-Visual Communication and all other allied subjects including hands-on training of the students in the Computer Lab and Audio-Video Studio of the Institute.

The Institute is also running a 3yrs Hons. Degree Course in Media Studies.

The Institute proposes to start 2 years Master Degree Course in Mass Communication and Journalism. I have designed the courses and the schedule of hands-on training.

I have also taken the initiative to enrich the students in film making skills and have made a tie-up with Public Service Broadcasting Trust, New Delhi to produce documentary films commissioned by the trust. The students will have an opportunity to earn in the form of remuneration while working in the project.

The Institute is going for collaborations with UK and USA Institutes and Universities to provide better platforms for the students in quality education.

SHYAMAL SENGUPTA
Rector, Hon Secretary
IMCFTS
Eminent Media Personality