The wonderful Prof. Supriya Chaudhuri and Prof. Sukanto Chaudhuri, both 1978 Inlaks Scholars, graced the occasion and shared beautiful experiences of many firsts, including attending the Scholarship interview which, back in the day, was held at the India International Centre, Delhi, a Joseph Stein building they had never seen before to landing in London and living the student life once again. They retired from the Jadavpur University where they taught English.

Fun fact: both professors are married to each other, and Prof. Supriya's brother Prof. Amlan Dasgupta is an Inlaks Scholar, also married to an Inlaks Scholar Prof Aditi Dasgupta. What's more, Prof. Chaudhuri's son is married to a 2017 Inlaks Art Resident, Neeraja D. Now, there's an Inlaks family for you!

Professor Sukanto and Prof Supriya Chaudhuri, Inlaks Scholars 1978

While the alumni who were present were a mix of academics, designers, fine artists and theatre artists, there was great enthusiasm in exchanging notes and curiosity in exploring ways of witnessing each other's work and journeys.

Given that this was the first ever reunion taking place in Kolkata, each of the alumni shared their journeys in detail, along with the challenges faced and possibilities explored, peppered with humorous stories about their respective memories of the Inlaks interview.

Professor of English at the Jadavpur University, Abhijit Gupta, a 1993 Scholar, shared about his promise to the interview panel, which was to open a publishing house. Something which happened two decades later with the Jadavpur University Press, which he leads.

Prof. Vishal Bhand, who teaches at the Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, shared the importance of design being recognised as a separate subject and for it to gain independent status. He played an instrumental role in Visva Bharati becoming the first central university to start a professional design program.

Rabiul Khan and Surajit Mudi, 2023 and 2024 Inlaks Fine Art Awardees respectively, are independent artists. They spoke about having opened GABAA - an artist-led centre in Santiniketan for interdisciplinary and research based engagement and collaborative art practice that explores alternative methodologies of community conversations.

Swapna Halder and Akartha Halder, who will be receiving their Inlaks Fine Art Awards on 5th February, shared their respective practices. Swapna shared how her practice has transformed through her immersion from an individualistic way of expression to a micro-level community engagement. Akartha spoke about his art practice which embraces a multidisciplinary approach, assembling forms and narratives that document socio-political absences and disappearances.

Moumita Ray 2017, Scholar, is a sound designer and media artist working on sound-related art practices. She enlightened the group about a fascinating project whose sound design she worked on - the new Children's Hospital in Helsinki.

Ranjini Chatterjee, 2007 Scholar, is a Graphic Designer and Creative Director, having worked museums, NGOs, advertising agencies, and design studios, narrated her story about how design saved her from becoming a Chartered Accountant !

Vikram Iyengar, 2000 Inlaks Scholar, is a dancer-choreographer-director, and the founder-director of Pickle Factory Dance Foundation. He invited everyone to a very exciting festival being held from February to March 2025 called Holding Space: Pickle Factory Season 5 which is bringing artists from India, Luxembourg, Scotland, Switzerland and Germany to Kolkata.

Abhijit Paul, 2006 Fine Art Awardee, works as the Post Production Assistant at Doordarshan News Kolkata. He shared details about his current project titled Silent Lens, a documentary that follows a group of deaf students who embark on an exploration to express their unique perspectives, demonstrating that creativity has no boundaries, even in silence.

The alumni decided to stay in touch and visit each other more regularly. We hope many more alumni are able to meet and connect with each other.

If you would like to attend future alumni reunions, please write to social@inlaksfoundation.org and keep us updated on your latest location.