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A man for all seasons

An educationist and an innovator, a thinker and a passionate speaker. Nikita Upadhyay profiles Bikram Dasgupta, Chairman, Synlog

Bikram Dasgupta

Known as the first generation IT entrepreneur, Dasgupta started his entrepreneurial venture in 1984. The IIT Kharagpur graduate began his career with Hindustan Computers Limited (HCL) in 1979 as a corporate executive, and worked for over five years. Later he set up Pertech Computers Limited (PCL) and as a promoter-director.

Entrepreneurial venture

In his endeavor to do something new, Dasgupta started Globsyn in 1995. As a founder of the company, he formulated business strategies and long-term vision for it. Dasgupta is currently the Chairman of Synlog, a Globsyn company. Globsyn Group acquired Synlog in 2008, which resulted in a significant turnaround for the company. Synlog as a company focuses on providing IT solutions in the banking and financial services domain.

“I started learning about computers when there was no computer science department,” recalled Dasgupta. He has witnessed the technology revolution in India right from basic hardware and desktops to laptops and BPOs. He found the technology transformation very exhilarating and fascinating. He has been the pioneer in introducing intelligent buildings. Due to his inventive thinking, he has managed to add many first credits to his name.

Pioneering projects

His first project, Infinity, in Kolkata, was one of the first intelligent workplaces in India and took four years for completion. He did it with a foresight of building an environment which is more productive. Dasgupta knew technology but had no hand in the real estate. Still due to his vision he steered his concept into reality.

He has been at the forefront of founding and building organizations, mentoring human resources and spearheading industry associations in the sector.

Believing in the lines, “If success is mine, then failure is mine too,” he made his way to the success, confronting all the odds.

Within his entrepreneurial venture he realized the lack of link between education and jobs. Keeping this in mind, he set up a Software Finishing School, which aimed at bridging academics to working in an organization. In 1997, the academy started a Young Software Manager Program, which received an overwhelming response, and trained 1,800 people in the first year.

Mentoring and training

Dasgupta is zealous about helping and directing youngsters to face modern day challenges—by absorbing technology and human values as an “embedded solution”. Venturing into the education field, Dasgupta started a Globsyn Busi-ness School and the rising opportunity in the BPO sector made him initiate a BPO Academy which imparted Human Excellence programs in behavioral sciences, voice and accent, and all other necessary areas. “Once they step out of the academy, I wanted my students to be an industry ready material,” said Dasgupta. He added, “The Globsyn Business School was set up with a view to impart the students with two years of internship to the real work culture outside.”

Pursuing passions

Dasgupta loves to be in the company of youngsters as he learns a lot from them. His lectures are termed as ‘Learn and Intern’ where he talks about real-life experiences.

A workaholic, Dasgupta seeks pleasure in working. Being in the field of education, training, software and infrastructure, he has done it all. When asked about his personal life, he said, “For me, my professional life dominates my personal life.” Blessed with twins, Dasgupta now shares his workload with his sons. Being extremely fun loving, innovative and jovial, he is attentive and is interested in everything that he does. Apart from teaching his students, he likes music, art, cricket and traveling. He has also authored a book titled ‘Minds on Fire’, which is a collection of his experiences in life, mostly his failures. It is also used as a case study in many B-Schools. He is about to pen down his second book, which centers around his better understanding of himself.

His perception towards life has changed. This is evident from the fact that he mentioned his transformation from mind to soul.

Being the founder, mentor, teacher and chairman of Synlog, Dasgupta said that he is always in the constant urge to learn something new.

Even after confronting failures, still continuously moving towards success, he has no regrets about his work. “I always had a sense of ownership towards my work. I have always been giving 100% to the work at hand, that’s how I control my work. This has been my simple mantra,” echoed Dasgupta.

He believes that he has been always guided by the “good-guys”, as he terms them, during all his bad times, and God has been really kind to him in all his endeavors.

nikita.upadhyay@expressindia.com