As the event helped to highlight the need for research, leading to a better understanding of various sectors of the society, the talks of the specific speakers also helped to highlight the issues. Significantly, Manish Gupta mentioned the need to find a solution to develop the livelihoods of the people. Quoting a recent work of Dr. Amartya Sen in relation to the definition of human development, Gupta also spoke about the need for more research centres like CDPS. “There are not many such centres across the nation and we need more such centres for better development and planning. We are also looking forward to people to act on this and we also feel that the returns will be much more to the government with centres like this to help to reach to the common people and that also entails a more efficient investment of public money.” Following the theme of development and progress and the specific needs within the society, Dr. Kunal Sarkar also helped to highlight the need for better planning towards health sector by stating statistics towards population and health needs. He mentioned, “On 15th August, 1947, when India got independence, women lived approximately till about the age of 39 and now they do till about the 6th decade of their lives, while men sustain till the 7th decade. It is important to understand the need for a growing demand for health care and also to perceive the requirements of primary and tertiary health care separately.” As Sarkar also proceeded to explain the significance of accessibility behind the need for healthcare, he added, “It is important to understand how to deliver healthcare as the expenses involving these are the most important causes of indebtness. Micro-investment is very practical and thus, it is very important.” Dr. Sarkar also spoke about the need for the improvement of infrastructure and standard of healthcare- including both the private and the public sectors and this is very important as a large majority of Indians are still dependent on government services, especially in the rural areas. Thus, added Sarkar, is also the “growing need for understanding the significant role of investments towards the health sector as there is a large and growing consciousness amidst Indians across the nation and not only Bengal.” Closely following the need to understand the significance of development in daily lives, Prof. Sanjoy Mukherjee, further explained the need for a holistic development of the mind to understand the surroundings better. “It is important to tap the alternate source of learning beyond the conviction,” Mukherjee mentioned. Enlightening the talk and the audience with various popular anecdotes, Mukherjee also emphasised on the learning from the teachings of maestros including, Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda. “It is important to understand and be sensitive towards the need of others. One needs to understand people to cut the ice in between. One should also take learning from nature- quite like Vivekananda and Tagore.” Prof. Mukherjee also further emphasised on the need for value and ethics to be an important part of the learning process of education and that how one can further emphasise on the significance of these understandings in real life- which is away from the theoretical aspects of learning.
With varied dignitaries present to grace the occasion, the event also marked an interesting dialogue between the academicians, speakers and the audiences. From amongst the audience, Partha Sarathi Sarkar, management and marketing teacher, emphasised on the growing need to focus on developmental studies. Speaking in similar themes of the need, IT expert Probir Banerjee present at the occasion amidst the audience also mentioned the need for more such forums for highlighting various aspects of research within the society. As the event also marked the introduction of the entrepreneurship projects under NGI foundation, several of the audiences were also akin to ask further details about the work and the need for such institutes in Bengal and provide rich inputs towards understanding the same. Mentioned Anirban Ghosh, entrepreneur and management consultant, “It is important to have such an organisation of research and developmental studies which will help to further highlight a connection between the masses and the government. Thus, I feel the role of CDPS is important in making a dialogue at the most necessary points and at the most important places needed in the present society.” Also focussing on the position and need for training in the development of entreprenuers in Bengal, Ghosh wanted to focus on how different need is there in the market towards such development institutes in Kolkata- apart from the many other existing ones and also helped to highlight the significant aspect of marketing in spreading the ideas and thoughts of the centre. “In today’s time, the role of marketing is significant in spreading the word and awareness about any new idea or product in the market. Thus, for the new institute as well, it is a significant decision to market the ideas well- to further inspire existing entrepreneurs to join the centre and learn from the knowledge and learning experience that it offers in the process of training,” added Ghosh. As the audience also marked the presence of many ardent students from varied disciplines- from science backgrounds to management trainees, several of them were also enthusiastic enough to propose ideas pertaining to the development of the entrepreneurship training and the development research centre. Closely following Ghosh, Tuhin Bera, MBA student expressed the need for marketing in the process of learning. “The term marketing is an integral part of our lives in present times. As student trainees, we start by learning from the very basics of the term and its various applications across different aspects of our lives. Thus, I feel, there is a growing need for the correct marketing and branding procedures of such institutes as their presence is indeed important to impart a sense of urgency towards the matter on one hand and also look into the significant aspect of creating an awareness amidst the larger section of the society- as often people are less aware about their surroundings.
