During a recent discussion at the Business Today's India @ 100 event, Sanjeev Sanyal, a distinguished economist and author, vehemently challenged the persistent stereotype labeling Bengalis as 'anti-business.' Sanyal, who also serves on the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, asserted that this perception is entirely unfounded, drawing upon Bengal's geography and deep historical roots in trade and commerce.
Historical Roots of Bengali Entrepreneurship
Sanyal emphasized Bengal's natural position as a coastal state, historically home to some of the world's largest ports. He pointed out that the region's entire history is intrinsically linked to trade. To further support his argument, Sanyal referenced figures like Chad Saudagar from Bengali folklore and noted the prevalence of merchant and artisan surnames among Bengalis, such as Shaha, Boshak, Seal, and Kormakor, akin to those found in Gujarati communities.
“In the 1980s and even till very recently, the narratives were somehow that Bengalis are anti-business by genetic makeup. Now that's utterly rubbish. I mean, just look at where Bengal is. It's a coastal state. Its entire history is about trade. India's, in fact, the world's biggest ports used to be in Bengal for most of human history,” Sanyal stated, underscoring the region's commercial legacy that dates back centuries.
Notable Bengali Businesses and Startups
Sanyal cited numerous examples of prominent businesses founded by Bengalis, many of which achieved significant scale and influence. These include:
- Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals (founded by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray)
- Calcutta Chemicals (established by Swapan Dasgupta's grandfather)
- Mohini Mills (founded by Mohini Mohan Chakraborty, Sanyal's great-grandfather, which was one of Asia's largest cotton mills at the time of independence)
- Boroline (Gourmohan Dutta)
- Bandhan Bank (Chandra Shekhar Ghosh)
- K.C. Das Granules (Nobin Chandra Das)
- DTDC (Subhasish Chakraborty)
- Senco Gold & Diamonds (Senco family)
- P.C. Chandra Jewellers (Prabhat Chandra Chandra)
Beyond these legacy enterprises, Sanyal also highlighted Bengal's role as a fertile ground for modern startups. Contemporary businesses that originated in the region include Wow! Momo, Teabox, StockEdge, mPokket, Arohan Financial Services, Nestasia, WishCare, Mihup Communications, NowPurchase, Snap-E Cabs, and Hulladek Recycling. These examples collectively demonstrate a vibrant and continuous entrepreneurial spirit within the Bengali community, challenging simplistic and inaccurate stereotypes.