Samit Ghosh: A Role Model Speaks

As an extension of the DNS ROLE MODEL List 2008, we asked the Role Models - 'How did De Nobili impact their life?' Here is the first in the series to come. This one is from Samit Ghosh (1956-61).

I joined De Nobili in 1956 and after completing Class VI in 1961 I transferred to St Xavier's, Kolkata where I completed my schooling. Schools like Loyola in Jamshedpur, St Xavier's in Hazaribag and Patna, De Nobili in Dhanbad were set up immediately after the Independence. The objective was to build future generations of leaders in all walks of life, who would build the new India. I was among them and have spent my professional career in financial services both in India and overseas.

Schools are made up of people. It is they who impact our lives and leave a lasting impression. Biswadip Gupta was my class mate and a close friend. He was a quiet achiever, modest and caring. It is not a surprise that he is a great corporate leader. One of my first class teachers was Ms Betty, a pretty young Anglo-Indian lady. I contacted her in England after 50 years. Her love for India and the School even after so many years was incredible. Despite being incapacitated by severe arthritis she took the trouble to write about her time in the School and a tribute to Father McFarland. She sent money from her meager savings for the School Fund. What a heart!

After completing 25 years of corporate life and feeling like a cast off banana peel, I took a sabbatical to contemplate on my mid life crisis. During that time, I had the privilege to research and publish a book on the life of Father McFarland, the Founder of De Nobili. What an incredible life of achievements across three continents: America, India and Africa. Till his dying day, he saw the beauty of life and was restless to get back to work for the poor and needy. Great educators like Father McFarland, Father Hess, Father Moore of St Xavier's Hazaribag and Father Bouche of St Xavier's, Kolkata were role models through what they did in life: selfless devotion, the great institutions they left behind and thousands of leaders they incubated. This challenged me to conquer the last frontier in my field of work, providing financial services to the 600 million poor in our country.

Samit Ghosh
De Nobili School, 1956-61

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