Sukumar Sen (1899-1963) Biography, Age, Family, Career

Quick Info

Profession	Civil Servant
Nationality	Indian
Date of Birth	02/01/1899
Age	64 years (died on 13, May, 1963)
Birthplace	Gotan, Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal
Date of Death	13/05/1963

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Bio/Wiki

Known for	Being the first Chief Election Commissioner of India, architect of India's electoral system, and a distinguished linguist specializing in Old Indo-Aryan and Middle Indo-Aryan syntax

Physical Stats & More

Eye Color	Black
Hair Color	Salt & Pepper

Educational Qualification(s)

College/University	Presidency College, Calcutta (now Presidency University, Kolkata) University of London, England Burdwan Raj College (F.A., 1919) Government Sanskrit College (First class honours in Sanskrit, 1921) University of Calcutta (Comparative Linguistics, 1923; PhD) University of Calcutta (Comparative Philology, 1923; PhD)

Personal Life

Religion	Hinduism
Caste	Brahmin

Relationships & More

Marital Status	Married

Family

Father	Akshoy Kumar Sen (civil servant)
Siblings	Brothers - 6, Sisters - 2
Spouse	Gouri Sen
Children	Sons - 2, Daughters - 2

Career

Overview	Sukumar Sen had a dual career as both a civil servant and a distinguished linguist. He joined the Indian Civil Service in 1921 and served in various districts as an ICS officer and judge. He was appointed Chief Secretary of West Bengal in 1947 before being appointed as India's first Chief Election Commissioner in March 1950. Concurrently, he was a professor at the University of Calcutta for thirty-four years, specializing in Bengali linguistics and Old Indo-Aryan syntax while maintaining expertise in Pāli, Prakrit, and Sanskrit. He retired from the university in 1964.
Achievements	In 1950, he became the Chief Election Commissioner of India. Managed the first Indian General Election in 1952, utilizing innovative methods to educate voters and ensure fair practices. Made significant contributions in conducting India's second general elections in 1957. Awarded the Padma Bhushan for his services to the nation. Served as Chief Election Commissioner from 21 March 1950 to 19 December 1958. Also served as the first Chief Election Commissioner in Nepal and Sudan. Joined the Indian Civil Service in 1921 Appointed Chief Secretary of West Bengal in 1947 Became Chief Election Commissioner of India from 21 March 1950 to 19 December 1958 Joined the University of Calcutta as a lecturer in 1930 and served as a professor for thirty-four years Became the second Khaira Professor in the Department of Comparative Philology Received the Royal Asiatic Society Gold Medal in 1984 First scholar to explore Old Indo-Aryan syntax in his book Use of Cases in Vedic Prose (1928) Published Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit (1928) Appointed India's first Chief Election Commissioner in March 1950 Designed and executed India's first general election in 1951-52, enfranchising nearly 100 million voters using innovative methods including coloured ballot boxes and symbols for political parties to accommodate 85% illiterate electorate Conducted India's second general election in 1957, reducing costs by Rs 45 million through prudent resource management Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1954 for his services to the nation Published An Outline of Syntax of Middle Indo-Aryan (1950)

Overview

Sukumar Sen had a dual career as both a civil servant and a distinguished linguist. He joined the Indian Civil Service in 1921 and served in various districts as an ICS officer and judge. He was appointed Chief Secretary of West Bengal in 1947 before being appointed as India's first Chief Election Commissioner in March 1950. Concurrently, he was a professor at the University of Calcutta for thirty-four years, specializing in Bengali linguistics and Old Indo-Aryan syntax while maintaining expertise in Pāli, Prakrit, and Sanskrit. He retired from the university in 1964.

Achievements

In 1950, he became the Chief Election Commissioner of India.
Managed the first Indian General Election in 1952, utilizing innovative methods to educate voters and ensure fair practices.
Made significant contributions in conducting India's second general elections in 1957.
Awarded the Padma Bhushan for his services to the nation.
Served as Chief Election Commissioner from 21 March 1950 to 19 December 1958.
Also served as the first Chief Election Commissioner in Nepal and Sudan.
Joined the Indian Civil Service in 1921
Appointed Chief Secretary of West Bengal in 1947
Became Chief Election Commissioner of India from 21 March 1950 to 19 December 1958
Joined the University of Calcutta as a lecturer in 1930 and served as a professor for thirty-four years
Became the second Khaira Professor in the Department of Comparative Philology
Received the Royal Asiatic Society Gold Medal in 1984
First scholar to explore Old Indo-Aryan syntax in his book Use of Cases in Vedic Prose (1928)
Published Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit (1928)
Appointed India's first Chief Election Commissioner in March 1950
Designed and executed India's first general election in 1951-52, enfranchising nearly 100 million voters using innovative methods including coloured ballot boxes and symbols for political parties to accommodate 85% illiterate electorate
Conducted India's second general election in 1957, reducing costs by Rs 45 million through prudent resource management
Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1954 for his services to the nation
Published An Outline of Syntax of Middle Indo-Aryan (1950)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Sukumar Sen was born into a Bengali Baidya-Brahmin family and chose to join the civil service to support his family's education.
2. He introduced the use of symbols for political parties to help illiterate voters during elections.
3. After retirement, he led the Dandakaranya project aimed at helping refugees from East Pakistan.
4. A road in Burdwan, West Bengal, is named after him to honor his contributions.
5. Sen built the foundation of India's election management system without prior experience, establishing principles that still influence the current electoral process.
6. Sukumar Sen was born into a Bengali Brahmin family in Gotan, Purba Bardhaman district
7. He was well versed in Pāli, Prakrit, and Sanskrit in addition to his expertise in Bengali linguistics
8. He received a divisional scholarship and earned first class honours in Sanskrit from Government Sanskrit College in 1921
9. He scored the highest marks in Comparative Linguistics at Kolkata in 1923 and received a Premchand Roychand Scholarship
10. He was a mathematician by training, earning a gold medal in mathematics from the University of London, which informed his methodical approach to electoral administration
11. He managed the logistical miracle of conducting India's first general election across 176 million voters, of whom 85% were illiterate and could not read or write their names

Sukumar Sen Civil Servant Indian Gotan, Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal