'Upright and principled': Former West Bengal information official Sumita De passes away at 59

An alumna of the Department of Journalism at the University of Calcutta, De served the state's Information Department for several years and was closely associated with the media fraternity through her work in the News Branch, where she maintained regular interaction with journalists.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a key role in facilitating the West Bengal government's vaccination programme for journalists.

De also headed the state's Exhibition Division during her career. She was deputed for a period to the Indian Statistical Institute under the Government of India.

The Press Club, Kolkata expressed deep sorrow over her demise and conveyed condolences to her family, colleagues and friends. In a statement, the club remembered her contribution to the Information Department and her long association with journalists.

Editor's Note : Sujoy Dhar remembers

I first came to know Sumita De in the mid-1990s, when she would occasionally visit our United News of India (UNI) office in Kolkata to meet our Regional Editor for research work. She was a few years' senior in the journalism department of CU where we both studied, but our paths crossed more frequently after I began covering the Kolkata International Film Festival, where she was one of the key officials managing the government's side of the event. What stood out was her professionalism. She dealt with journalists fairly, without the familiar bias towards larger media houses or a few people that is so often taken for granted.

She was known to be upright and principled. I was surprised when I later learnt (unverified) that she had participated in protests during the Singur and Nandigram movements despite working in the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government, reflecting convictions that extended beyond her official role.

One memory remains particularly vivid. Around 2012 or 2013, when I was commissioned to write a booklet on Suchitra Sen for her retrospective at the Kolkata International Film Festival, Sumita was overseeing the publication process with her colleague. After the booklet had been written, approved and printed, there was an attempt by a well-known painter associated with the then new Mamata Banerjee government to insert additional material that would have given the Chief Minister more credit in a booklet she had no role in creating. Although I had nothing to do with that decision and hardly cared, Sumita firmly stood her ground and prevented what I felt was an unnecessary interpolation. It was a quiet but telling example of her integrity and her respect for editorial propriety even as a government official.

In recent years, I had spoken to her about accreditation for my news agency reporters, and she readily assured me of all possible assistance. Then, one afternoon at the Press Club, I learnt that she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. The news of her passing did not come as a surprise, but it brought profound sadness.

Journalism often remembers those who occupied the spotlight. Sumita De rarely sought it. Yet, for decades, she was one of those dependable public officials who made the relationship between government and the media work with fairness, efficiency and dignity. She will be remembered not only for the positions she held but for the integrity with which she held them.