National Seminar

On Tuesday, 28^th April, 2015, NATIONAL SEMINAR on “CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BUSINESS ETHICS IN INDIAN BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT” was held, venue being the 6th Floor college auditorium. The seminar was organised by Research & Publication Cell, Post Graduate Department of Commerce in collaboration with Department of Commerce, University of Calcutta. The 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. programme started with a one-minute mourn for the Nepal earthquake victims which occurred on 25^th April, 2015. The inauguration ceremony started with an address by Prof. Lalit Kumar Joshi, organising secretary, where he presented the theme of the seminar. This was followed by the welcome address by Prof. Debjani Ganguly, Teacher-in-Charge addressing Prof. Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academics), University of Calcutta, Prof .Swagata Sen, Dean, Faculty Council for Post Graduate Studies in Commerce, Social Welfare and Business Management, University of Calcutta, Prof. Ranjan Kumar. Bal, Professor and Former Dean of Commerce, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar and Former President, Indian Accounting Association. The first journal by research and publication cell named “The BESC journal of Commerce and Management” was realised by Prof. Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academics). The lamp lighting ceremony was then carried out by Prof. Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay. The seminar was also graced by a galaxy of intellectuals from different areas of the country i.e. both from inside the state and outside. In his inaugural speech Prof. Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay spoke on various points and sub points of following Corporate Governance and the importance and ways of following Business Ethics for a successful economy.

The plenary session started with the chairperson Prof.Swagata Sen, Dean, Faculty Council for Post Graduate Studies in Commerce, Social Welfare and Business Management, University of Calcutta inviting and addressing the key note speaker Prof. Ranjan Kumar Bal, Professor and Former Dean of Commerce, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar and Former President, Indian Accounting Association. Prof. Ranjan Kumar Bal shared his happiness of coming to Kolkata and discussed regarding corporate failure, changing structure of CG, CG reforms and its nuts and bolts, voluntary vs legal approach of CSR, business-society relation and emphasised on the importance of corporate governance and finally left us with a thought the whether we want to Distinct or Extinct.

Prof. Swagata Sen focused on lack in CG where, on one hand we promote new regulations and on the other hand we forget its shortfalls. He highlighted on the Indian traditions and Indian value system and concluded his speech emphasizing on the fact that time has come when we look at our culture and take it forward to emerge as a leader.

Followed by lunch we had Technical session-1 headed by Chairperson Prof. P. S. Das – Professor (Retd.) VGSOM, IIT Kharagpur addressing the key note speaker Prof. Kanika Chatterjee, Co-ordinator, IQAC, University of Calcutta who highlighted points on Business Ethics and its needs in the corporate world as well as our daily lives. The paper presenters presented their papers in this session on various topics regarding corporate governance and business ethics.

Technical session-2 started with the chairperson Prof. Dhrubaranjan Dandapat, Chairman, U.G. Board of Studies in Commerce, University of Calcutta discussing about the nature of corporate governance and its different laws. He then addressed the key note speaker Prof. Suman K. Mukerjee, Sr. Professor & Principal cum Dean, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Institute of Management Science, Kolkata who threw light on spirituality and origins of business value, the present and future factors of CG and ended with a wonderful opinion that corporate governance is not about companies or MNCs, rather it is also about schools, colleges, hospitals etc, and they too should follow it seriously to contribute towards the economy. Papers presenters from various colleges and universities then presented their writings on several topics viz. Ethics in Indian Banking Business, Implications of Companies Act 2013 on CG, Gender diversity, CG and Capital market and CSR policies etc.

The seminar was closed with Grand vote of thanks by Prof. Paramita Chakravarty – Convenor, P.G. Department of Commerce.