Shumon Sengupta is an international humanitarian and development practitioner by profession and has served in West Africa, East Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia for over the last eighteen years. Ananya Banerjee Sengupta is a self-taught artist (water-colourist), whose works may be found displayed in the bedrooms. Their daughter Madhura is currently studying in the UK.

Shantiniketan is where Shumon’s paternal grandparents (Niharkana and Shailendu Sengupta) had settled in early 50s, during the post-partition period, after moving from Dhaka, Bangladesh. They were life-members of Vishwabharati, and Niharkana was a close associate of Indira Devi Chaudhurani (Tagore’s niece), actively involved with the Alapini Mahila Samity and the Karu Sangha. Shumon’s mother, Pratima Sengupta returned to Shantiniketan and spent the last phase of her life here, during which she devoted herself to teaching about forty Santhali children at her home, gratis, using her own resources. 

The family’s connection with Shantiniketan is therefore long, deep and enduring. 

Avid art, culture and travel enthusiasts, the family loves meeting and knowing people with different world views, from all walks of life. The Senguptas are a fun-loving, easy-going people; they enjoy lively conversations, and respect and celebrate differences and disagreement.