Category Archives: Philanthropist Stories

Sanat & Indrani Chattopadhyay, NJ

Sanat and Indrani live in Newtown, PA. Indrani likes to keep busy with family and various philanthropic activities, especially focusing on women’s empowerment while Sanat maintains a hectic schedule as Executive VP and President, Merck Manufacturing. Alums of Jadavpur University, both passionately support community activities and try to be a force of good for the world. Sanat sits on the Board of US-India Strategic Partnership Forum and Hilleman Laboratories through which he actively helps many different causes to promote welfare in India as well as globally.

Sanat and Indrani, rooted and brought up in Kolkata, have been involved with Kolkata Foundation from the very inception and have always been inspired by the impact that Kolkata Foundation has had so far though their activities in education and healthcare in West Bengal.

Recently, as the Covid situation in India developed into a national health emergency, Sanat partnered with USISPF and Pratham to organize donation of millions of masks, hundreds of oxygen concentrators, sanitizers, ICU beds, and financial support to India.

Their daughter Shilpita, an environment enthusiast, actively supports NRDC and their son, Shubham enjoys mentoring and coaching underprivileged students (e.g. America Needs You).

Sanjay & Mausumi Dasgupta, NJ

Mausumi and Sanjay live in Princeton, NJ. Mausumi is a strategy executive at JP Morgan Chase. Sanjay is a graduate alumni of Princeton University and currently works as a Portfolio Manager at Millennium Management. Both are passionate about philanthropy in the education sector and long term supporters of Khan Academy, Princeton, and IIT.

When the Covid lockdown hit India, Sanjay and Mausumi worked closely with various charitable organizations to send support to the daily wage workers to provide 20K masks and ~250K meals to 12 villages. During this time, they met Kolkata Foundation and immediately connected with the team at many levels.

The nonprofit selection process that Kolkata Foundation follows is meticulous, finding exceptional organizations working on educational excellence, medical support and self reliance. These NGOs did not have large overheads and provided transparency. It was exactly what Mausumi and Sanjay were looking for, as they extended their support.

Their children Sabar, Emily, and Navin are involved in various social works and wish to continue carrying out the passion of their parents.