The Indian Chamber of Commerce’s Young Leaders Forum (YLF), in collaboration with Round Table India, hosted the esteemed 5th edition of the YLF Pride Of Bengal Awards last night at the Hyatt Regency, Kolkata. The event, which commenced at 7pm, witnessed a gathering of luminaries and dignitaries from various fields, coming together to honour the outstanding achievements of Bengal’s finest.
This year’s ceremony, celebrated as one of Kolkata’s most prestigious events, recognized 15 individuals for their remarkable prowess and significant contributions across diverse domains including music, visual arts, lifestyle, academia, sports, and politics.
Among the notable attendees were Bipasha Basu, Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Nikhita Gandhi, Anurag Basu, Kiran Uttam Ghosh, and Harsh Neotia, who graced the occasion with their presence.
Reflecting on the event, Rahul Kyal, Chairperson of the Young Leaders Forum, expressed his delight: “As chairperson of the Young Leaders Forum, it has been a real pleasure hosting the 5th edition of the ‘YLF Pride Of Bengal’. Sharing the same roof with our super achievers and honouring them has been a privilege. This event has not only recognized the contributions of these exceptional individuals but also inspired our young members to follow their footsteps.”
Harsh Neotia, one of the honoured guests, shared his thoughts: “This young group really impresses me. At their age, I don’t think I had so much knowledge and wisdom. But nevertheless, the one thing I have learned is that there is no shortcut to hard work. Integrity has to be foremost in whatever we do. And finally, thank you very much. To be recognized by people half my age is a wonderful feeling. I am now going to go show it off to my son. I dedicate this award to all the love of my customers and my wonderful team that has helped me bring projects to life.”
Abhijeet Bhattacharya, visibly pleased, remarked: “I am privileged and happy to be here. I thank YLF. This trophy is very special because I am a Bengali and write for Hindi films, and the fact that YLF is recognizing me and calling me the Pride Of Bengal – I feel very grateful and proud.”
Jishnu Sengupta, another awardee, shared his feelings: “When I get an award like this, it makes me very overwhelmed because I still have a long way to go and lots to achieve. I believe that I am my own competition and every day I must improve. With great power comes great responsibility – and so with this award, I have the responsibility to work harder and be humble and be grounded and run behind your passion. I thank YLF and ICC for this award.”
Bipasha Basu, expressed her gratitude: “I started here as a kid. My career started here, and now being given the Pride Of Bengal award, I just want to go and show my little mishti that mumma got an award. When I come to the stage, I still get butterflies and this is a sign that you’re not done! So this award kind of is again pushing me back in the direction of what I love doing – acting. Thank you Kolkata for always loving me.”
The YLF Pride of Bengal Awards 2024 was not just an event but a celebration of excellence, resilience, and inspiration, highlighting the rich heritage and achievements of exceptional individuals from West Bengal.