Kumar Bhattacharyya, Baron Bhattacharyya
Encyclopedia
Sushanta Kumar Bhattacharyya, Baron Bhattacharyya, CBE
(born 6 June 1940) is an Indian-born British
engineer, educator and government advisor.
Kumar Bhattacharyya was born in Dhaka
(then part of British-India, now capital of Bangladesh
), His father was a professor of Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Bhattacharyya studied at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and the University of Birmingham
where he attained an MSc in Engineering Production and Management and a PhD in Engineering Production.
In 1980 he became Professor of Manufacturing Systems at the University of Warwick
and founded the Warwick Manufacturing Group
. He has been Director of the Warwick Manufacturing Group
, now rebranded as WMG, since its inception. WMG is focused on research, education and innovation in collaboration with private and public sector organisations in the UK and internationally .
A biography of Kumar Bhattacharyya by Andrew Lorenz, former Business Editor of The Sunday Times
, was published by Random House
business books in 2002.
He married Brigid Rabbitt in 1981 and they have three daughters.
n government. He is a Trustee of the Institute for Public Policy Research
and served on the National Consumer Council from 1990 to 1993.
As an academic Kumar Bhattacharyya has played a prominent role in raising the status of engineering and manufacturing in the UK. In 1998 he was awarded the Mensforth International Gold Medal by the Institution of Electrical Engineers for the outstanding international contribution to manufacturing engineering and management.
In the same year he was also awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Institute for Logistics and Transport. This was followed in 1999 by the Institute's Sir Robert Lawrence Award for Services to Logistics.
He was appointed CBE
in 1997 and knighted in 2003. In January 2002 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan
by the President of India
.
In 2004, he was made a life peer
as Baron Bhattacharyya, of Moseley
in the County of West Midlands
. He sits on the Labour
benches in the House of Lords
.
In 2005 he was awarded the Duncan Davies Medal, awarded by the Research and Development society to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to research and development in the UK.
In 2011, Kumar Bhattacharyya was awarded Honorary Membership of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers
(SME) which is given for ability and stature, plus contribution of substantial skills and talent to accomplish the goals of the Society . He was also ranked number one in Insider's 2011 Power 100 list.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 6 June 1940) is an Indian-born British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
engineer, educator and government advisor.
Kumar Bhattacharyya was born in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
(then part of British-India, now capital of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
), His father was a professor of Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Bhattacharyya studied at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
where he attained an MSc in Engineering Production and Management and a PhD in Engineering Production.
In 1980 he became Professor of Manufacturing Systems at the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
and founded the Warwick Manufacturing Group
Warwick Manufacturing Group
WMG is an academic department at the University of Warwick, providing research, education and knowledge transfer in engineering, manufacturing and technology...
. He has been Director of the Warwick Manufacturing Group
Warwick Manufacturing Group
WMG is an academic department at the University of Warwick, providing research, education and knowledge transfer in engineering, manufacturing and technology...
, now rebranded as WMG, since its inception. WMG is focused on research, education and innovation in collaboration with private and public sector organisations in the UK and internationally .
A biography of Kumar Bhattacharyya by Andrew Lorenz, former Business Editor of The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
, was published by Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
business books in 2002.
He married Brigid Rabbitt in 1981 and they have three daughters.
Awards and Honours
Kumar Bhattacharyya is a past member of the UK Council for Science and Technology. He has also served as a scientific adviser to the South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n government. He is a Trustee of the Institute for Public Policy Research
Institute for Public Policy Research
The IPPR is the leading progressive think-tank in the UK. It produces research and policy ideas committed to upholding values of social justice, democratic reform and environmental sustainability. IPPR is based in London and IPPR North has branches in Newcastle and Manchester.It was founded in...
and served on the National Consumer Council from 1990 to 1993.
As an academic Kumar Bhattacharyya has played a prominent role in raising the status of engineering and manufacturing in the UK. In 1998 he was awarded the Mensforth International Gold Medal by the Institution of Electrical Engineers for the outstanding international contribution to manufacturing engineering and management.
In the same year he was also awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Institute for Logistics and Transport. This was followed in 1999 by the Institute's Sir Robert Lawrence Award for Services to Logistics.
He was appointed CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1997 and knighted in 2003. In January 2002 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
by the President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
.
In 2004, he was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Bhattacharyya, of Moseley
Moseley
Moseley is a suburb of Birmingham, England, two miles south of the city centre. The area is a popular cosmopolitan residential location and leisure destination, with a number of bars and restaurants...
in the County of West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
. He sits on the Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
benches in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.
In 2005 he was awarded the Duncan Davies Medal, awarded by the Research and Development society to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to research and development in the UK.
In 2011, Kumar Bhattacharyya was awarded Honorary Membership of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Society of Manufacturing Engineers
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers is a non-profit organization.-History of the Society:Founded in 1932 with 33 members, the organization was originally named The Society of Tool Engineers . A year later, it was renamed the American Society of Tool Engineers...
(SME) which is given for ability and stature, plus contribution of substantial skills and talent to accomplish the goals of the Society . He was also ranked number one in Insider's 2011 Power 100 list.
External links
- Lord Bhattacharyya selected speeches
- The Kumar at No. 10 The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
interview - Lord Bhattacharyya in the House of Lords
- WMG: Director's Page
- Coverage of Lord Bhattacharyya in the Birmingham Post
- Selected editorial from Lord Bhattacharyya
- Formal agreement signed between WMG and Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia
- Lord Bhattacharyya talks to the Financial Times about Firing up British manufacturing
- Lord Bhattacharyya talks to the Financial Times about Call for industry bank to fix UK economy