Bhaskar Mazumdar: A sharp mind, a strong voice and a lasting contribution to PR

I had the opportunity to interview Bhaskar Mazumdar and also write stories with his inputs on PR and communication. What I always found interesting was the way he responded to questions. His inputs and responses were always very well thought through and brought a lot of sense to the overall story. He was sharp and always to the point whenever he spoke on PR and communication.

For a journalist, having someone like Bhaskar to speak to was always useful because you knew that his response would have substance. He did not speak just for the sake of giving a quote. He understood the subject and, more importantly, he understood the larger context in which communication worked for an organisation.

Having held several leadership positions at various companies, Bhaskar was always a big asset when it came to corporate communication. He brought his experience to the table and understood the importance of communication in building the reputation of an organisation. He had seen the profession evolve and was able to look at communication not just from the PR point of view but also from the larger corporate perspective.

His biggest strength, in my view, was CSR. He led CSR initiatives with a lot of passion and was someone who genuinely wanted to make things happen in the companies he worked with. For him, CSR was not just about ticking a box or putting out a communication around an initiative. There was a genuine commitment to making a difference and ensuring that the work had meaning.

That is something I believe made him different. He brought the same seriousness to CSR that he brought to corporate communication. He understood that companies have a larger responsibility towards society and that communication should also reflect that responsibility.

Bhaskar was also closely associated with several PR forums and professional bodies. He actively participated in these platforms and contributed significantly to discussions around the profession. His presence in these bodies helped the PR industry because he brought with him his experience, his understanding of corporate communication and, most importantly, his willingness to contribute.

The PR industry has changed considerably over the years. From being largely media-focused, it has moved into corporate reputation, stakeholder engagement, digital communication, crisis management, CSR and many other areas. Professionals like Bhaskar have been part of this journey. They have seen these changes first-hand and contributed to the growth of the profession through their work and participation.

What I will remember most about Bhaskar is his ability to keep things simple and to the point. In PR, there is often a tendency to make communication complicated. Bhaskar had the ability to cut through all of that and come up with a clear and sensible point of view. His responses were never hurried. They were considered, but at the same time, they were sharp.

Over the years, he would have interacted with many people from the corporate and PR fraternity. I am sure many of them would have their own memories of his contribution, his professional approach and his commitment to the causes he believed in.

For me, my memories are of those conversations and interviews, where his inputs invariably added value to the stories I was working on. It is these professional interactions that often stay with you for a long time.

It is a huge loss for the PR and corporate communication industry. But Bhaskar's contribution to the growth and development of the PR profession will always be remembered. His work, his involvement with industry bodies and his passion for CSR will remain an important part of his professional legacy.

More than anything else, he will be remembered by many of us as a professional who had something meaningful to say and knew how to say it.