By Elise Ponson,* Rob Dolan** and San May Thu***
Ms. Ipshita Sengupta, born on December 6, 1981, in Kolkata, West Bengal, tragically passed away on November 16, 2024 while travelling in Japan. Ipshita was a graduate of the 2005 batch of NUJS.
Since December 2021, Ipshita Sengupta was a central and steady lead of the coordination of international non-governmental organisations (INGO) in Myanmar. In this coordination forum, Ipshita held different roles with a focus on policy and advocacy. Those activities are at the core of humanitarian work: it is where the principle of humanity lays. Advocacy is about getting the voices of vulnerable people heard and Ipshita was a relentless advocate for the Myanmar people. She put all her passion and skills into ensuring that INGOs assisting in Myanmar were helping as best as they could. She would not shy away from difficult work and was always ready to help by taking on extra tasks because she knew it would support the delivery of a better aid response to people in need.
Prior to her work in Myanmar, Ipshita led a similar forum in Bangladesh, supporting the coordination of work helping Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Rakhine State, Myanmar. This built on her experience of working with refugees in India earlier in her career. With the forum in Myanmar, the Rohingya cause remained close to her heart. She always reminded colleagues of their plight, of the injustice of their treatment, compelling organisations to continue activities despite the numerous challenges in providing such support. Ipshita rarely switched off from work as she felt that helping those in need required commitment beyond ‘working hours’.
In 2023, a conflict erupted in eastern Myanmar and many humanitarian workers, together with civilians, were trapped in a town unable to flee to safety due to armed conflict. Ipshita, with no hesitation, took it upon herself to coordinate INGOs in organising the movement of humanitarian staff and their families to a safer place. It was successful. She then rallied INGO leads to ensure they would learn from the situation and be better if it was to happen again. This is one example that truly shows who Ipshita was. She was passionate, courageous and determined.
In January 2024, Ipshita took on the director role in the coordination forum in Myanmar. She would regularly seek feedback from her leadership peers. This is a rare quality at senior levels in the humanitarian sector and Ipshita was eager to learn grow and improve. Displaying the same qualities that drove her advocacy work, Ipshita showed courage and humility in seeking this feedback. She would listen carefully but also challenge when she felt a point was being missed. One INGO leader reflected how Ipshita told them that “we need to listen to all voices, not only the loud voices”. This message forms part of her legacy that we have a responsibility to make space for all voices and to listen, as we become better when we do. Ipshita knew this and embedded it in the practice of her work.
Ipshita was a wonderful colleague and an advocate for marginalised people throughout her career. She inspired and befriended a huge number of people in the humanitarian sector and will be greatly missed.
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*NRC Country Director **Former INGO Forum Director *** Former INGO Forum Secretariat Member