One Act of Courage by His Father Shapes UAE Executive’s Leadership and Values

Dr. Bhaskar Dasgupta, an executive based in Abu Dhabi, reflects on a pivotal moment from his childhood in India that continues to influence his leadership decisions today.

In a statement that resonates with many, Australian Army Chief Lieutenant-General David Morrison once said, “The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.” This sentiment echoes in the life of Dasgupta, who, in the 1980s, witnessed his father, Roby Dasgupta, exemplify this principle in a profound way.

At the age of ten, Dasgupta accompanied his father through a bustling open-air market in Bhopal, India. He recalls, “Baba loved going there, especially for fish. There was color, noise, coriander, vegetables, bargaining, sweat, dust, and ordinary Indian life in full orchestra.” However, their day took a turn when they encountered a large man verbally assaulting a vulnerable woman vendor. The man was not merely a disgruntled customer; he was crossing a line, “swearing at her, humiliating her, making her shrink in public.”

Despite the crowd’s inaction, Dasgupta’s father stepped forward. Described by his son as “never imposing. Small. Slight. Quiet. Professorial,” he approached the man and calmly stated, “This is not right. You should not speak to her like that.” This act of quiet courage left a lasting impression on Dasgupta, who reflects on it more than 40 years later.

Dasgupta emphasizes the significance of that moment, stating, “As a child, you assume adults behave in similar ways. Then you witness someone doing something that everyone else is unwilling to do. What struck me was not that my father was physically brave. It was that he seemed incapable of ignoring wrongdoing. While others looked away, he stepped forward. That was probably the first time I realized that courage is often a matter of character rather than strength. Courage is not the absence of fear. It is acting despite fear.”

A Childhood Shaped by Resilience

For Dasgupta, the essence of good character is a daily choice, a lesson he learned growing up in India. His father, a refugee from Dhaka, Bangladesh, arrived in India after Partition with little more than the clothes on his back. He experienced the loss of home and security at a young age, which shaped his perspective. “Partition taught my father that houses, jobs, and savings can disappear. Education and character are the only assets you truly own,” Dasgupta explains.

Born in 1968 into a middle-class Bengali family, Dasgupta grew up with his younger sister Shilpi and numerous cousins in Bhopal. He notes, “Like many Indian families of that era, we were rich in books and education rather than money.”

Despite the challenges, the family prioritized education, honesty, and responsibility. Dasgupta recalls a poignant moment when his father was in tears over not being able to afford mangoes for Shilpi, and his mother lamented their inability to buy eggs for breakfast. These memories of hardship have remained with him, reinforcing the family’s values.

The Pursuit of Knowledge

Education was a cornerstone in the Dasgupta household, treated almost as a spiritual exercise. Roby Dasgupta, a professor, earned 18 degrees and professional qualifications in engineering and sciences. His journey from refugee to educator was marked by a commitment to learning, which became a means of rebuilding his life.

Dr. Papia Dasgupta, Bhaskar’s mother, matched her husband’s intellectual curiosity in the arts. She was a professor who excelled in geography, tribal studies, and tourism, winning accolades in drama and cookery while raising a family. Dasgupta reflects, “Only later did I realize how unusual it was to grow up in a household where both parents were still fulfilling their dreams, studying, researching, and writing long after midnight.”

From Bhopal to Global Boardrooms

Dasgupta’s career trajectory has taken him from India to international shores, yet he has never forgotten the lessons imparted by his parents. He began his career in financial services, ascending the corporate ladder with international banking institutions in Delhi, Singapore, and London. After relocating to the UK in 1992, he transitioned into public service, serving under three Prime Ministers before joining the Abu Dhabi Global Market in 2019.

Now a semi-retired executive, Dasgupta serves as chairman, board director, and advisor to various regulated businesses globally. He emphasizes that work is not merely a status symbol but a responsibility to those who depend on you. “Education was not about qualifications. It was about independence. Duty came before comfort,” he states.

The principle of confronting unacceptable situations remains central to his leadership approach. “Financial services, governance, and regulation often involve uncomfortable conversations. Sometimes you have to challenge decisions, question assumptions, or raise concerns that others would prefer not to discuss,” he explains.

Building the World You Want to See

Dasgupta is actively working to improve female representation in leadership roles. He prioritizes mentoring and investing in women founders and fund managers. As chairman of FundRock and the Middle East Stablecoin Association (MESA), he ensures that women are well represented on the boards of these organizations.

“If you believe something is important, you cannot simply talk about it. You have to build it,” he asserts. He hopes his children, Karn and Diya, will carry forward their grandfather’s lessons. “I hope they learn that integrity matters. My father demonstrated that success and decency are not competing ideas. You can be ambitious without losing your values.”

Roby Dasgupta’s act of integrity in that Bhopal market may not have changed the world, but it profoundly impacted the woman being mistreated. Dasgupta recalls, “The man went away, muttering. The woman didn’t say anything but she just folded her hands and bowed her head. The entire incident dissolved like mist… but left an indelible impression on me.”

In a world that often witnesses injustice, the actions of ordinary individuals can serve as a reminder that anyone can be a hero. “The older I get, the more I realize that societies are held together not by famous people, but by ordinary people who refuse to compromise their values. My father was one of those people,” Dasgupta concludes.

As reported by www.emirates247.com.

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Published on 2026-06-18 10:18:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk