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SAIKAT Executive Committee 2026-2027
Surya Kanta De
President
Surya Kanta De is a director of medicinal chemistry at a pharmaceutical company. He has been a member of Saikat since 2006. He was actively involved in volunteering for many of Saikat's events. He is an inventor, entrepreneur, educator, editor, advisor, author, and administrator. He is grateful to serve the community. He loves sports and is an avid supporter of Manchester F.C.
Banikumar Maiti
President Elect
Mr. Banikumar Maiti has been an active member of the Saikat community for over two decades, contributing to strategic, cultural, and digital initiatives that promote Bengali arts and heritage in San Diego. A technology leader by profession, he brings over 25 years of experience in software engineering and community development. As part of the 2026–2027 Executive Committee, Mr. Maiti focuses on advancing digital outreach, inclusive volunteer engagement, and program excellence across Saikat’s major cultural events — including “Krishti”, “Natyomela” and “Sharod Utsav”. His vision is to strengthen community participation, empower youth involvement, and make Saikat a vibrant cultural bridge within the broader San Diego arts ecosystem.
Tanaya Roy
General Secretary
For over 13 years, Saikat has been more than an organization to me — it has been home. Through years of volunteering, creative leadership, and on-stage representation, I have grown alongside this community while deepening my connection to our culture and people. I am a creative professional by training and practice — an artistic director, writer, performer, and entrepreneur. I own and operate my own company, where I bring together vision, discipline, and execution every day. My commitment is to serve Saikat with dedication, integrity, and accountability — blending my cultural passion with professional discipline and an entrepreneurial mindset, so that together we continue to strengthen, inspire, and grow Saikat as one family.
Nikhil Chowdhury
Treasurer
Coming Soon...
Sagarika Ray
Activity Coordinator
Coming Soon...
Tapash Das
Food Coordinator
Tapash Das serves as Saikat’s Food Coordinator for the 2026–2027 term, managing all food‑related planning and operations for the organization’s events. He and his wife, Shashwati, have lived in San Diego since 2006 and are proud parents of their daughter, Tanishi.
A committed Saikat volunteer for more than fifteen years, Tapash has contributed to numerous volunteer initiatives across the organization. In his role as Food Coordinator, he brings energy, dependability, and strong organizational skills. Professionally, he works for a major American international technical and professional services firm. Beyond work, he enjoys traveling, meeting new people, and exploring different cultures.
Indranil Acharya
Members-at-Large
I’m Indranil, originally from Adra, West Bengal.
For the last 11 years I’ve been based in San Diego, building my career and community.
I currently work at Qualcomm, and I was passively involved with Saikat(for several years), the Bangla community association before.
I’m passionate about growth, networking, and helping people.
Dr. Priyanka Majee
Members-at-Large
Hello, I am Dr. Priyanka Majee — a research engineer and mother of a four-year-old. I have been an active Saikat volunteer since moving to San Diego in 2017. This city reminds me of the warmth of my beloved City of Joy, and Saikat’s culture, love, and strong bonds have been a big part of that.
The warm welcome I received from senior members made Saikat feel like home. Now, I hope to give back by supporting the community’s growth, preserving its harmony, and creating opportunities for both new members and the next generation. Together, we can continue building a vibrant, inclusive, and nurturing community.
Shubhadip Paul
Members-at-Large
Hello I’m Shubhadip and I am a Probashi Bengali from Lucknow, India. I moved to the US in 2015 and have lived in San Diego since 2018. I am a Sr. Manager at Qualcomm and live in Rancho Bernardo with my wife, 2 kids and our dog. I have volunteered with Saikat since 2018 and have served in the Saikat EC in 2020-21 and again in 2022-23 to serve as the Treasurer. I am passionate about building networking and spreading our culture in this alien land.
Siladitya Ray Chaudhuri
Members-at-Large
Hello I’m Siladitya. Born and raised in Kolkata, I moved to this country as a student 25 years ago. In 2014, work brought me to beautiful San Diego and I instantly found a home within SAIKAT and its people. I have been an active volunteer for the past 11 years and also had the privilege to serve as its General Secretary (2018-19). I am passionate about fostering a feeling of inclusivity for each member within the community, as well as collaborating with other like-minded organizations for charitable and cultural collaborations.
Soumadwip Ghosh
Members-at-Large
My name is Soumadwip Ghosh, and I work as a scientist at Enlaza Therapeutics. I have always believed in the importance of serving the community and staying meaningfully connected with people, culture, and shared experiences. I arrived in San Diego in 2021, a place I truly fell in love with for its natural beauty, openness, and vibrant environment, and those years left a lasting impression on how I view community, inclusivity, and collaboration. I am fortunate to share my life with my loving wife, Annyatama, and our little one, Shloke, who inspires me every day to contribute toward building a more caring, connected, and supportive community. Through my involvement with Saikat, I hope to actively engage in community interactions, support cultural and social initiatives, and help create welcoming spaces where people can come together, connect, and grow together.
SAIKAT Executive Committee 2026-2027
Board Of Advisors
Amarnath Gupta
Advisor
Amarnath Gupta has been associated with Saikat for 27 years. He has served as a member-and-large and as a joint activity coordinator of Saikat. As an avid enthusiast of Bengali culture, he has been actively involved in Saikat's drama and music programs for over two decades. Professionally, he leads an AI and Database Lab at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, where he is an Associate Director. He is a Founding Faculty Member of UCSD's Data Science Institute and teaches Computer Science subjects at the Computer Science and Engineering as well as the Rady Business School. He has served as the Chair of the Academic Personnel Committee for Research Scientists at UCSD. He holds several patents in different aspects of Data Management Technology and is the recipient of the ACM Distinguished Scientist Award. He is also a co-founder of Etalon Sciences, a research collective exploring AI and data science to help businesses.
Arun Datta
Advisor
Arun Datta has been a member of Saikat since 1993, the year he moved to San Diego. He previously served on the Executive Committees of both FIA and Saikat, and continues to support these communities in various capacities whenever the opportunity arises. He is also an active participant of its various cultural and social activities. He currently teaches computer science courses, including Cybersecurity, at National University as a part‑time professor. Earlier, he served the university as both Director and Professor. His research group at the Community Research Institute developed several software systems that supported organizations such as the National School Board (National City), the Public Health Department of the State of Illinois, and the University of California President’s Office (Oakland, CA). With academic and research experience spanning Molecular Biology and Computer Science, his interests focus on the bioinformatics analysis of protein glycosylation. During his tenure at The Scripps Research Institute, his work led to a patent that was later utilized by Optimer Pharmaceuticals (OPTR, NASDAQ) for the successful commercial development of an antibiotic. His current group is developing an atlas of glycans and related molecules. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys traveling and often writes about his experiences.
Nandan Das
Advisor
Nandan Das has served Saikat for over two decades in various roles including in the EC(twice), BOA(once), and multiple times on committees such as the "Magazine Editorial Team" and "Constitution Amendment Committee". He was President (for 6 years) of another volunteer run non profit organization (his HOA) bringing many structural changes during his tenure. Professionally, he leads Viasat's Wireless Standards group and has experience in multiple senior leadership and advisory roles in regional, national, and international organizations. In 2024, he was appointed by the US Government to represent the US in satellite related technical discussions in NATO. He also teaches at UCSD and SDSU. In both his professional, and volunteer work, Nandan strives to bring a fair, analytical, process and structure based approach to organizational issues.
Souti Chatterjee
Advisor
Souti Chatterjee lives in San Diego with her husband, Debopriyo, and their son, Shinoy. She takes a keen interest in community and cultural activities at Saikat, particularly drama, in which she has participated multiple times. She has been actively involved with Saikat for more than a decade and has contributed in various capacities, including supporting events at the registration desk, welcoming members, and helping new members feel at home. She has also been an integral member of the Saikat Magazine Editorial Team for several years and has actively participated in Saikat’s charitable initiatives. With a background in human resources and healthcare management, Souti combines strong organizational skills with a genuine passion for community involvement.
Dr. Sushil Mahata
Advisor
I have had the privilege of serving SAIKAT- an organization I truly consider my extended family - for more than 16 years in multiple leadership roles, including Member-at-Large, Vice-President, President, Treasurer (during SAIKAT’s 25th anniversary), and two terms on the Board of Advisors. I have also had the honor of working with the founding President and several founding members. My contributions include designing the
SAIKAT logo, drafting the original SAIKAT Constitution along with the founding President and other committee members, and participating in subsequent Constitution
Amendment Committees. Professionally, I teach medical students at the University of California San Diego and lead research programs focused on human diseases. I am also a co-founder of CgA Therapeuticals Inc., where we are working to develop novel therapeutics for these conditions.