Boria Majumdar
It was sometime in mid-2022, and I was grappling with the ban imposed on me. Partha Nandy, scion of Lalbaba Rice, had come to Kolkata from Burdwan for a day of business meetings. He called and asked if I wanted to meet up and discuss a few things. We decided to have lunch at ITC and talk. I had little idea what he had in mind and went to the meeting with very little hope of any association.
Partha Babu, as I refer to him, got straight to the point. “I know you are going through a rough patch,” he said. “I’ve followed your work for years and know how much you love sport and what you stand for. Let’s start an association. We will start small for obvious reasons, but we’ll rethink it over a period of time.”
I was pleasantly surprised. The controversy was 7–8 months old, and here was someone who wanted to work with me and back RevSportz. Appreciative and overwhelmed, I told him that we were planning to launch Bangla and that Lalbaba Rice would be the perfect fit. That’s how it started. Now the partnership is close to three and a half years old.
Fast forward to last Thursday. Once again, I got a call from Partha Babu, and he said he was coming to Kolkata. “Let’s meet. I’m getting some very good mihidana and sitabhog for you from Burdwan,” he said with a chuckle. As a quintessential Bengali, I don’t say no to good mishti. “Come home,” I said, “and we’ll catch up over tea.”
Partha Babu came home around 5:45 pm, and we spent a good two hours speaking about his vision. The truth is, it was fascinating to hear. He wants to make the brand global and has already done some fantastic work. From associating with Sourav Ganguly as brand ambassador to backing the Filmfare Awards and other activations across the state with leading media conglomerates, Lalbaba Rice has also supported multiple events in London and the United States.
“Let’s go big with the conclave,” he said suddenly. “I’ve been watching the conclave grow, and it’s time I fulfilled my promise and we do something big together. We will start this year itself. What you are doing will help sport.”
With Partha Babu, I don’t discuss money. We’ve known each other for years and know that words are enough. Within days, things were finalised, and Lalbaba Rice will be a key partner at Trailblazers 2026. I must say that I am absolutely delighted with the association and the support. With Partha Babu and Lalbaba Rice on board, the conclave will only grow bigger.
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