Full Court Obituary Reference in the memory of: Mr. Bhaskar Sen
Held on 30th July 2025. Watch here.
Life & Education
Born in Calcutta to Justice Nirmal Kumar Sen and Priti Sen on December 4, 1942.
Attended Gokhale Memorial School (Nursery to Class 3), and Ballygunge Government High School (1951-1958), where he completed his school-leaving examination in 1958.
Presidency College, Intermediate Arts (1958 – 1960)
Presidency College, Bachelor of Arts (History Hons.) (1960 – 1962)
University College, London (1962 – 1964)
Barrister-at-Law from Inner Temple, London (1966)
Partly funded his education by working as a supplementary teacher and as an usher at the Royal Opera House after his father passed away suddenly.
In London, he was the first pupil of Harry Woolf (Later Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales).
Legal Career
Returned to India in June 1967 and joined the Bar in May 1968.
Though his father had been an advocate and judge at the Calcutta High Court, he built his own legal career from the ground up.
Joined the chambers of Bhola Nath Sen and briefly, Subrata Roychowdhury, before starting his own practice.
Displayed exceptional competence across many branches of the law. From arguing constitutional matters, writs, and suits, to company law, customs and excise, and intellectual property matters, he also argued bail hearings and criminal matters under statutes such as COFEPOSA and MISA with equal ease and panache.
Designated Senior Advocate on December 20, 1994.
Enjoyed a very long and successful career.
Professional Recognition & Mentorship
Professional colleagues considered him an admirable senior who treated juniors well and regarded them with deep affection.
Briefing counsels considered him one of the finest senior counsels, known for his brilliant and strategic legal mind and easy-going nature.
Chamber juniors include many legal luminaries, both past and present, like Samit Talukdar (Senior Advocate), Pradip Kumar Das (later a CESTAT judge), and Joymalya Bagchi (current Supreme Court Justice), as well as Amit Chakraborty, Indranil Chakraborty, Patrick Gomes, Indranil Ray, Sarajit Roychowdhury, and Ayan Bhattacharjee.
Community & Social Life
Secretary (twice) of the Bar Library Club, Calcutta High Court.
Committee member, Calcutta Club (late 1990s). President, Calcutta Club (2004 – 2005).
Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Club of Calcutta.
Travelled, painted and enjoyed catching up with family and friends. Every gathering was an occasion.
Self-published his memoir, Phire Dekha, chronicling his life in India and the UK, the hardships of his early professional career, and travels with his beloved wife.
Journeyed so widely that his passport frequently ran out of pages. His memoir includes a "list of travelled places" as an annexure.
Personal Life
Married his Presidency College sweetheart, Prathama, in March 1969.
She was his steadfast pillar, administering to the household and his life with remarkable skill, intelligence, and grace. She passed away tragically on October 30, 2020.
Remained active socially except for a period of illness between 2020 and 2021.
He is survived by two sons—Ayan Sen, an eminent architect, and Anirban Sen, an advocate practising before the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India
He leaves behind a huge void and will be remembered as a remarkable repository of stories, legal insights and affectionate camaraderie, a man who spread love, joy, wisdom, and vibrant vitality wherever he went