Indranil Banerjie Profile
Indranil Banerjie is the founder and Executive Director of the SAPRA India Foundation, a India based independent think-tank. He established the foundation in 1995 to promote strategic thinking and the understanding of national security issues in India. The Foundation has focused on research on terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, military, international relations and internal security.
The son of a military officer, Indranil Banerjie grew up in cantonments in different parts of the country and was exposed to the country's diversity from an early age. He finished his schooling from LaMartiniere College, Calcutta, and graduated with Honours in Economics from Presidency College, Calcutta.
He has travelled widely in the region and has visited a number of countries including, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Australia, United States, Switzerland and the UK. As head of the Foundation, he has led two Indian delegations to Washington DC.
Mr. Banerjie worked as a full-time journalist for over 20 years and has worked with reputed media organisations, including the Living Media group (India Today), Ananda Bazar Patrika Group (The Telegraph & Sunday magazine) and NDTV (The World This Week). During this period, he travelled widely in India and wrote over a thousand news and feature articles. He has made over 40 documentaries and current affairs programmes on Indian national security issues, which have been telecast on the national television network.
His specialisation is on foreign affairs and national security studies. His interest areas include Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. He has published numerous articles and papers on these countries. He has edited a book titled "India and Central Asia" which was published by Brunel Academic Publishers, London, in June 2004. He currently edits the monthly journal SAPRA India Bulletin, which focuses on national security issues and world affairs. He also writes for a number of journals and websites.
Participation in Events
US Congressional Sub-committee Hearing on Terrorism
13 June 2002. Washington, USA. Led a team of speakers for a hearing by a joint Congressional committee organised by Congressman Jim Saxton on India related terrorism for the first time. The members of this delegation included Mr B.Raman, Ambassador G. Parthsarathi, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Arjun Ray and Banerjie.
North Pakistan at the Crossroads of Central and South Asia
9 March 2003. Geneva. Switzerland. Organised by the Graduate Institute for Development Studies, the roundtable focused on North Pakistan's political radicalization and Jihad movements in an emerging international security environment. Participated as delegate. Speakers included, Mariam Abou Zahad, Political Scientist, Paris, Inam-ur-Rahim, Co-Author, 'Swat, An Afghan Society in Pakistan, Peshawar-Pakistan, and Gilbert Etienne, Professor Emeritus, Institutes of International and Development Studies, Geneva, among others.
Election technologies and Mass Media: Legal and Ethical Aspects
7 and 8 October 2004. Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Organised by the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in conjunction with Central Election Commission, Center for Political Studies and the Institute for Studies of Civil society. Participated as speaker. Presented a paper on the success of electronic voting machines in India. [Read more about the conference]
Asia Society’s International Business Conference: Kazakhstan Draws a New Wave of Investment: Strategies for Diversification and Sustainable Growth
June 14-16, 2005 • Almaty, Kazakhstan. Participated as delegate. On June 14 the Asia Society opened a major international business conference, “Kazakhstan Draws a New Wave of Investment: Strategies for Diversification and Sustainable Growth.” Taking place through June 16 at The Regent Almaty, this conference was co-organized by the Eurasian Media Forum and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. President Nursultan Nazarbayev delivered the opening keynote address.
2005 Presidential Polls Kazakhstan
4 December 2005, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Organised by government of Kazakhstan. Participated as Poll Observer from India.
Central Asian Energy Markets
6-7 December 2005, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Organised by the Centre for Political Studies headed by Dr. Gulnara Karimova. Participated as delegate.
2005 Presidential lections in Kazakhstan: Future Dimensions in security, energy cooperation and foreign relations
9 December 2005, New Delhi, India. Organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs. Particpated as speaker and presented paper on the presidential elections in Kazakhstan.
Eurasia Media Forum 20-22 April 2006 Almaty
The director attended the Fifth Eurasia Media Forum as a delegate. The 2006 programme tackled a number of issues including the crisis over the Iranian nuclear programme. A number of important contacts were made at this Forum, while older contacts were strengthened.
School of Media and Management, Kolkata, 23 May 2006
Delivered lecture on the evolution of information technology in relation to economic development and the relevance of information Management.
Constitution Day Seminar on Kazakhstan
2006 Seminar on Kazakhstan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Centre of Persian & Central Asian Studies, 30 August 2006. Gave lecture on the relevance of the Constitution of Kazakhstan and its progress towards democracy and free market economics. Chaired by Dean School of Languages, Prof Amar K. Basu.
International Conference on Strengthening of the NPT regime and Realisation of a Central Asia Nuclear Free Zone
17 and 18 October 2006, Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Particpated as a speaker and delivered two related speeches on Indian security imperatives and why India supports nuclear non-proliferation regimes. [Read speech]
Workshop on Research Methodologies
August 2007, Kabul, Afghanistan. Conducted a 10-day workshop for the Regional Studies Centre (RSC), Kabul, on research methodologies and area studies. The aim was to educate young Afghan researchers on improving their skills and understanding their region better.
IDSA National Seminar on Asian Security
4 February 2008, New Delhi, India. Presented a paper titled "Problems of National Institution Building in Afghanistan" in the last session of the day. The paper focuses on the obstacles to the establishment of a proper democracy in Afghanistan. [Read paper] [PDF Format]
The son of a military officer, Indranil Banerjie grew up in cantonments in different parts of the country and was exposed to the country's diversity from an early age. He finished his schooling from LaMartiniere College, Calcutta, and graduated with Honours in Economics from Presidency College, Calcutta.
He has travelled widely in the region and has visited a number of countries including, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Australia, United States, Switzerland and the UK. As head of the Foundation, he has led two Indian delegations to Washington DC.
Mr. Banerjie worked as a full-time journalist for over 20 years and has worked with reputed media organisations, including the Living Media group (India Today), Ananda Bazar Patrika Group (The Telegraph & Sunday magazine) and NDTV (The World This Week). During this period, he travelled widely in India and wrote over a thousand news and feature articles. He has made over 40 documentaries and current affairs programmes on Indian national security issues, which have been telecast on the national television network.
His specialisation is on foreign affairs and national security studies. His interest areas include Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. He has published numerous articles and papers on these countries. He has edited a book titled "India and Central Asia" which was published by Brunel Academic Publishers, London, in June 2004. He currently edits the monthly journal SAPRA India Bulletin, which focuses on national security issues and world affairs. He also writes for a number of journals and websites.
Participation in Events
US Congressional Sub-committee Hearing on Terrorism
13 June 2002. Washington, USA. Led a team of speakers for a hearing by a joint Congressional committee organised by Congressman Jim Saxton on India related terrorism for the first time. The members of this delegation included Mr B.Raman, Ambassador G. Parthsarathi, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Arjun Ray and Banerjie.
North Pakistan at the Crossroads of Central and South Asia
9 March 2003. Geneva. Switzerland. Organised by the Graduate Institute for Development Studies, the roundtable focused on North Pakistan's political radicalization and Jihad movements in an emerging international security environment. Participated as delegate. Speakers included, Mariam Abou Zahad, Political Scientist, Paris, Inam-ur-Rahim, Co-Author, 'Swat, An Afghan Society in Pakistan, Peshawar-Pakistan, and Gilbert Etienne, Professor Emeritus, Institutes of International and Development Studies, Geneva, among others.
Election technologies and Mass Media: Legal and Ethical Aspects
7 and 8 October 2004. Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Organised by the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in conjunction with Central Election Commission, Center for Political Studies and the Institute for Studies of Civil society. Participated as speaker. Presented a paper on the success of electronic voting machines in India. [Read more about the conference]
Asia Society’s International Business Conference: Kazakhstan Draws a New Wave of Investment: Strategies for Diversification and Sustainable Growth
June 14-16, 2005 • Almaty, Kazakhstan. Participated as delegate. On June 14 the Asia Society opened a major international business conference, “Kazakhstan Draws a New Wave of Investment: Strategies for Diversification and Sustainable Growth.” Taking place through June 16 at The Regent Almaty, this conference was co-organized by the Eurasian Media Forum and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. President Nursultan Nazarbayev delivered the opening keynote address.
2005 Presidential Polls Kazakhstan
4 December 2005, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Organised by government of Kazakhstan. Participated as Poll Observer from India.
Central Asian Energy Markets
6-7 December 2005, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Organised by the Centre for Political Studies headed by Dr. Gulnara Karimova. Participated as delegate.
2005 Presidential lections in Kazakhstan: Future Dimensions in security, energy cooperation and foreign relations
9 December 2005, New Delhi, India. Organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs. Particpated as speaker and presented paper on the presidential elections in Kazakhstan.
Eurasia Media Forum 20-22 April 2006 Almaty
The director attended the Fifth Eurasia Media Forum as a delegate. The 2006 programme tackled a number of issues including the crisis over the Iranian nuclear programme. A number of important contacts were made at this Forum, while older contacts were strengthened.
School of Media and Management, Kolkata, 23 May 2006
Delivered lecture on the evolution of information technology in relation to economic development and the relevance of information Management.
Constitution Day Seminar on Kazakhstan
2006 Seminar on Kazakhstan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Centre of Persian & Central Asian Studies, 30 August 2006. Gave lecture on the relevance of the Constitution of Kazakhstan and its progress towards democracy and free market economics. Chaired by Dean School of Languages, Prof Amar K. Basu.
International Conference on Strengthening of the NPT regime and Realisation of a Central Asia Nuclear Free Zone
17 and 18 October 2006, Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Particpated as a speaker and delivered two related speeches on Indian security imperatives and why India supports nuclear non-proliferation regimes. [Read speech]
Workshop on Research Methodologies
August 2007, Kabul, Afghanistan. Conducted a 10-day workshop for the Regional Studies Centre (RSC), Kabul, on research methodologies and area studies. The aim was to educate young Afghan researchers on improving their skills and understanding their region better.
IDSA National Seminar on Asian Security
4 February 2008, New Delhi, India. Presented a paper titled "Problems of National Institution Building in Afghanistan" in the last session of the day. The paper focuses on the obstacles to the establishment of a proper democracy in Afghanistan. [Read paper] [PDF Format]
Indranil Banerjie is a writer and analyst. He also produces television programmes and documentaries. His special areas of interest include Asian affairs, foreign policy and terrorism. He is the founder and director of the Greater Noida based think tank SAPRA India Foundation.