Introduction
Ranjit Barthakur is an Indian businessman. Barthakur is the founder and chairman of Globally Managed Services (GMS), besides being an IPL promoter.
Personal life
Ranjit Barthakur is married to Radhika Barthakur.
Political career
In 2001, the Assam Government appointed Barthakur as advisor for strategy, action planning, project formulation, investment initiation and image building exercise for the state of Assam. He was reappointed in 2011.
In 2013, he was nominated by then chief minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi for a Rajya Sabha MP seat from Assam. Barthakur was considered a strong candidate and 'dark horse' for the post due to support from certain dissident sections of the Congress Party. He however lost to Santiuse Kujur despite support from then opposing factions of the Assam Congress party pitted against Tarun Gogoi.
Indian Premier League (IPL) and controversy
Supposedly encouraging teamwork and sportsmanship, he took on chairmanship of Jaipur IPL Team Rajasthan Royals, the inaugural champions of the Indian Premier League. However, Barthakur soon became the source of controversy when inappropriate and fictitious bids were made, violating BCCI norms. Ranjit Barthakur and Fraser Castellino were the only two shareholders of the Jaipur IPL, completely unknown to the BCCI at the time. An out of court settlement between the two later ensued.
Other ventures
At GMS he promotes Naturenomics promoting agriculture and bio-diversity based community initiatives, and NatureFirst (focused on restoring the balance between nature through land,energy,waste, water, air and carbon) and River Journeys and Bungalows of India (nature based tourism business). Barthakur set up other ventures such as Agilisys (formerly Netdecisions), Advent Healthcare (a facilitator in the healthcare industry in India), and Green Ecological Managed Services (GEMS & NatureFirst)-(A fully integrated, first of its kind environmental services organization) which was acquired by TCS and where he continued as advisor to the environmental services Unit.
Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Barthakur was CEO of Hutchison Max-Touch Telecom (Vodafone) in India, chairman of Marconiin the Indian Sub-continent, and held senior positions in sales and marketing at consumer goods company ITC.
Barthakur is supporting S. Ramadorai, advisor to the Office of Prime Minister of India on national skill development. He is also the member of the Planning Commission's Steering Committee on Eco-Tourism.