Election Commission will host the first Sukumar Sen Memorial Lecture today. Former President Pranab Mukherjee will deliver the first of the Lectures. The EC has decided to institute an Annual Lecture Series as a tribute to the first Chief Election Commissioner of India, Sukumar Sen. He commendably conducted the first two General Elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, thereby putting India firmly on the map of democracy. AIR correspondent reports that the rationale behind instituting the lecture is to make a positive and constructive intervention in the democratic discourse of the nation within the constitutional mandate of the EC.

Sukumar Sen was born on 2nd January, 1898. He was educated at Presidency College, Kolkata and University College, London. He joined the Indian Civil Services in 1922. During his service, he held several important posts, including as Chief Secretary of West Bengal. He served as the first Chief Election Commissioner of India from 21st March 1950 till his retirement in 19th December, 1958. He conducted the first two Lok Sabha elections of India held in 1952 and 1957 with the Legislative Assembly Elections based on universal adult franchise under challenging circumstances and little precedence to guide him.