Suparjya swain 
Feature: In the serene landscapes of Kalahandi, a region defined as much by its rich heritage and resilience as by its aspirations for a brighter future, a young boy grew up with dreams that reached far beyond the limits of his surroundings. That boy was Mr. Sujeet Kumar. From the modest classrooms of rural Odisha to the ivy-covered halls of Harvard and Oxford, from the digital corridors of the World Economic Forum in Geneva to the echoing chambers of the Indian Parliament, his journey reflects the triumph of perseverance over circumstance.
Today, Mr. Sujeet Kumar stands as one of the most promising young leaders of India—a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, a lawyer of repute, and a policy thinker who bridges the aspirations of tribal heartlands with the opportunities of a globalized world. His story embodies the transformative power of education and public service, not just as a tale of personal achievement, but as a mission to empower communities, transform lives, and advance the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
A practicing lawyer, arbitrator, and prolific policy thinker, Mr. Sujeet Kumar has emerged as one of the most dynamic and articulate voices in the Rajya Sabha since his election in 2020 as a Member of Parliament representing Odisha. His career reflects an unusual breadth—spanning corporate corridors, international think tanks, grassroots initiatives, and national policymaking—while always staying rooted in the aspiration of empowering marginalized communities.
Mr. Sujeet Kumar’s professional path began in the corporate world as a software engineer at Infosys, before he transitioned to the development sector, working on the United Nations Development Programme’s ICT for Development project in Odisha, aimed at bringing digital access to the remotest corners of the state. His global outlook was sharpened during his years with the World Economic Forum in Geneva, where he designed and managed initiatives with worldwide impact. Yet, despite these international assignments, his heart was set on returning home to contribute directly to India’s development journey.
In 2011, Mr. Sujeet Kumar established the Kalinga Kusum Foundation, a social enterprise focused on education, empowerment, and community transformation, alongside LexMantra LLP, a boutique law firm specializing in technology laws, arbitration, intellectual property, and constitutional matters. Today, as its founder and managing partner, he continues to balance his role as a practicing lawyer in the Supreme Court of India with his responsibilities as a parliamentarian, making him a rare leader who traverses both the legal and legislative landscapes with equal ease.
As an MP, Mr. Sujeet Kumar has already made a mark as one of the youngest chairmen of a parliamentary committee, heading the Petitions Committee of the Rajya Sabha during his first term. His contributions have spanned critical parliamentary committees on science and technology, environment, forests and climate change, external affairs, and language policy, among others. Beyond committee work, he is also recognized for his international outreach as the convenor of the All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet, a co-chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, and a founding member of the Indo-Pacific chapter of the Formosa Club.
What sets Mr. Sujeet Kumar apart is his relentless advocacy for tribal empowerment, youth development, and child welfare in Odisha. His initiatives such as the Special Development Council Cup—a football tournament that brought together more than 10,000 tribal youth—have created platforms for showcasing local talent and celebrating indigenous culture. The Kalahandi Dialogue, another of his visionary projects, convenes policymakers, development practitioners, and community leaders to collaboratively address the unique challenges of tribal populations.
His academic credentials are equally distinguished. A graduate in engineering from Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology and law from Sambalpur University, Mr. Sujeet Kumar went on to receive an MBA from the Saïd Business School at Oxford University, where he was awarded the inaugural Skoll Scholarship for Social Entrepreneurship. He later pursued a Master in Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School, receiving the Hauser Centre Fellowship for exemplary public service and leadership. He has also served as adjunct faculty at Sri Sri University and continues to mentor young leaders and entrepreneurs in India and abroad.
Widely respected for his intellectual clarity and global perspective, Mr. Sujeet Kumar has participated in international forums while also receiving numerous recognitions, including the Odisha Youth Inspiration Award (2017), the Global Leadership Fellowship at the World Economic Forum, and the Asia Pacific Leadership Fellowship at the East-West Centre. His recent book AI on Trial explores the legal, ethical, and governance challenges of artificial intelligence, making him one of the few Indian parliamentarians at the forefront of the law–technology debate.
For Mr. Sujeet Kumar, public life is not just about policy and politics, but about people—the tribal child in a remote village who deserves education, the youth who needs opportunity, the community that deserves dignity. His story is one of a new generation of leaders who embody both local roots and global vision, blending professional excellence with a profound sense of responsibility toward society. From Kalahandi to Harvard, from grassroots to global platforms, Mr. Sujeet Kumar’s journey continues to inspire as he works tirelessly towards building a more inclusive, innovative, and empowered India.
