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Meet Sukumar Sen: The Math Genius Who Conducted India's Historic First Elections
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News18•07-10-2026, 19:05
Meet Sukumar Sen: The Math Genius Who Conducted India's Historic First Elections
- •Sukumar Sen was a brilliant mathematician who won the prestigious Isaac Newton Scholarship and later joined the Indian Civil Service in 1922.
- •He assumed office as India's first Chief Election Commissioner on March 21, 1950, successfully overseeing the monumental 1951-52 general elections.
- •His name was suggested for the crucial post by West Bengal Chief Minister Bidhan Chandra Roy due to his strict administrative skills and fairness.
- •Beyond India, Sen successfully conducted Sudan's first general election in 1953 as the Chairman of the International Election Commission.
- •In recognition of his stellar contributions to democracy, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1954.
Key Questions Answered
Sukumar Sen was an ICS officer who assumed the responsibility of India's first Chief Election Commissioner on March 21, 1950, after the establishment of the Election Commission.
West Bengal's then-Chief Minister Bidhan Chandra Roy suggested Sukumar Sen's name to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru because he was a strict administrator known for making tough decisions.
In 1953, serving as the Chairman of the International Election Commission, Sukumar Sen successfully conducted the first general election of the African country Sudan.
