Nitish K. Sengupta was an Indian civil servant, historian, academic and politician born in Faridpur in 1934. After studying at Presidency College in Calcutta, he joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1957 and later held senior government positions, including Revenue Secretary and Member-Secretary of the Planning Commission. Following his administrative career, he served as Director-General of the International Management Institute in New Delhi and represented West Bengal in the Lok Sabha. He died in New Delhi in 2013.
Sengupta wrote extensively about the political, economic and cultural history of Bengal and modern India. Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib traces the region from its earliest traditions to the creation of Bangladesh, while Bengal Divided examines the partitions of 1905 and 1947 and the growing political division between Bengali Hindus and Muslims. His other works include A History of the Bengali-Speaking People, a biography of Bidhan Chandra Roy and Inside the Steel Frame, a memoir reflecting on the Indian civil service. His books are historical nonfiction rather than historical novels.
