Educationist and poet passes away

From our Staff Correspondent

Dibrugarh, March 7:  Former Head of Zoology Department, Dibru College, a versatile writer and poet and popular Science teacher, Dr Ashit Dutta breathed his last on Tuesday. His death cast a pall of gloom among the people of Dibrugarh. People from all walks of life visited his residence from morning to pay their last respect to departed soul. Dr Dutta was 72.

He is survived by wife, daughter, brother, sister-in-law, nephew and a host of his admirers.

Born in 1945 at Santi Tea Estate in Dibrugarh district,  Dr Dutta completed his school and college education in Dibrugarh and later went to Gauhati University where from he obtained Master and Ph. D degree in Zoology.

Starting his career as a Demonstrator of Zoology in DHSK College here, Dr Dutta joined Dibru College as the founder of the Zoology Department. Under his guidance and hard labour,  the Zoology department of the college got its present shape.

Dr Dutta , a die-hard cultural activist was a stage actor. He was the founder of Sanskriti, a cultural organization which once earned the credit of producing several poets and writer in Dibrugarh. The members of Sanskriti were celebrities like Dr Jogi Raj Basu, Bangovinda Parampanthi, Taffazul Ali and many others. He authored a number of books like Kritadas, Chabi O Chayapath and others.  Dr Dutta was the editor of Mas, the mouth piece of Nikhil Bharat Banga Xahitya.

His poems, short stories in general, and scientific articles in particular were published in various tiol and intertiol jourls and magazines. Dr Dutta, secretary of Assam Science Society, was closely associated with several organizations. His last rites were performed on Tuesday at the Chowkidinghi cremation ground amidst presence of a large number of admirers, besides family members. His death was widely condoled by several organizations.