A tribute to Dr Tarakeswar Kataki

Cruel death snatched away Dr. Tarakeswar Kataki; our dearest friend on that fateful day of 9th March; 2021 at about 11.30 a. m. at his residence at Sarbeswar Kataki Path; Chatrakar; Uzan Bazar; Guwahati.

Born on March 1; 1942; Tarakeswar was the fourth son of Late Sarbeswar Kataki. Right from his school days that started from Chenikuthi L.P. School through Cotton Collegiate School and Cotton College and Gauhati University; Tarakeswar could show his academic brilliance all along. After passing his M.Sc. in Geology from Gauhati University; he joined Arya Vidyapith as a lecturer for some time. Thereafter, he joined NEHU Shillong for

some time. Then he joined Dibrugarh University as a Professor of Applied Geology. His teaching experience continued for 38 long years in applied Geology; Sedimentology; Geochemistry; Mineral Exploration including Oil and Gas.

During his academic career Tarakeswar obtained various awards and scholarships which are mentioned below:

a) Obtained Assam Oil Company Scholarship for Postgraduate study.

b) Obtained Assam Government Overseas Scholarship for higher Studies in Canada in Mineral Exploration at McGILL University in the year 1965.

c) Selected under Colombo plan to serve in Tribhuvan University; Nepal.

Details of Research and other Experiences:

* Published about 60 scientific papers related to mineral Resources (including Oil) of North Eastern India in various National and International Papers. * Completed one Interdisciplinary Research project on "Studies of Coal and Clay Resources of N. E. India" sponsored by Central Scientific and Industrial Research; Government of India.

* He was associated with the functioning of Centre of Relevance and excellence center established by the technology information forecasting and assessment Council of DST in Petroleum technology Deptt. Dibrugarh University.

* University Grants Commission awarded him "Emeritus Professorship" tenable at Gauhati University.

The news of the sad and sudden demise of Dr. Tarakeswar Kataki; one of the brightest luminaries in the educational firmament of Assam; has come upon his friends and family members as a veritable bolt from the blue. It seems as if the heavens themselves blazoned forth the death of such a hero. A "hero" he may rightly be called; as he struggled against overwhelming odds in his academic career as well as in his worldly life and achieved distinctions of which any society can be proud.

Let the life and work of Dr. Tarakeswar Kataki serve as a perennial source of inspiration to the students of today who are the citizens of tomorrow; as well as to generations yet unborn.

May his soul rest in peace.

– Kapoor Chand Jain

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