Dr Dilip Kumar Dutta: A person of extraordinary genius!

Dr. Dilip Dutta had brilliant academic records, although he was an all-rounder student, right from his childhood days and, continued to be so, in his post doctoral student period also. Son of Late Phanidhar Dutta, founder Professor of J.B College, Jorhat, also founder Registrar of Gauhati University, who built it up from its very birth and later Vice Chancellor and Late Ratneswari Dutta, a great educator mother, Dr. Dilip Dutta was born at Jorhat in April, 1937.

He had his early education at Tarajan L.P School, Jorhat; Latasil L.P School, Guwahati, M.C.M.E School, Guwahati; and Cotton Collegiate High School, Guwahati. He did B.A.(Hons), from Cotton College, M.A. & Ph.D.(Differential Geometry), from Delhi University, Post Doctoral Fellow at Southampton University, England with British Govt. Fellowship.

In his professional career, Dr. Dutta served the cause of Mathematics as (1) Lecturer, Assam Engg. College, Guwahati, (2) Assistant Professor, University of Calgary, Canada (1965-67), (3) Asstt. Prof. Rhode Island (R.I.) University, USA (1967-73), (4) Associate Prof, URI (1973-81), (5) Full Prof. of URI (1981-2006), (6) Professor Emeritus, URI after retirement till death.

Dr. Dilip Dutta had three distinction of writing the following major books in Maths, which are included as Text Books in Universities in USA, Europe, UK. Etc. (1) Concepts of Geometry (1976), (2) Math Education at its Best: The Potsdam Model (1993), (3) Finite Math For Liberal Arts (1995). He was Reviewer of Mathematical Reviews, Editor of (1) Creative Math Teaching News Letter (1994-1999) and (2) Creative Math Teaching in Grades 7-12 (1995-98). He was also an active Member of many organizations including Mathematical Association of America, Indian Mathematical Society, National council of Teachers of America etc. In addition, Dr. Dutta had nearly 50 research Publications in national and International Journals to his credit.

In Assam, Dr. Dilip Kumar Dutta was known as an ardent lover of Assam and its life, language, culture, ethos etc., besides as a very close associate of Sudhakantha Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, who treated him like his younger brother and with whom he spent considerable time while in America. Dr. Dutta wrote his famous research work in Assamese under the title 'Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Geet & Teuor Jiban Rath'. He also wrote 12 other books in Assamese including biography on Nirmal Prabha Bardoloi, Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad, Sri Sankardev for Children (jointly with late Dhrujyoti Khaund), popular novels made into Cinema- Mane mor Kaina Bichare, Miss Gauhati; historical work- Phalilowa Buranji, Khosa Bindha Buranji. His other books include- Mor Siksha aru mor Sikshak, Paramparagat Sikha aru Aii Pujaneeya, Subha dinar Nirghanta, Premat Pariloneki, Neelar Surabhi Bhangi, Kaliya Daman Naat, etc. Dr. Dilip Dutta's major work in English the Philosophical, Social & Spiritual arena was 'Tales of Western Inspiration and Indian Karma (2005), published in USA.

Dr. Dilip Dutta made notable contribution to Assamese language and literature by restoring a 1400 page multilingual hand written Dictionary by the noted American Baptist missionary Mr. Miles Bronson and later handling it over to Asom Jatiya Abhidhan Prakashan. He also brought to public notice through about the great contribution of Nathan Brown and Miles Bronson to Assamese language, literature & Culture. Dr. Dilip Dutta was the founder President of Asomiya Sahitya Sanmillon, which portfolio he held till his death.

Dr. Dutta made his mark felt in Gauhati University, by instituting Phanidhar Dutta Memorial Annual Lecture Series in the Mathematics department and also by funding the construction of a modern Auditorium in the name of his father, founder Registrar & Vice Chancellor of the University, with the cooperation of University authority. It is worth-mentioning, all these educational institutions and projects he had set up with his own funding, without any State aid, whatsoever.

Dr. Dutta had served Assam also by preparing the first ever Assamese software for computer-Printing- The Dibaru & next Dihing. Considering 'Example is better than Precepts' Dr. Dutta also published the first Assamese book by doing DTP himself in his Macintosh.

Such a versatile & erudite personality like Dr. Dilip Kumar Dutta could have immensely served the cause of education in Assam, had he been appointed as Vice-Chancellor or Chancellor of any of the Universities set up in Assam. Though successive Chief Ministers starting with P.K. Mahanta, Tarun Gogoi and next Sarbananda Sonowal had invited him for meeting & discussing matters (this author is unaware of the subjects), as learnt from him, when I enquired, he informed that no such offer was ever made to him by any of them. Could it be due to the fact of his not being a member of the traditional elites of Assam?

Before closing, I would suggest that, in view of what I have recorded about the versatile qualities and personality of such, an illustrious son of mother Assam, Dr. Dilip Kumar Dutta deserves to be awarded posthumously with an appropriate National/International Award and a Padma award, i.e., Padma Bibhusan by the Central Government.

Finally, on the occasions of his first death anniversary, I offer my respectful homage to Dr. Dilip Kumar Dutta and pray for eternal peace of his departed soul, wherever it has rested. May his dear and near ones, as also his admirers, also pray for him and publicly appreciate and recognize his contribution to the society.

JP Rajkhowa, IAS (Retd.)

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