Tribute to Prof (Dr) Indu Mohan Das

Dr. Indu Mohan Das, ourbeloved professor of M.Sc. classes during 1967-69, breathed his last on December 13 at the age of 87. He retired as the Dean of Science, Gauhati University, in 1995. He belonged to the distinguished group of teachers of Gauhati University Physics Department, headed by Dr. Paban Chandra Mahanta. We were fortunate to have in our time.

Tall, handsome and serene looking, Prof. Das had a most attractive personality with a pleasing demeanour that endeared him to his students and put them at complete ease before him. Impeccably turned out, he moved along in a steady and dignified gait and with a composed countenance. He was friendly enough to have rendered a ghazal in our Freshers' Social. On the New Year's Day of 1968 he wished us 'Happiness, Health and High marks' during the year by writing a big 'H' on the blackboard. In our farewell meeting he exhorted us to always uphold human values, wherever we may be placed in future life.

He got married when we were in our final tear, and besides helping in the marriage reception at his university quarters, we also proceeded from Jalukbari in a bus as doragharia (groom's party) to the bride's place at Kharghuli, some of us singing biya naam on the way.

I remember to have approached him one day, towards the end of our final year, for a character certificate that I needed urgently for applying to the APSC for a job, there being only two days left for the application to reach APSC at Shillong. After the classes I waited outside his room, not wishing to bother him as the sound of typewriting was coming from his room and I thought him to be otherwise busy with some urgent work. Coming out of the room he handed me two copies of a certificate, neatly typed out by himself. Interestingly, the word 'character' was nowhere in it, but the things he wrote about me were more than enough to 'certify' my character. Enclosing the certificate to my application I hurried to drop it in the university post office. And incidentally, the said application fetched me the job I happened to be doing during my service life.

After his retirement he guided the Aryabhatta Junior Science College for long 25 years from its inception till his demise – first as its founder Principal from 1996 to 2003, then as Rector (Honorary) from 2003 to 2017 and finally as Chairman of Advisory Board from 2018 onwards.

Whenever we happened to meet him in any social gathering he treated us as good old intimate friends well met after long time.

I did not know him as an accomplished actor until a few years back when I was pleasantly surprised to see him on the silver screen in the role of a renowned writer 'Chaliha' in the Assamese movie Maaj Rati Keteki, enacting the role with the same natural grace and poise as we had witnessed in him in real life.

On this auspicious day of his adyashraddha I pay my respectful homage to his memory and pray for eternal peace of his departed soul.

—— Dilip Kumar Neog

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