GUWAHATI, Dec 7 - Former captain of the Assam Santosh Trophy team, Dr Sarat Dutta passed away at the Apollo Hospital here this morning. He was 92. A leading physician, Dr Dutta was a former professor and head of the Department of Urology, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. A true sportsperson, Dr Dutta was also associated with tennis and was an official of the India Club.
During the late 1940s and 1950s he was regarded as one of the best footballers of the State and played as a left winger and was able to draw attention of the Calcutta giants. In a series of exhibition matches played at Dibrugarh and Digboi, playing for Dibrugarh XI he not only enthralled the crowd but also created havoc for the visiting teams like East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting, among others. After completing his MBBS in 1954, Dr Dutta was handed the captaincy of the Assam Santosh Trophy team in 1955. In the Ernakulam edition of the championship that year Assam managed to make it to the semifinal stage beating Bombay � riding on the solitary lone goal netted by him.
Dr Dutta was also a former District Governor of Lions Club International 322-D, Melvin Jones Fellow of Lions Club International, former president of Guwahati Mental Welfare Society, Member of the Pensioners� Association and former president of India Club, Guwahati.�
He was also a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences, Assam. The State Government honoured him with Sports Pension.
Organisations like Guwahati Lawn Tennis Association, Assam Football Association, Guwahati Sports Association, among others condoled the demise of Dr Dutta. He leaves behind two sons and a daughter. As per an India Club source his last rites will be performed on Wednesday.
