GUWAHATI, June 5 - Noted academician, critic, translator and writer Prof Prafulla Kotoky is no more. According to family sources, Kotoky breathed his last at a city hospital around 11-45 am today. He was hospitalized about one week back, following a fall which resulted in his brain hemorrhage. He was 86.
Prof Kotoky, a former Head of the Department of English, Gauhati University, was a well-known name in the academic as well as the literary world of the country. He was inducted as member in their respective academic councils by several universities of the country. He guided over 20 research scholars in conducting their Ph D research works. He retired from GU in mid-1995.
He has around 50 books to his credit and these include his translations of the works of famous authors like Bertrand Russell, Pearl S Buck, Samuel Smiles, Andre Maurois and Walt Whitman, among others. He translated Mamoni Roisom Gowsami�s Nilakanthi Braja into English. His English translations were instrumental in many Assamese authors� winning laurels from the institutions like the Sahitya Akademi.
Prof Kotoky, a Sahitya Akademi award winner for translation, was also a core member of the Jnanpeeth Akademi, which confers the coveted Jnanpeeth Award to the leading litterateurs of the country. Besides, he was also a resource person for the Sahitya Akademi.
Samarthak Sabdakoch is his magnum opus. His critical works include the highly acclaimed Swarajottar Asamiya Upanyasar Dhara. He introduced the indomitable Sarmistha Pritam of Assam to the rest of the world by translating her autobiographical book Atmo-Katha into English (Sun on my face).
He leaves behind his wife, a son, two daughters and a host of relatives. His last rites were performed at the Navagraha cremation ground here this evening.
The Gauhati University Department of English has mourned the death of Prof Kotoky and its faculty members conveyed their condolences to his bereaved family.
