DIBRUGARH, Aug 6 - Internationally acclaimed scholar and educationist Professor Emeritus Amaresh Datta breathed his last around 7:50 am today at his residence in Naliapool here. He was 102.
The luminary was accorded full state honours on his funeral this afternoon. His mortal remains were consigned to flames at Chowkidinghee crematorium. Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Rameswar Teli, Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan, Deputy Commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha and Superintendent of Police Sreejith T attended the funeral, among others.
Condoling the scholar�s demise, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal tweeted: �Deeply saddened by the demise of Professor Emeritus Dr Amaresh Datta, a stalwart of modern education in India and renowned scholar of the region. His contribution towards enriching English literature in the nation is immense. My heartfelt condolences to his family & friends.�
Professor Datta, was honoured with honorary DLitt degrees by Dibrugarh University and Assam University, Silchar. He was born in 1919 in a small town called Iswarshree in Karimganj district.
As per inputs from the Department of English, Dibrugarh University here, Professor Datta joined the Department of English, Gauhati University as Reader in 1960. From 1964 to 1980 he served the department as Professor and also as the Head of the Department. He joined the Department of English, Dibrugarh University as Professor in 1980 and served as the Head of the Department till 1984.
An erudite scholar on Shakespearean studies, critic and poet, Professor Datta was the chief editor of Encyclopaedia of Indian Literatures (1987), published by Sahitya Akademi. Prof Datta�s book titled Shakespeare�s Tragic Vision and Art (1963) received the highest accolade from eminent scholars and critics like G Wilson Knight, EMW Tillyard and others. He also received many accolades from both national and international organisations and academic institutions for his work. He visited the Soviet Union in 1987 as a member of the Government of India cultural delegation.
He also penned a novel in Bengali titled Banaprastha. His anthology of poems titled Captive Moments (1952) was published by Michigan University Press and it received critical acclaim and appreciation and bagged a prestigious award from the International Association of Poetry in Rome.
In recognition of his valuable contribution to art, literature and culture, Professor Datta was felicitated and honoured with many awards, the Krishna Kanta Handiqui National Award (2018) and Saraswat Sanman (2016) being among the recent ones.
Several organisations including the Asam Sahitya Sabha, Dibrugarh district, Dibrugarh Sahitya Sabha and the media fraternity here have expressed grief at the demise of the celebrated scholar. He leaves behind his wife and five sons.
