SILCHAR, Aug 28 - Rich tributes were paid to Purnendu Shekhar Bhattacharjee, the first registrar of Assam University Silchar who passed away on August 21 at a local hospital after battling with cancer. He was 78.
Recollecting the contributions of Bhattacharjee for the university, Prof Jayanta Bhushan Bhattacharjee, the first Vice-Chancellor of the university said, �it was because of his dedication and commitment that we could go ahead with the chores of the central university during those trying days. We had gone by the acts and statutes of the central varsity, maintaining cordial relations with the State Government and people of the constituent area of the institution. He was an officer from the Assam Government on deputation and I could see the determination in him to work for long hours. Everything is history now. The person who worked like a great general is gone forever,� Prof Bhattacharjee told The Assam Tribune as he recollected a moment from their last meeting during a programme at the university in 2018.
Bhattacharjee did his schooling from Ramkrishnagar in Karimganj district before moving to Shillong for higher studies. As the first registrar of the central university in southern Assam, Bhattacharjee had played a key role in the growth of the institution. He was also a former Assam Civil Service officer and had worked at various places of North East including Mizoram besides rendering duties as ADC (Health) of Kamrup district, sources informed.
Teachers and staff of the university along with members from different associations paid their tributes and expressed deep condolences on the demise of Bhattacharjee.
Prof Dilip Chandra Nath, Vice-Chancellor of the university also paid his tributes saying that the illustrious works of Bhattacharjee for the development of the varsity shall continue to inspire the administrative and academic workforce. He termed the demise of the former registrar as a great loss to the fraternity and informed that they are thinking of coming up with some measures at the university as a befitting tribute to the personality.
Veteran journalist Atin Das and chief advisor of the All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students� Association (ACKHSA) Rupam Nandi Purakayastha also condoled the demise of Bhattacharjee.
He is survived by his wife Aparna Bhattacharjee and two sons Prasenjit and Pralajit Bhattacharjee.