Guwahati, 23rd October: Assam mourned the loss of eminent scholar, linguist, singer, and poet Birendra Nath Datta, who passed away on October 23 at Dispur Hospital in Guwahati. When he passed away, he was 88 years old.
While Datta had been enduring a prolonged illness, the specific cause of his demise has not yet been disclosed.
Born on March 1, 1935, in Nagaon, Assam, Birendra Nath Datta established himself as a prolific writer, authoring numerous scholarly books on folklore, culture, and literature. His academic journey commenced in 1957 when he took on the role of a lecturer at B Borooah College. In subsequent years, he served as the Principal of several esteemed institutions, including Pramathesh Barua College in Gauripur, Goalpara College, and Pandu College.
Datta’s dedication to scholarship was further highlighted by his attainment of a Ph.D. in folklore from Gauhati University in 1974. His impressive career at Gauhati University spanned nearly four decades until his retirement in 1995.
Despite retiring, upon request, he continued to share his expertise as a professor in the Department of Traditional Culture and Art Forms at Tezpur University.
In addition to his scholarly achievements, Birendra Nath Datta’s literary contributions earned him recognition. He was honored with the 12th Jagaddhatri-Harmohan Das Literary Award for his work titled “Sankar Madhavar Manisha Aru Asomar Sanaskritic Uttaradhikar.”
Datta’s talents extended beyond academia, as he was a gifted vocalist and songwriter. His compositions enriched the world of Assamese music, leaving a lasting legacy that combines his academic prowess and creative expressions.