Guwahati: Professor Umakanta Deva Sharma Shastri, a renowned expert in Sanskrit, passed away at his home at the age of 83 in Guwahati’s Jalukbari at 12:40 am on Sunday.
Umakanta Deva Sharma is credited with popularising Sanskrit and spirituality among the general public.
Prof. Sharma, Tarka Vyakarana Tirtha, and Vidya Ratna are well-known public speakers who are also famed for their mastery of many epics and for being expert expositors of the Vedas and Puranas.
Prof. Sharma is a renowned national and worldwide expert in Sanskrit who has also authored a number of publications. The professor is known for writing several well-known publications, including Guru Geeta, Prasasti Manjari, Sanataniya Chintan, Bharatiya Chinatanam, Nyaya Parichaya, etc.
One of the well-known and significant works he edited is “Bharatar Natya Shastra.” In addition to this, he over the years published more than 150 well-known pieces on Sanskrit, Vedic literature, and Nyaya philosophy in various newspapers, periodicals, and journals of both national and worldwide repute.
Prof. Sharma was a well-known and well-liked figure on television who popularised Sanskrit and spirituality among the general populace through his straightforward, science-based explanations.
Prof. Sharma, a graduate of the Jagannath Ashram Sanskrit College in Tarakeswar, West Bengal, the Calcutta Government Sanskrit College, the Bisva Bharati Shanti Niketan, the Sonitpur Prachya Vidyalaya in Tezpur, and the Nalbari Sanskrit College in Nalbari, among other institutions, has frequently received scholarships from the governments of Assam, West Bengal, and India.
Prof. Sharma, who retired from Government Sanskrit College, Jalukbari (now known as KK Handique Government Sanskrit College) in 2002 as a professor of Nyaya Darshana (Nyaya Philosophy), is renowned for his mastery of both classical and contemporary Sanskrit literature.
Prof. Sharma was the second child of Mahamahopadhaya Paramacharya Late Ganga Nath Shastri, also a renowned Sanskrit scholar and President of India’s award-winning Sanskrit teacher back in 1983, and Late Parbati Devi. He was born on November 17, 1940 at Jowardi village in Kaithalkuchi in the Nalbari district.
Deva Sharma Umakanta Along with a large number of family members, supporters, pupils, and well-wishers among many others, Shastri leaves behind his wife, two sons, a daughter, and grandchildren.
His last rites will be performed at Bhutnath cremation ground in Guwahati at 4 pm.