GUWAHATI, Jan 2 – Noted educationist and writer Smt Nilima Dutta wife of late Bhabananda Dutta breathed her last at her residence in the Kharghuli area of the city due to heart attack at around 11.45 am today. She was 76. Born at Silghat in Nagaon district in 1925, Smt Dutta was a brilliant student from her early years and received scholarship in both primary and ME examinations. She passed the matriculation examination from Panbazar Girls High School in first division with distinction in Geography and Sanskrit in 1941. She passed the IA examination from Handique Girls College in first division with highest mark in Logic in Calcutta University in 1943. Smt Dutta passed the BA examination from Ashutosh College with honours in Philosophy and completed her post graduation from Calcutta University in 1947. She also passed the Tamil Certificate Course from the Gauhati University in 1981.
Smti Dutta started her teaching career in the Department of Philosophy in the Handique Girls College and later joined the Gauahti University, from where she retired. Smti Dutta also excelled in literary works and authored a number of books. The cremation will take place at the Nabagraha Cremation ground tomorrow. Some of her major published works include Child Psychology, Mahapurush Sankaradeva, Narir Mukti, story of Philosophy (translation of will Durant’), Indian Philosophy, A quest in Philosophy, Akash Banti, Saila Sikhar, Seujia Samai (these three are novels), Luitare Pani Jabi O’ Boi (biographical), Sesh nai and Andhakup (these two are collection of her poems).
Besides, she also edited four books written by her husband Late Bhabananda Dutta on various topics. She also wrote 300 articles for different magazines and weeklies in Assamese, English and Bengali. She also prepared nine research papers on various subjects and presided over the 1977, session of the Lekhika Samaroh, 1978 session of the Lekhika Santha and the 1977 session of the Kamrup Sahitya Parishad. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, Sri Tarun Gogoi has condoled the death of Smti Dutta and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul. In a release here today, Sri Gogoi said at Smti Dutta’s death, the State has lost a prominent educationist and philosopher. The Cultural Affairs Minister Smti Hemoprova Saikia, Health Minister, Dr Bhumidhar Barman, the Publication Board, Assam, and the Assam Academy have also condoled the death of the noted writer and educationist.