Death is a shout of silent breathe
I shall reside in your airy heath
You will be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
This journey of life has been a pray
Nothing is hurt and nothing is lost
A brief moment that will soon exhaust
For this is a journey, we all must intake
We shall laugh at the parting ways
For we will meet again
I am the soft star that will remain
And if a tear starts to fall
I shall catch it through it all
I am with you when the times are good
To share a laugh or two
I shall be with you when the times are bad
To reminiscence the memories we once had
Forever may be less for the days we spent together
This life will not be our last adventure
– Poulami Mondal
Bidding adieu to Prof. Debabrata Sen, retired faculty member at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur who served the institution from 1966 until 1986 in a paradigm of portfolios. A survivor of the territorial partition of India, Prof. Sen joined the institute as a professor at the department of Chemistry. He overcame all the hurdles of life and finally found his roots in Bengal. After having a tryst with destiny in the Partition of Bengal, Prof. Sen finally got his silver lining by pursuing academia. Hailing from a modest family background, his journey of life is an inspiration to all of us to make a life with just the basics. On February 28, 2023, Dr. Debabrata Sen, former professor at IIT Kharagpur, breathed his last at his residence in Kolkata.
Prof. Debabrata Sen, Ph.D, DSc.
Former Professor in Department of Chemistry
(1925-2023)
The journey of Professor Sen from Chittagong, Bangladesh (then part of undivided India) to IIT Kharagpur is a chronicle of how education became the survival tool for a well-settled middle class family which was uprooted and devastated by the Partition of India in 1947. Surviving on scholarships and generous relatives in Kolkata, he completed his doctoral degree from Calcutta University under Professor Priyada Ranjan Roy.
His Post-Doctoral studies took him to the United States of America in 1951 – first to Pennsylvania State University and then on to University of California at Berkeley. He returned to India in 1954 to join the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre at Trombay as one of the early group of scientists to set up India’s Nuclear Programme. In 1958, he joined Jadavpur University to engage in teaching and research.
In 1966, he joined the Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, as a professor and served in various capacities until his retirement in 1986. Professor Sen has been the Head of the Department of Chemistry, Dean of Planning and Coordination and a nominated member of the Board of Governors among the others.
He also headed the Rubber Technology Centre for a brief period during 1981-1982 as the first Head. Professor Sen returned to the United States as a visiting faculty at Brigham Young University, Utah, and was also DAAD Fellow at the University of Heidelberg, Germany.
“Prof D. Sen, former professor & first head of Rubber Technology Center has left for his heavenly abode on 1st March, 2023. He was about 97 years. He was a simple and a cordial academician, who was widely respected among his students and colleagues. We pray for eternal peace for the departed soul & also pray Almighty to provide enough strength to overcome this huge loss & void in the lives of his family members, other near & dear ones,” said Prof. Ramgopal Maddali, Dean Faculty & Engineering & Architecture (FoEA).
Professor Sen is survived by his wife Mrs. Sukla Sen, his three sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren, and leaves behind a rich legacy of academic work, students and people who will cherish his memories always.
In remembrance of “The Lost Heart”, IIT KGP fraternity mourns in sadness after hearing the news of his demise. Our sincere condolences to his bereaved family. May almighty give enough strength to his family to bear this irreplaceable loss. We pray for eternal peace of his departed soul. He will always be remembered in our thoughts, prayers and action.
Inputs by: Prof. Dr. Kinsuk Naskar, Professor & Chairperson, Rubber Technology Centre, IIT Kharagpur
Email: knaskar@rtc.iitkgp.ac.in
Edited by : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007
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