My father (Bapi), Dr. Sarat Chandra Dutta, pioneer urologist of Assam and former Professor and Head of Department of Urology, Gauhati Medical College & Hospital breathed his last on December 7 at Apollo Hospital in Guwahati. Predeceased by his wife, Dr. Deepali Dutta, Bapi was 92 years old.
Eldest son of Late Dhaneswar and Late Prabhabati Dutta, Bapi completed his MBBS from Assam Medical College in 1954 followed by training in Urology in the UK. He was awarded a fellowship in General Surgery by Royal College of Edinburg in 1964. In 1973, Bapi founded and established the Department of Urology in Gauhati Medical College, the first in northeast India.
Bapi was an avid and reputed sportsperson, having dedicated his youth and early college years to football. In 1955, he captained the Assam football team in Santosh trophy and led his team into the semi-finals with a historic goal that he himself had scored for his team. His passion for the game, his clever and consistent play, earned him the reputation as one of the most respected footballers of Assam and northeast India.
Bapi’s pride in sports was encompassing and deep; he never having missed a single World Cup game of football or cricket or a Grand Slam event. His love for the game of tennis was well known. He was a regular fixture on the tennis courts of India Club and served as a life member and President of this esteemed club. He mentored countless promising young footballers, shared his passion for sports with generations of people and local organizations over the years.
A recognized sports pensioner, he was also a selection committee member of sports pension, Assam and leveraged his professional expertise to become a committed ambassador of sports medicine in Assam.
The spirit of giving and service was synonymous with Bapi and Ma. They dedicated their lives to community service establishing or serving local organizations that focused on social issues and welfare. Both were dedicated members of Lions Club International with Bapi serving as a District Governor, District 322-D in 1990-91 and recognized as a Melvin Jones Fellow. He was an honorary life member of several local and national organizations including the Indian Medical Association and Urological Society of India.
In February 2020, Bapi was conferred the lifetime achievement award by Srimanta Sankardeva University of Health Sciences, Assam for his outstanding contributions and commitment to the field.
Bapi leaves behind an illustrious and incredibly rich legacy of accomplishments. A quintessential family man, he was the beloved ‘Bapi’ to everyone, the revered patriarch of his family, who was fondly known for his humility, joviality, progressiveness, compassion and his constant demands for ‘sumas’ (kisses) from his nieces, nephews and grandkids in equal measure.
Bapi’s Adya Shraddha is on 17th December, ie today; I along with my brothers, Dr. Eamon Kalyan Dutta, Sumon Kalyan Dutta and our extended family and a host of relatives tearfully bid him goodbye for his eternal rest in his heavenly abode.