Professor Bhupal Dutta

Professor Bhupal Dutta
Tilak Raj Dutta, (son of Prof. Dutta), 1981 Mechanical Engineering

Timeline Title Photo: My father with other faculty Professors

The year, 1921 was the Birth Centenary year of my beloved ‘Baba’, I just share my memories & thoughts…

Widely familiar as Professor Bhupal Krishna Dutt of our Mechanical Engineering Department to innumerable ex-student of Bengal Engineering College, Shibpur – for me he stands out as an example of a ‘ Complete Man’

Hailing from a middle class but well-known ‘Dutt family’ of Chittagong (now Bangladesh, but it was East Bengal when he was a student), he graduated as a Gold medallist in Mechanical Engineering from B E College in 1943. Then except for a brief professional tenure in Telco, he served his main passion in teaching for almost 4 decades of period in B.E. College. in ’50s. He completed his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Wisconsin University. A widely travelled person at that point of time to Europe, USA & South- East Asia, he was associated with many specialist Institutes in India & abroad.

In B.E. College, he held the position as Head of Mechanical Department for a considerable period, and also served as Member of the Senate of Calcutta University & visiting professor in Science College. Finally, he super -annuated from B.E. College in the year 1982. Along with his commitments in teaching he was widely known as a patron of sports, and he was frequently seen in the Oval ground of BE College, sitting on a chair and watching students playing. He was also a student’s choice to be the President of B.E. College Athletic club.

Inspite that he was widely known and respected for his recognitions in educational services, his perspective & attitude towards life was for ‘simple living & high thinking’, which he actually practiced. A vociferous reader of books, his interest in varieties of subjects was amazing… Religion, Bengali Literature, National & International affairs, Tourism, Economy, Agriculture, Animal husbandry, Fisheries, Sports, Tailoring – the list is endless. We can understand that his exposures to the world of knowledge & wisdom, had made him so pragmatic, far-sighted, progressive, liberal & open-minded. And as a father he remains a pillar of strength & stood by us in the time of crisis as well as on crucial hours…he was a man of dignity with the principle of holding the head high with subtle disliking for political sycophancy.

My thoughts will be on & on. I realise that I am fortunate to have him as my beloved father, whose noble soul departed us in ’91, but his memories will never die down…