Obituary – Shyamal Kumar Dhar, 1961 Electrical Engineering

Obituary – Shyamal Kumar Dhar, 1961 Electrical Engineering
Presented by Syama Prasad Dutta, 1967 Civil Engineering.

শ্যামল কুমার ধর, ১৯৬১ সালের বি ই কলেজের স্নাতক, ছদ্মনামে অতীন্দ্রিয় পাঠক ছিলেন। সমসাময়িক বাঙালি লেখক, প্রাবন্ধিক এবং গবেষক। বাংলা সাহিত্য, বুদ্ধিবৃত্তিক ইতিহাস এবং বিশিষ্ট লেখকদের জীবন ও কর্ম নিয়ে তাঁর একাধিক গ্রন্থ এবং প্রবন্ধ প্রকাশিত হয়েছে। তাঁর উল্লেখযোগ্য কয়েকটি কাজের মধ্যে রয়েছে:”অনন্য জীবনানন্দ”: জীবনানন্দ দাশের জীবন ও সৃষ্টিকর্মের ওপর একটি বিশ্লেষণাত্মক গ্রন্থ। “নবজাগরণ বিশ্বের পশ্চিমে ও পূর্বে”: একটি সমাজ ও বুদ্ধিবৃত্তিক ইতিহাসের তুলনামূলক পর্যালোচনা। উনার লেখা সাধারণত সাহিত্য সমালোচনা, প্রবন্ধ এবং মননশীল সাহিত্যের অন্তর্ভুক্ত।

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From Dilip Bhattacharya, 1961 Electrical Engineering
I am a 1961 EE alumnus.
Shyamal was one of my closest friends from the college days to 2025 when I met him last. Apart from his literary talent he was also an essential and captivating member in our friendly আড্ডাs.
During our third year in college he set up an unofficial mock university in his room in the McDonald Hall to study Indian philosophy. He was really an authentic teacher of Indian philosophy and comparative religion and I had my fundamental concepts of Indian philosophy from him. He favored us with copies of almost all his books. Sometimes when he would ask for comments on the last book he had given someone would say এই, পড়া ধরবি না কিন্তু and we would have a good laugh over it! He had a great sense of humor.
Once a friend was talking to him about a past event where an apparent friend of his had betrayed and harmed Shyamal and this friend was blaming that person. But Shyamal would not blame him saying that it was his own fault that he couldn’t anticipate his bad behavior and take proper care. I learned a valuable guiding principle from him ln that ‘don’t blame others for what happens to you. You are responsible for what happens to you’. To me it’s কর্মফল in this life, not any imaginary afterlife.
What a shocking sad news his demise is!
RIP my friend.

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From Shyamal Kumar Mitra, 1967 Civil Engineering
It is painful to know that Shyamal da is no longer with us physically. He endeared himself as a simple and loving dada who lived his life as per his ideal without any fanfare. He will be missed by many. I cannot forget him quietly entering my office with a side bag from which he would take out a few books written or published by him and lay it on the table without any haste. He would spend a little time discussing something in the writings and leave with a polite request to let him know about the writing after reading it. He was one of the vanishing breed of middleclass Bhadraloks West Bengal used to produce once. Adieu Shyamal da.

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From Syama Prasad Datta, 1967 Civil Engineering
I am deeply shocked to learn about passing away of Shyamal Kumar Dhar, 1961 Electrical Engineering, on 30.05.2026 evening. A prolific engineer writer, Shyamal’da used to write regularly since College Days in the name ATINDRIYA PATHAK. He was very popular as a writer but very few in the literary circle were knowing that he was Shyamal Kumar Dhar and was an engineer. He worked in WBSEB. He was well respected there and once became the President of WBSEB Engineers Association.

He was a favourite student of Prof. Sankar Kumar Sen. As Power Minister Prof. Sen liked Shyamal’da for his professional competence and administrative capability. In spite of insistence of Prof. Sen considering career prospect of Shyamal’da, he chose to go by the decision of his Association. Finally, he chose to resign from service forgoing his service benefits.

He was an active member of B E College Ex-Students’ Club. Club Library started with his initiative. He steered the library for quite a long time and made it vibrant. He started literary programs in the club on regular basis, used to make excellent contributions with his pen in Club Annual and Alumni Link of GAABESU. I was fortunate to get copies of some of his books including his autobiography.

Shyamal’da was not keeping well for quite sometime but used to visit Club in some of programmes.
I will miss this simple person with immense capabilities, pleasing personality. My respect to my dear Shyamal da.

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Extremely sad to know demise of Syamal da. He was also a renowned Bengali litterateur with pen name অতীন্দ্রিয় পাঠক.
His great contribution to the club, development of the club library with the help of late Amal da, late Tapas da and other dada-s. I remember the great adda of those days, held at library where Syamal da was মধ্যমণি, discussing topics on literature, politics, history etc.
Shyamal da, you always remain at our heart. Good bye.
– Jiban Chowdhury ‘68 Electrical Engineering

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I am shocked to hear.
He helped me immensely when my brother was planning to publish a book B E COLLEGE- E 5 BACHAR.
I was not knowing anything about this publication world. He spent considerable time, got me introduced with his publication team and even took the trouble of 1st proof checking.
He was a nice friendly person, always ready to help.
May his soul rest in peace.
– Dipta Sundar Mallick ‘74 Civil Engineering.

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সাহিত্যে ছিলেন সাধক, জীবনচর্যায় সন্নাসীসুলভ মনের মানুষ। আমার প্রাথমিক কর্মক্ষেত্র বিদ্যুৎ দপ্তরে যখন ঢুকি, তখন তিনি সাহিত্যের জন্য অবসর বেছে নিচ্ছেন। আলাপ হয় কবি ও সম্পাদক পবিত্র মুখোপাধ্যায়ের সূত্রে। তখন থেকে তাঁর লেখার ভক্ত ছিলাম। স্বল্পভাষী সদামগ্ন মানুষটি ছিলেন যেন কোলাহলের ওপারে দূরের খেয়ার যাত্রী। তার প্রতিধ্বনি থাকে আজীবন লেখার অনুচ্চকিত সত্য উচ্চারণে ও পরীক্ষাধর্মী নির্মাণে।
– Joy Chakrobarty.

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