Mukunda Madhava Sharma passes away STAFF Reporter GUWAHATI, NOV 20 – Eminent Indologist and scholar Prof Mukunda Madhava Sharma passed away at his Guwahati residence around 11 am today. He was 75 and leaves behind his wife and three daughters besides a host of relatives.
Prof Sharma had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for some time.
An internationally-acclaimed Sanskrit scholar, Prof Sharma made wide-ranging contributions to Sanskrit literature, especially in the realms of poetry and poetics, history and epigraphy. A prolific writer and an accomplished critic, he authored 43 books besides over 260 research papers and articles in Sanskrit, English, Assamese, Bengali and Hindi. During his two-year stay in Indonesia from 1983 to 1985 as Visiting Professor in Udayana University, Bali, he mastered Bahasa and wrote a book in that language.
A few of his renowned books are Inscriptions of Ancient Assam, Rajataranginir Galpa, Assamese for All, Karpuramanjari, The Dhvani Theory in Sanskrit Poetics, Sankaradeva, Bhavabhuti aru Sanskrit Sahityat Teor Thai, etc.
Born in Dibrugarh on March 1, 1934, Prof Sharma passed matriculation from the Jorhat Government Boys’ High School in 1948 with distinction in Sanskrit and Assamese. After graduating from the JB College, Jorhat, in 1952, he did his MA from Calcutta University and ‘Kavyatirtha’ from Vangiya Sanskrit Parishad, both in 1954. He added the Ph.D and D.Litt degrees from Calcutta University in 1963 and 1970 respectively.
Prof Sharma was the founder teacher of the Dept of Sanskrit, Gauhati University (GU). He was also the Dean of Faculty of Arts of GU in 1983 and also served it as acting Vice Chancellor in 1988. He joined Dibrugarh University as Vice Chancellor in 1992 and after retiring from there he joined Tezpur University as Guest professor for five months from August 1997. Subsequently, he held the Vivekananda Chair for Vedic Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya, before returning to his native land on health grounds in 1999.
A UGC National lecturer in Sanskrit, Prof Sharma was also the Cultural Coordinator of GU for six years since 1986.
“A Sanskritist from school level to research level, Prof Sharma rendered pioneering service for propagation of Sanskrit and noble thoughts of the Indian cultural tradition in the North-east. He gave the lead in the broadcast of Sanskrit lessons in Assamese and radio presentation of original Sanskrit plays from the Guwahati centre of All India Radio,” noted Sanskrit scholar Dr Ashok Kumar Goswami, who also wrote a book on Prof Sharma, said.
A proficient verse writer in Sanskrit, Prof Sharma penned a number of Prasastis (Manapatras) in pleasant classical metres. Prof Sharma also succeeded in inspiring research by scores of students, and 13 students received PhD under his guidance.
The distinguished educationist with 46 years of teaching and research experience was the recipient of many awards. The list includes Certificate of Honour from the President of India (1988), Distinguished Service Gold Medal from the Governor of Assam (1993), Aunudoram Barooah Award by the Aunudoram Barooah Institute of Language, Art and Culture, Krishnakanta Handique Sahitya Award by Asam Sahitya Sabha, Krishnakanta Handique Memorial Award by the Government of Assam (2008), Sadasya Mahiyan by Asam Sahitya Sabha, among others.
Prof Sharma also participated in a host of national and international conferences, delivering scholarly lectures.
Prof’s Sharma’s residence was today visited by a large number of people including distinguished personalities from various walks of life who paid their last respects to the great scholar.
His last rites were performed at a widely-attended ceremony at the Navagraha crematorium.
The Asam Sahitya Sabha has mourned the death of Prof Sharma. In a statement, the Sabha said that the State had lost a great scholar who enriched literature in different ways.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was among the first to condole Prof Sharma’s death. In a condolence message, the Chief Minister said that his death was an irreparable loss for the State.
The BJP, AGP, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee and many other parties and organizations have mourned Prof Sharma’s death.
