Bhaskar Bhattacharyya

He was as suave with atomic energy as he was with Asterix. Bhaskar Bhattacharyya, the director-general (DG) of the Directorate-General of Mines Safety, who died on October 26 in a mishap in the Andamans, was, quite literally, a master of all trades.

His body was consigned to flames on October 28, his birthday, in Dhanbad, amid a huge gathering of friends, relatives, well-wishers and colleagues.

Son of the late Bamodeb Bhattacharjee and Shuhasini Debi, Bhattacharyya, who was born in Shillong in 1950, was the youngest of six brothers and sisters. His father was a professor at St Anthony’s and St Mary’s College in Shillong while his mother was a teacher in a government girls’ school.

Bhattacharyya completed his pre-university from St Anthony’s and later joined the Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad, for a B.Tech in mining. He served in various capacities across the country before he became the DG.

Bhattacharyya not only scaled the summit in his profession, but was also loved and respected by friends and family members alike.

Elder son Debadeep fondly recollects: “Father treated me like a man as he wanted me to take bigger responsibilities whereas my younger brother was more like a kid to him,” he said in a hushed tone. Debadeep also dwelt at length on his father’s varied interests. “Though a mining engineer, he was interested in atomic energy and was about to deliver a speech on atomic safety at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Subjects like occupational health and management of an organisation also interested him,” Debadeep added.

While for brother-in-law K.P. Ray, who knew Bhattacharyya since his pre-university days, the DG was a “friend in need”, sister Rama Ray hung on to the memories of a fond brother.

Youngest brother-in-law Manojit Bhattacharjee, assistant district judge at Burdwan in Bengal, recalled the DG’s love for comic like Asterix and Tintin. “He once asked me to take Asterix seriously,” Manojit said. Nephew Binayak Bhatacharjee also recalled another moment with his uncle that lights up his memories. “Once, uncle came to my hostel in Shillong like a warden on a surprise inspection. We were caught unaware. I shall never forget that day,” Binayak said.

As memories rolled on, deputy director-general of DGMS central zone, Rahul Guha, also Bhattacharyya’s junior in college, summed up the mood of bereavement for a “man of principles”. “He was a human being before anything else,” he said.