S.K. Mukherjee

Ranchi, March 12: Vice-chancellor of BIT, Mesra, Sanat Kumar Mukherjee (56), died of bronchitis pneumonia at Apollo Hospital in Calcutta around 8.50am today.

Mukherjee is survived by his wife Sudipta and sons Sandeep and Ranadeep. Sandeep is pursuing his MTech at Jadavpur University while Ranadeep is studying engineering at Calcutta University.

Condoling his death, chief minister Madhu Koda and Governor Syed Sibtey Razi expressed profound grief and said the state would miss a dedicated academician like him.

Doctors at Apollo Group’s Abdur Razzaque Ansari Memorial Weavers’ Hospital in Ranchi had diagnosed him with the ailment on February 23 when he was first admitted there after complaining of respiratory poblems, said BIT additional registrar A.K. Jha.

“Mukherjee was shifted to the intensive care unit on February 26 and was put on a ventilator. The next day he was flown to Calcutta, where his condition did not improve. He succumbed to his illness today,” added Jha.

Loved and respected by peers and students, Mukherjee’s death left the Mesra campus in shock. P. Thyani, director of BIT, Mesra’s overseas centre in Rasalkhema (Dubai), who was in Ranchi on an offcial visit, said, “He was a thorough gentleman and well-read too.”

Mukherjee’s birthday was on March 15 and he would have celebrated it like he always did: by working. A.K. Jha, additional registrar, said his demise had created a “vacuum” at BIT, Mesra.

Mukherjee was credited with bringing about several improvements in BIT. He was recently nominated president of the Association of India Universities which led him to sign an MoU with French universities on January 26, in the presence of French President Nicholas Sarkozy.

Among those who attended the funeral held in Calcutta were BIT vice-chancellor (emeritus) H.C. Pandey and acting VC P.K. Bahrai.