Guwahati, June 9: Basudev Chatterji, an eminent historian and former chairperson of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) who fell in love with Guwahati and made it his hometown, has passed away.

Among his other accomplishments, Chatterji is known for his three-volume book Towards Freedom 1938: Documents on the Movement for Independence in India. The series on the country's freedom struggle is considered a major contribution to history writing.

"Chatterji, 69, passed away at 3pm yesterday at his residence in the city's Hengerabari area," said Uttam Bathari, deputy director of the Northeast regional centre of the ICHR who knew Chatterji closely.

Chatterji was cremated this afternoon at Navagraha Crematorium.

Chatterji was the 20th chairperson of the ICHR , a post earlier held by personalities like R.S. Sharma, A.R. Kulkarni and Irfan Habib. Chatterji was chairman of the institution from 2011 to 2014.

He was born in 1948 at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh to N.P. Chatterji, a former IAS officer, and his wife, Shanti. He remained a bachelor throughout his life.

Chatterji did his bachelors and masters from St Stephen's College under Delhi University in 1968 and 1970 respectively. He got a PhD from Cambridge University in 1978. He taught in St Stephen's College, Hyderabad University and Delhi University. He retired as the head of the history department of Delhi University.

"Chatterji had come to Assam when he was the chairperson of the ICHR. He fell in love with the state for its greenery and simple-minded people. After his term at ICHR ended, Chatterji taught at IIT Guwahati for two years. Then he started living in the city's Hengerabari area," said Rajib Handique, a professor at Gauhati University's history department.

"Chatterji was an authority on the economic history of modern India. It was the main subject of his research. His research paper Trade, tariffs and empire: Lancashire and British Policy in India 1919-1939 was published in 1992. Towards Freedom 1938 was one of the valuable books edited by Chatterji. Besides, he had edited Themes in Indian History along with Romila Thapar and C.A. Bayly," Handique said.

Writer Tilottoma Misra was a classmate of Chatterji. "He was an exceptionally brilliant student and very progressive in his outlook. During his student days, he was very active in student politics and student activities," she told The Telegraph.

"Ever since he came to Guwahati, he was not keeping well. But he refused to go back to Delhi where all his relatives are. We met him a few months ago. We often talked over the phone. He often invited us to his home. He was also a very good cook," Misra said.

Anita Banerji, a niece of Chatterji who arrived here with a few relatives today, said that he was a perfectionist.