Dr Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta was among Dhaka University's most distinguished educationists—an intellectual shaped by liberal, secular, and humanist ideals. Born in Mymensingh to a family of teachers, he demonstrated exceptional academic promise, graduating first in his class from Dacca University in 1942. He joined the Department of English in 1949 and soon became a guiding force within the university community.
Throughout the 1950s, he co-edited the journal New Values, championing rational thought, ethical humanism, and cultural openness. After completing his PhD at King's College London in 1967, he returned to Dhaka University as a dedicated teacher and scholar, later serving as provost of Jagannath Hall.
On the night of 25 March 1971, Pakistani soldiers dragged him from his flat at 34/A in the university residential quarters and shot him repeatedly in the back. Left bleeding under curfew, he lay waiting for death. His wife and young daughter managed to drag him back into their home, but his wounds could not be treated. The following day, students—risking their lives—took him to hospital, where he died on 30 March 1971 from severe loss of blood.
Deeply engaged with international humanist circles, Dr Guhathakurta represented Bangladesh's intellectual spirit abroad, participating in global conferences and writing essays in both Bangla and English. His commitment to critical inquiry and artistic reflection extended into his private life, revealing a mind constantly engaged with culture and ideas.
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