Phanindra Chandra Dutta was an Indian chemist and specialist in Organic Chemistry. Author of many articles and research papers.
Background
Phanindra Chandra Dutta was born on January 31, 1912 in Agartala, Tripura, as the fifth of nine children, six sons and three daughters, to Sri Naba Chandra Dutta and Smt Rajalakshmi Dutta. The father had served as an Office Superintendent with Government of Tripura.
Education
After 1931 Phanindra Chandra Dutta left Bengal and passed the Bachelor of Science examination from Cotton College, Gauhati. Dutta obtained the Master of Science degree from the University College of Science in Calcutta. He was awarded the Nagarjuna Prize and gold medal for independent research for the year 1938 and admitted to the Doctor of Science degree of Calcutta University in 1940.
Career
In 1942 Phanindra Chandra Dutta was appointed Honorary Lecturer of Chemistry in Calcutta University. In 1947, Dr Dutta proceeded abroad on a Rash Behary Ghosh travelling fellowship to work under Professor Paul Karrer, a Nobel Laureate, at the University of Zurich on anti-vitamin activities of vitamin E with incorporation of sulphur atoms. A year later he switched over to ETH laboratories of Profissor Ruzicka, another Nobel Laureate, to work on sesquiterpenes, a subject which became his life-long interest.
In March 1953 he returned to India and joined the Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Calcutta, as Reader and Head of the Department.
Besides, Professor Dutta had travelled extensively in the USA, Europe and Japan to give lectures and seminars on researches carried out in the department of organic chemistry. Professor Dutta formally retired from his services in January 1977; but continued as Emeritus Scientist.
Personality
Professor Dutta was a great humanist. All those who came in contact with him were deeply touched by his frankness, informality and sensitivity to the feelings of others.
Connections
He married Smt Chhabi Sengupta in 1943, who established herself as a leading microanalyst, having trained in Switzerland, and subsequently organized the microanalytical laboratories of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science. They had a son, Sudhin, who has also shown the same brilliance of mind and aptitude for science.