BHUBANESWAR: Noted historian and former Parliament member Manmath Nath Das passed away here on Saturday morning. He was 82 and is survived by a daughter and a son. Das, born in Balasore district, was educated at Ravenshaw College in Cuttack before attending Allahabad University and London University where he received his MA and Ph.D degrees respectively.
A researcher by passion, Das started his career as a lecturer in 1948 before becoming Professor and Head of History Department of Utkal University.
He eventually became its Vice-Chancellor in 1983.
Elder brother of famous writer Manoj Das, he penned over a dozen books which gave rare insight into the Indian history, prominent among them being: The Political Philosophy of Jawaharlal Nehru, India Under Morley & Minto: Politics Behind Revolution, Repression and Reforms, Partition and Independent India: Inside Story of the Mountbatten Days, Glimpses of Kalinga History.
Das also wrote a number of books in Oriya such as Juge Juge Utkaliya Dharma O Savyata, Astaraga, Aspasta Akhyana and Samaya Sagara Tire.
Many of his research papers and articles were published in the Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Grolier Encyclopaedia.
Widely-travelled, Das contested the Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket in 1991 before being elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1998.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has mourned Das’ death. Paying tributes, former Chief Minister JB Patnaik said Orissa lost a worthy son of the soil in Das’ demise.
Steel and Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty, Panchayati Raj Minister Prafulla Samal, Energy Minister Atanu Sabyasachi and IT Minister Ramesh Majhi expressed their condolences.
