Kolkata: Probal Dasgupta, an eminent Indian linguist, Esperantist, and academic administrator, passed away in his sleep after suffering a stroke in the early hours of Monday at the age of 72. His sudden demise has cast a pall of gloom among students, colleagues, and academics.
Contributions to Linguistics
Dasgupta is regarded for his profound contributions to formal linguistics, sociolinguistics, and language politics. His intellectual footprint bridged rigorous academic syntax with passionate advocacy for linguistic human rights and multilingualism. He is highly regarded for developing the substantivist approach to linguistics, a theoretical collaboration with Rajendra Singh.
Early Life and Education
Born in Kolkata to an academic family, Dasgupta developed a fascination with language structure and published his first article on phonology in Indian Linguistics at the age of 18. His father, Arun Kumar Dasgupta, was a historian, and his mother, Manashi Dasgupta, was a social psychologist. He studied linguistics at Sanskrit College in Kolkata and pursued higher studies at Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute in Pune before moving to the US. He secured his PhD in Linguistics from New York University in 1980, focusing his doctoral dissertation on Bangla grammar. His dissertation, ‘Questions and Relative and Complement Clauses in a Bangla Grammar,’ made significant contributions to Bangla syntax.
Academic Career
Over a teaching and research career spanning several decades, Dasgupta taught at Calcutta University, Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, the University of Hyderabad, and the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), where he headed the Linguistic Research Unit (LRU) from 2006 to 2018. The Indian Statistical Institute mourned his demise. “LRU sincerely acknowledges the contribution he has made to the growth and advancement of the Unit, as well as expresses sincere condolences to his bereaved family members,” said a social media post on behalf of LRU, ISI.
Esperanto Advocacy
Beyond regional linguistics, Dasgupta was a monumental figure in the international Esperanto community, utilizing the constructed language as a philosophical tool for cross-border neutrality and linguistic democracy. He was a passionate advocate for Esperanto as a means of promoting global understanding.
Tributes
JU history professor Maroona Murmu broke down in tears while bidding farewell to Dasgupta. Former MP Jawhar Sircar and emeritus professor at Jadavpur University English department Supriya Chaudhuri expressed grief over his death. His research focused on Bangla syntax, morphology, and sociolinguistics, leaving a lasting impact on the field.
