A SCHOLAR'S FIGHT AGAINST FATE

My father, Naresh Chandra Chatterjee, the late principal of A. C. College, Jalpaiguri, was a man of unwavering principle. Deeply devoted to his teaching and administrative duties, he refused the many prestigious offers that came from Kolkata. His commitment to the college left him little time for his own health or even for everyday family life. Though his work kept him sedentary, he never indulged in rest; I cannot recall a single day when he stayed in bed for leisure.

- ARUN KANTI CHATTERJEE

Surprisingly, he remained free from the common illnesses that troubled the rest of us. Perhaps it was his disciplined habits or sheer force of will. But fate had its own course. Quite suddenly, he was diagnosed with heart disease - a blow that cast a long shadow over our home.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, medical science in small towns in India was still in its early stages. Specialists were scarce, and even the term "cardiologist" was unfamiliar. My father travelled to Kolkata to consult one such expert, following every bit of advice he received - more out of necessity than optimism.

Yet he never surrendered.