IN REMEMBERANCE OF LATE RANJIT KUMAR DUTTA ( RKD )
Late Ranjit Kumar Dutta, was popularly known as RKD, within the circle of The Research Centre for Eastern and North Eastern Studies- Kolkata (CENERS-K).He was a much respected founder Member of CENERS-K, who had a touch of class in achieving all that he undertook. I met him at Digboiin the winter months of 1991,during our ‘Bharat Darshan’ trip from the War College. What a tremendous impression he made on us, a group of around 20 Officers of the Indian Army, all of whom had been through a shooting War and much more, confident that they knew it all- until, they heard his simple, quiet, soft spoken, talk of substance from RKD.I recollect, we all heard him in rapt attention.I met up with RKD and his charming wife Julie again,in USA, in late 1997 when I was posted as the Defence Attache in the Embassy of India . My awe and respect, only grew for both. I need to state here that RKD cannot be written about, without Julie, who was the perfect combination of beauty, charm and grace. They were the perfect foil for each other.
Post mid 1990s, I kept hearing of him and his overarching exploits in the oil industry, which began in NRL. He was thefirst CMD of NRL. We finally met up once again in Kolkata where I was posted as the General Officer Commanding of Bengal Area, and RKD had retired from the Oil Industry to head Stewart Lloyd. In 2007, shortly after my retirement, there was a move to establish CENERS-K by few professionals from varying fields, who had served for long periods in the North Eastern Regions of India and had fallen in love with NER. One of the first names that came to our minds was that of RKD. He gladly accepted our offer. We on our part were deeply honoured, privileged and proud to have a person of ability amongst us. He was designated as the Vice President NER, a position that he held till the last, but only because, he declined the mantle of the President, for reasons of being preoccupied with Julie’s debilitating ailment.
In CENERS-K, RKD, was our Mentor, Guide and Leader in all matters relating to our research on NER. His humbleness, etiquette, gentle manner of persuasion, and above all experience, made one and all hear him with complete attention, whenever he spoke His vast array of contacts, amongst officials, academia, oil industry in NER and, personal rapport with political figures in most NE States helped CENERS-K tremendously to project the thinktank as a benevolent group with the interest of NER, foremost in their minds. His personal friendship, with politicians and bureaucrats at Delhi, greatly assisted CENERS-K to establish our credentials. Importantly, RKD got us on the CSR list of OIL and NRL, which helped the fledgeling (and floundering) non funded CENERS-K to stabilise financially.He was one of the few Governing Council members who attended all meetings, and most of all came fully conversant of the agenda, with cogent and practical recommendations for all our future activities.
A warm and welcoming couple, we the members of CENERS-K have spent many a memorable evening partaking their generous hospitality, in the wonderful ambience of theirtastefully decorated residence. We shall remember him as a GENTLEMAN AMONGST GENTLEMEN.
A REQUIEM FOR RKD AND JULIE, from
Maj Gen Arun Roye, AVSM,VSM ( Retd )