Amarjyoti Choudhury

Amarjyoti Choudhury

Dr.Amarjyoti Choudhury (born 1950) is a distinguished educationist, a scientist, an actor, a reciter, a playwright, a poet, a novelist and an orator par excellence. An accomplished educationist, a former Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University^[1][2] and a former Pro-Vice chancellor of Tezpur University, he currently occupies the prestigious CV Raman chair Professorship at University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya.^[3]

Early Years and Education

Born in Dibrugrah to Lakshyadhar Choudhury, the renowned litterateur, playwright and actor with socialist leaning and Usha Choudhury, a committed Gandhian, Amarjyoti is the eldest of five siblings. With a brilliant academic career,he topped the High School Leaving examination of the entire state of Assam.A graduate with Honours in Physics from Gauhati University,he did his masters in Physics from Delhi University. Next he obtained his doctorate degree from University of Oxford.

Teaching Career^[4]

Dr.Choudhury has taught at Jorhat Engineering College, Cotton College, BITS Pilani, Gauhati University and Tezpur University. He has acted as visiting professor to European Laboratory for Non linear Spectroscopy and Nuclear Science Centre, New Delhi. He has collaborated with P.N Lebedev Institute Moscow, University of Southampton and polytechnic University of Bucharest.

Personal life

In 1978 Dr.Choudhury married Kaberi, the youngest daughter of esteemed cultural-personality Tilak Das and renowned singer of her times, Chandra Prabha Das. They have a daughter, Amrita and a son, Arunav.

Research Contribution^[5]

A distinguished researcher in Optics, Quantum Electronics, Condensed Matter Physics NanoPhotonics and Nanotechnology, he is credited with 148^[6] research papers in peer reviewed National and International Journals. So far, twenty scholars have received doctorate degree with his expert guidance.

A theoretical paper jointly authored by Choudhury along with his supervisor Dr CJR Sheppard dwelt extensively on confocal geometry of scanning laser microscopy. It is probably the first publication using the technical term 'confocal microscopy'.

Role as a scientific communicator^[7]

Dr Choudhury has regularly contributed as a scientific communicator. He is a popular author on scientific themes in a number of Assamese dailies and magazines. He was commissioned by National Book Trust for translating three books on scientific themes from English to Assamese. These are Ramanujan, Satyendra Nath Basu and The Shrinking Universe. He has also authored a book on Nanotechnology which is published by the Assam Science Society.

Contribution in cultural Field

Dr. Choudhury also shines in the field of culture, literature and performing arts with equal brilliance. In addition to excelling as child actor in two Assamese films, namely Mak aru Morom and Amar Ghar, he also created his own space in Assamese Theatre as actor, director and playwright. He is also credited with the distinction of ushering in a unique style of recitation. A revered cultured personality of the state, Dr. Choudhury’s rendition of the self composed poem on the death of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika is regarded as a milestone in the world of recitation.^[8]

Literary Contribution

His trilogy of plays, titled Bhoyor Tongighorot Tora has been received with warm acclaim. His collection of poems,titled Etiya Tezot and Aan Ekura Meji has received rave reviews. “ Rupantorot Moi” his autobiographical piece on his childhood has been recognized as a hit. His recently concluded Fiction tiled “ Gosor nisina Sankokhon” is currently in press.

Role as an Orator and a Quizmaster

He dominated the quizzing scenario in Assam in eighties and nineties along with Professor Dilip Baruah. A passionate orator, he is now widely sought after as speakers in meetings and seminars .

References