Prof. A. N. Mitra

Professor Asoke Nath Mitra

(15 April 1929 - 26 November 2022)

Professor Asoke Nath Mitra was a renowned physicist whose work has left a lasting impact on the scientific community. His research in theoretical physics has paved the way for many advancements in the field.

Asoke Nath Mitra was born on 15 April 1929, in Rajshahi, now in Bangladesh, to Jatindra Nath and Rama Rani Mitra. He married Anjali Mitra (née Ghosh) in November 1956. His father, Jatindra Nath Mitra, taught mathematics in Ramjas College, Delhi University. Mitra too went to Ramjas College to study mathematics, obtaining his bachelor's degree in 1947 and M.A. in 1949. He started his work in physics in 1949, as a Ph.D. student working with R. C. Majumdar.

After his Ph.D., Mitra went to Cornell University, where he completed a second Ph.D., working with Freeman Dyson and Hans Bethe. Mitra returned to India in 1955, and was appointed Reader at Aligarh Muslim University. He moved to Delhi University as professor in 1963, where he remained until his superannuation in 1994. Mitra was head of the Department of Physics and Astrophysics during 1973–75, but stepped down without completing his three-year term. He held visiting appointments at Indiana University (1962–63) and at the University of Illinois at Chicago (1986–87). He held the prestigious chair of INSA: INSA-Albert Einstein Research Professor during 1989–94 at the University of Delhi. He was a life-time emeritus professor of the university of Delhi at its department of physics and astrophysics. He has produced many PhD's who now occupy leading academic positions.

Taken from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asoke_Nath_Mitra.

I am proud to count Dr. Asoke Mitra, the editor of this volume, among my students. After serving his apprenticeship as a field theorist at Cornell University in the USA, he chose to return home to help build up science in India. The choice was not easy, at a time when science in America was flourishing and rapidly pushing ahead, while science in India was struggling to overcome the obstacles imposed by geography and history. Dr. Mitra sacrificed his chance of a brilliant research career in America, in order to serve his country and his people. I deeply respect that choice, and I rejoice that his sacrifice was not made in vain. After a fruitful career as a pioneer and teacher of modern science in India, he now stands at the center of the vibrant scientific community that he helped to create. This volume is, among other things, a monument to his vision.

Foreword written by Professor Freeman Dyson for "Quantum Field Theory: A 20th Century Profile" , edited by Professor Asoke Nath Mitra.

References

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