An online portal of Bangla Desh bdnews24.com has reported that Eminent historian Tapan Raychaudhuri has died at his Oxford home in England after protracted illness.
The 88-year old passed away around 3:30am Thursday Bangladesh time in front of his daughter who rushed in from Tokyo.
Quoting Raja Dasgupta, a Kolkata-based filmmaker, bdnews24.com reported that Raychaudhuri was almost bedridden for the past one and a half years after suffering back-to-back strokes.
According to Dasgupta, a close relative of the late historian, “On Monday, his condition further deteriorated after he suffered another stroke. After the last stroke doctors gave up all hopes and advised against hospitalising him as it would be futile.”
He left behind wife, a daughter, a granddaughter and a host of admirers, friends and students.
Born on May 8, 1926 in Barisal, Raychaudhuri specialised in British and ancient Indian history, Indian economic history and the History of Bengal.
In recognition to his contributions to history, the Government of India conferred him Padma Bhushan in 2007.
American Historical Association awarded him the coveted Watumull Prize, jointly with Marxist historian Irfan Habib, for his work, Cambridge Economic History of India.
He taught Indian history and civilisation at the University of Oxford.
He wrote several books on socio-economic history.
“A wonderful account, by one of the leading historians of India, of the story of his life and of the class of landlords of Bengal to which his family belonged... This is a superb book,” was how Nobel laureate welfare economist Amartya Sen had described Raychaudhuri’s memoir, “The World in Our Time: a Memoir” published in 2012.
But more than a hardcore historian, he will be remembered more for his lively works in Bengali like 'Romanthan Athoba Bhimrotiprapter Paracharitcharcha' and 'Bangalnama', which are perhaps a befitting portrayal of his own character.
“Apart from being erudite, he was very humorous and lively person,” recalled Raja Dasgupta.

Life introduction of Tapan Raychaudhuri
Tapan Raychaudhuri (8 May 1926 - 26 November 2014) was an Indian historian specialising in British Indian history, Indian economic history and the History of Bengal. He was a Reader in Modern South Asian History at University of Oxford from 1973 to 1992; one year before retirement in 1993, he was given an ad hominem promotion to Professor of Indian History and Civilization. He was also Fellow of St. Anthony College, Oxford from 1973-93 where he remained as an Emeritus Fellow until his death in 2014.

Education and Career.

He was a student of Scottish Church College, Calcutta and Presidency College, Calcutta. Among his academic posts has been a period of work at the Delhi School of Economics under Delhi University.

Awards and honours

Watumull Prize awarded by the American Historical Association, 1982. (jointly with Irfan Habib) for the Cambridge Economic History of India.

Doctor of Letters 1993, University of Oxford.

Doctor of Letters honoris causa by the University of Calcutta.

Doctor of Letters honoris causa by the University of Burdwan.

Padma Bhushan in 2007 in recognition to his contributions to history.

National Research Professor 2010

Copy & pasted with courtesy from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapan_Raychaudhuri

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