Eminent academician, singer and lyricist Birendranath Datta died on Monday at a hospital here following a pr꧙olonged illness, his family said.
Hಌe was 88 and is survived by🍷 his wife, son and two daughters.
Datta was suffering from various old-age ailments for long and was admitted to the hospi🌞tal recently.
A recipient of the Padma Shri in the field of art and literatur💫e in 2009, Datta began his career as an academician at B Barooah College here and went on to teach at different colleges of the state, before retiring as the head of th🔯e department of Folklore Research of Gauhati University.
After his retirement, he joined Tezpur University as a professor in the Department of 🍌Traditional Culture and Art Forms.
An eminent lyricist, Datta penned several songs and even sang many of those, with 'Bohu din bokuler gundh puwa nai' being one of his mo𓆏st popular numbers.
He was also the president of Assam's premier literary organisation Asam Sahitya Sabha for two terms from 2003 a꧙nd a life member of the Gauhati Artists' 🦋Guild.
An author of repute, some of his prominent books include 'Cultural Contours of Northeast India' and 'Sank𒆙ar Madhavar Manisha Aru Asomar Sanaskrit🌺ic Uttaradhikare', among others.
Chief Minister Himanꦛta Biswa Sarma, in his condolence message, said the news of the demise of the eminent researcher of linguistics and culture has left a great void in the arena of culture, art and music.
"I pray for the eterღnal peace of the soul of the former president of Asam Sahitya Sabha and extend my deepest condolences to the members of the bereaved family," he added.
