Hundreds of students braved a downpour and assembled at Jadavpur University on Thursday to pay their last respects to their teacher Samantak Das.
The professor of comparative literature was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his home in Ranikuthi on the southern fringes on Wednesday.
Students gathered under the portico of Aurobindo Bhavan, the university’s administrative headquarters, as the hearse entered the campus around 11.30am. As the crowd grew bigger, many stood in the open amid the rain, some without an umbrella.
Students struggled to hold back tears as they bid adieu to Das, lovingly called SD on the campus.
Vice-chancellor Suranjan Das, other university officials and teachers from various departments joined students in paying their tributes to the departed professor.
The hearse enters the campus.
Bouquets were placed on the hearse amid soulful renditions of Rabindrasangeet.
Teachers and students sang “Aanandadhara bohichhe bhubane”, “Ei aakashe aamar mukti aaloy aaloy” and other songs.
Many students went to the crematorium at Garia.
Students held a poster that had an image of Das with the message “Samantak Da, tumi Jadavpur er hridaye thakbe (You will remain in the heart of Jadavpur)”. The cremation took place around 4pm.