A Jadavpur University professor was found dead lying in a pool of blood in the bathroom of a hotel room in Uttarakhand on Saturday.
The deceased, Mainak Pal, 44, was a professor in the philosophy department, and his colleagues expressed shock over his sudden demise, which is suspected to be a case of suicide as per a preliminary probe.
According to university sources, Pal went to Uttarakhand with two friends. However, he returned alone and stayed at a hotel in Lalkuan in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand.
According to sources, Pal’s family contacted the hotel authorities on Saturday evening, saying he was not answering the phone. After that, the hotel staff went to the room and broke the door. They found his body lying in a pool of blood with cuts on his neck and hand hands. His body was being brought to Kolkata after an autopsy.
Sources said Pal achieved first class in his undergraduate studies at Presidency College in 2002, followed by similar success in his postgraduate studies at Jadavpur University in 2004. He also completed his MPhil and PhD at Jadavpur University. He was used to travelling to the mountains during his vacations.
Jadavpur University Teachers Association general secretary Professor Parthapratim Roy said, “After his PhD, Pal worked in a government college for a few years. Later, he joined Presidency and served there until 2022. He joined Jadavpur as a professor in 2022. His wife also studied in his department.”
“Pal was very talented. He was eloquent. As a teacher, he was very popular with students. We are shocked by his death. We have lost a brilliant man and a good researcher. This is the university’s loss. Our condolences to his family,” added Roy.
Presidency University registrar Debjyoti Konar said, “Pal joined Presidency soon after I became registrar. Before that, he taught in a government college. He was an excellent teacher. The students loved him. He moved to Jadavpur in 2022. He studied not only philosophy but various subjects.”
“He was extraordinary as a person. He also kept in touch with other departments. He had no grudges with anyone. It doesn’t even seem possible. The death of such a virtuous person is unfortunate. It is a big loss for the education system. He had the potential to do great things in the future,” added Konar.