Lifetime Achievement Award To Noted Science Writer Dr Akhil Kumar Deka

HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, Feb 28: Dr Akhil Kumar Deka, retired professor of Physics, Darrang College, a noted science writer of the state and a lifelong activist was conferred Lifetime Achievement Award for popularising science by Akash Science and Environment Education Centre. The centre has been making continuous efforts to promote scientific and technological knowledge and develop scientific mindset among children and the public of Assam since its inception in and around the state.

Declaring the award on the National Science Day, Dr Khiradhar Barua, noted science writer of the state and founder president of the organisation said that the award will be conferred upon Dr Akhil Kumar Deka in a meeting which will be held in Tarun Asam Sangha premises here on March 5 for his lifelong contributions for popularising science among public and the students.

It is pertinent to mention here that along with his teaching in Darrang College as a professor of Physics, during the period 1963 to 2001, Dr Akhil Kumar Deka was also involved in the popularisation of science. He emphasised on teaching science to school children in an interesting and practical manner to acquire basic knowledge of science and develop a scientific mindset. He gave experimental lectures in various teaching training and student programs organised by Assam Science Society, STEC, etc. He formed a science club in Tezpur town in the 1980s and taught hands-on science to school children. He was the key person in establishing the Tezpur Science Temple Society in 1990 at Mission Chariali, Tezpur with funds and land provided by the Education department of the state government which was later transferred to the control and management of the Assam Science Society under the name of ‘Tezpur Science Centre’. He also served as the ‘unpaid’ director of the centre upto 2019. He has already contributed more than sixteen numbers of popular books on popular science and mathematics.

He was awarded by Asam Sahitya Sabha for his books — Chumbakar Saite Dhemali Aru Pariksha (1985) and Electronicsor Ka, Kha (1989). Hundreds of articles penned by him were published in Vigyan Jeuti, Safura, Prantik, Ganit Bikash and several national level magazines. He was the pioneer in making toolboxes with inexpensive and readily available materials for students to learn science practically. In 1990, Assam Science Society provided the first physics toolbox innovated by Dr Deka to various schools of the state. He is also a lifelong active member of the Assam Science Society and was the first general secretary of the Tezpur Branch of the Assam Science Society founded in 1964.
Born on February 19, 1941 in Tezpur, Dr Deka did his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Physics from Cotton College and Guwahati University respectively and took PhD in Theoretical Nuclear Physics from Dibrugarh University.