Jadavpur University Mourns Loss of Professor Mainak Pal, Found Dead in Uttarakhand

GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 10th Nov. The academic community of Jadavpur University is in mourning after the tragic death of Professor Mainak Pal, whose body was found with severe injuries in a hotel in Uttarakhand on November 8. Professor Pal, a philosophy scholar known for his intellectual contributions, had traveled to Uttarakhand with two friends earlier in the week.

The Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association (JUTA) expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling Professor Pal’s passing an “irreparable loss.” JUTA General Secretary Partha Pratim Roy stated, “We are in deep shock since we heard about his death. Mainak was not only talented but a beloved figure among students and colleagues.”

According to a JU official, the professor’s body was found in the hotel washroom with deep cuts on his neck and hands. The initial police investigation and autopsy report from Uttarakhand suggest a possible suicide, although inquiries are ongoing.

Professor Pal, 44, joined Jadavpur University in 2022 after teaching in various institutions, including Presidency University. Known for his keen intellect and compassionate nature, he was widely respected within academic circles. The professor leaves behind his parents, wife, and a young daughter. His body was expected to be returned to Kolkata by Sunday evening.

The news has left Jadavpur University’s community “shell-shocked,” according to Roy, who conveyed the association’s condolences to Pal’s family, recognizing the profound loss to both his personal circle and the academic world.