Pranabjyoti Deka

Pranavjyoti Deka (21 July 1939 – 6 April 2024) was an Indian short story writer, novelist, researcher, lexicographer, geologist and professor from Assam.

Deka retired as a professor from the Department of Geology of Gauhati University. His autobiography, 'Xunor Samus Mukhot Loi' (With a Golden Spoon in Mouth), received praise from scholars after its publication. Jyoti Bilingual Dictionary is a notable literary work of him. In 2023, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his collection of short stories entitled 'Dr. Pranavjyoti Dekar Srestha Galpa' (Best Stories of Dr. Pranabjyoti Deka).

Early life and education Pranavjyoti Deka was born on 21 July 1939 in Calcutta. His father, Haliram Deka, was the first Assamese chief justice of the Gauhati High Court and his mother was Vidyavati Deka. In 1955, he passed his Entrance Examination from Don Bosco High School, Guwahati. He joined Cotton College and passed IA from here in 1957. He graduated with honors in mineral geology from the Gauhati University in 1959.

Deka served as the Economic Advisor to the Government of Manipur.

Death Pranavjyoti Deka died on 6 April 2024, at the age of 84, while undergoing treatment at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

Awards Assam Prakashan Parishad Literature Award, 2022 Sahitya Akademi Award, 2023 Kusumanjali Sahitya Samman, 2018, awarded by Kusumanjali Foundation, New Delhi