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We, Members and the Staff of CRG, deeply mourn the demise of Professor Pradip Kumar Bose, a renowned sociologist, a founding member and a former President of the Calcutta Research Group, who passed away on 29 May 2021 at the age of 75. Beginning as a student of Physics, he moved on to the field of social sciences. Pradip obtained his PhD degree from the School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for his work entitled "Agrarian Structure, Peasant Society and Social Change: A Study of Selected Regions in West Bengal".
He started working with the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi, where he had the opportunity to work with Ashis Nandy and D. L. Sheth. Later on, he moved to the Centre for Social Studies, Surat, and worked with Ghanshyam Shah. He finally moved to the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata in late 1980s and retired from there as a Professor of Sociology in 2009.
His notable publications include: Bartamaaner Kuljibichar (in Bengali, Ananda Publishers 2020), Michel Foucault: Sesh Paryaer Tattwa Bhabna (in Bengali, OUP 2019), Bangali Paribarer Sandarva Bichar (in Bengali, Gangchil 2019), Conceptualising Man and Society: Perspectives in Early Indian Sociology (Orient Blackswan 2018), Bhasha, Darshan Sangeet: Samiksha O Sandhan (in Bengali, Anushtup 2014), Bangla Bhashay Samjbidya Charcha (in Bengali, Charchapad 2011), Rajnitir Tattwa, Tattwer Rajniti (in Bengali, Chachapad 2011), Health and Society in Bengal: A Selection from the Late Nineteenth Century Bengali Periodicals (Sage 2005), Samayiki: Purono Prabondho Potrer Sankalan - Bigyan O Samaj (in Bengali) (1998), and Classes and Class Relations among Tribals of Bengal (Ajanta 1985). Early in his research career he had worked on potters and their craft and issues of stratification among the indigenous communities in Gujarat and published his research findings. He edited two important volumes published by CRG one of them being the path breaking collection of studies, entitled, Refugees in West Bengal: Institutional Practices and Contested Identities (CRG 2000) and the other being the co-edited, Social Justice and Enlightenment (Sage 2010). He contributed scholarly articles to Sociological Bulletin, Economic and Political Weekly, Refugee Watch, Contributions to Indian Sociology, Man in India, and Social Stratification. In recent years, he became a pioneer in writing sociology in Bengali language.
As a sociologist, Pradip Bose had deep interests in Indian family, cuisine and films. He was also a connoisseur of Western classical music. He was a remarkable story-teller, and epitomised the Bengali adda. CRG fondly remembers numerous meetings and conferences where Pradip participated and enlivened the reflections on the deliberation with keen observations and humorous insights. He was particularly affectionate towards younger scholars, and asked all senior scholars to be patient with them. His commitment to human rights and justice oriented scholarship helped CRG grow through the years.
CRG will cherish forever the fond and undying memories of Pradip. The members of CRG offer deepest condolence on his demise and profound sympathy to his bereaved wife Shukla and daughter Tapti.