Sports fraternity of Barak Valley mourns the death of star cricketer and administrative pillar Sujit Dutta Gupta

Former star cricketer and founding member of Silchar District Sporting Association, Sujit Duttagupta passed away this afternoon. After struggling through a long battle with kidney-related illness, he breathed his last on Sunday at a private nursing home. This retired teacher cum star sportsman died at 12:25 yesterday afternoon, he was 84 at the time of his death. He was not just known for cricket but also an able footballer, lawn tennis and table tennis pro. He also represented his school team at the nationals for hockey and football.

For the last few months, Sujit Duttagupta has been suffering from different kidney-related ailments and a recent cardiac complication got him admitted to a hospital in Silchar. But due to his advanced age, treatment failed to save his life. He has played in the senior district team for 25 long years, from 1955. By profession, he was a teacher at Narsingh HS School in Silchar.

Duttagupta was also the founding member and secretary of the Silchar DSA and at different times, he had also played the role of treasurer, and stadium secretary for this association at different times. He was the secretary of the Silchar DSA from 1979. Starting from his sporting career he had an affinity for India Club. In 1985, he became the secretary of the India Club and continued up to 1997. In 2005, he became the President of the club and continued in this position for over a decade.

It was in 1955 when Duttagupta played his first match donning the jersey of the district team and that was just the beginning. Other than cricket, he was adept in badminton, table tennis and hockey. In 1964, he even won the title of state champion for lawn tennis in the doubles category along with Jitendra Chandra Dasgupta. On the home ground, he has played cricket for India Club, Silchar Sporting and Town Club as well but in football, he only played for India Club. Other than playing sports, he was also a well-known umpire. He was known in the state sports circuit as a class two referee for hockey, cricket, table tennis and lawn tennis.

In 1962, he has represented his school football team at the Subroto Mukherjee Cup in Delhi. Similarly, in 1976 and 1977, he represented his school hockey team in the junior hockey team in Delhi.

Be it a football match or cricket in Silchar, he was always present on the field to watch the match even after his retirement. If it was his favourite India Club’s match, he would not move an inch of his attention from the field and the match. He never missed an opportunity to impart his experience and tips to the players of his following generations. His death has saddened the entire sporting arena. Prayers, tributes, last respect and messages have reached his residence from different sporting associations and clubs.