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Kumkum Chatterjee Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Kumkum Chatterjee
Dave Christy
December 9, 2020
In the summer of 1986 KumKum and Kalyan were building their first house, and construction was delayed. I had recently purchased an older home near campus, and I invited them to join me. Bits of furniture, few drapes and old carpet; it was like we were grad students again. Good friends, so warm and playful to one another. Such a sweet memory.
Moloy Roy
December 13, 2013
1st death anniversary.
You will always live in our hearts and prayers.
Edwin Hirschmann
January 23, 2013
So surprised and sorry to learn of Kumkum's passing. While not a close friend, I always enjoyed meeting her at conferences and hearing about her work, which was similar to mine.
January 13, 2013
bye kumkumi
sri ram
December 31, 2012
We miss you so much Kum Kum.
Shormishtha Panja
December 23, 2012
Farewell, dear friend. This is tragic news. I remember your ever-smiling face which used to light up the Presidency College portico.
Rachana Chakraborty
December 20, 2012
My memory of Kumkum-di goes back several decades since I was a student of History Honours at the Presidency college in the late 1970s; shared same professors, who always had wonderful things to share about her. She used to be the 'Seminar Secretary' and had a very pleasing personality . Hard to believe she is no more.
Anupam Chatterjee
December 20, 2012
My mother passed away just three months ago. This is another shock within a short period. I shall never forget her unforgettable affection.
December 19, 2012
Fondly remembering the short trip of Kumkum-di & Kalyan-da to Caen. I did not know her well when I was at Presidency - different years, different departments. But I did remember her standing at the bus stop in those immaculately pleated saris. I discovered the lovely person she was when she visited us.
My sincere condolences to Kalyan-da and to all family and friends. Rest in peace, Kumkum-di.
Aparajita Sen, Caen, France
Rekha Datta
December 19, 2012
I am deeply saddened at the news. She was a couple of years our senior at Presidency College; I was in Poli Sci, and we had many close friends in History and classes in the Main Building, where most of the History students hung out. I remember her beautiful hair and smile. Saw her once after college. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. So proud of all her accomplishments, and for being such a beautiful person. May she rest in peace.
Munis Faruqui
December 18, 2012
I recall the very first time I met Kumkum. It was at the Madison South Asia Conference in 1999. I was about to deliver my first conference paper (ever). I was extremely nervous and fearful that I had nothing to say that would be of interest to anyone. Just then Kumkum walked up to me, gave me the warmest of smiles, wished me all the best, and told me that she was really looking forward to hearing my paper and talking about my work afterwards. Kumkum's encouragement helped me relax and overcome my stage fright. Her unexpected gesture of warmth and generosity will stay with me for the rest of my life. Rest in peace, Kumkum.
David Curley
December 18, 2012
I was introduced to Kumkum by Gautam Bhadra when she was a graduate student at Calcutta University, this must have been in 1975, and I had the distinct impression that she was going to find a way to be successful as a woman in the profession. She was interested in 18th century merchants for their independence, unlike most of the young Marxists I then was meeting in Calcutta. I will miss her warmth, curiosity, generosity, the joy she had in her family and profession, and her ability to fight her corner on the big issues. With deepest sympathy to her family and friends,
Jayeeta (Jo) Sharma
December 18, 2012
I knew Kumkum from brief meetings at conferences, from the praise of her Kolkata professors, and from reading her very important work on historiography but always felt I knew her extremely well, such was the warmth of her responses. Even at our first meeting back in 2001, I was struck by what a wonderfully friendly and supportive person she was, particularly with someone who was just starting out in the profession. She sent me her writings while I was writing my dissertation, just after a first meeting. I can well believe she was an amazing teacher. Last time we were in touch, we hoped to get together for a future panel on Eastern India; sadly that will not happen now. Like so many other people, I will remember and miss Kumkum for her gregariousness, warmth, generous spirit, intelligence, deep knowledge, and cheerful modesty. Sincere condolences to her family, students, and department colleagues.
Anirban Bandyopadhyay
December 18, 2012
I knew Kumkum Chatterjee only through here work, never having met her in person. I fully agree with Professor Mrinalini Sinha's assessment that hers was scholarship meant to last. And last it will. Those of us who had read her and been looking forward to hearing and meeting her will now have to make do with revisiting her work for guidance. It is not everyday that one feels so strongly about losing someone one has never met. Prof. Chatterjee will be sorely missed by students of South Asian History.
James Frey
December 17, 2012
I first met Kumkum Chatterjee when I was a graduate student. Her work on local markets in 18th century Bengal contributed significantly to the field of Indian history. She was a careful researcher and analyst and a prolific writer who nevertheless was gracious enough to encourage students. I am sure she will be missed by everyone.
Ralph Nicholas
December 17, 2012
All of us who worked with Kumkum—a true scholar who served the AIIS and the academic community with such grace—will not forget her knowledge, her generosity, and her unfailing cheerfulness.
Frank Conlon
December 17, 2012
Kumkum's life and work encapsulated a body of joy; joy of life and joy of the intellect and joy of exploration. I will miss her so much as a friend and colleague. She gave so much more than she received.
Swapna Banerjee
December 17, 2012
My memory of Kumkum-di goes back several decades since I was in college in the early 1980s; shared same professors, who always had wonderful things to share about her. Hard to believe she is no more. What a great loss!
Yuxi & Xinping Gu Zheng
December 16, 2012
We miss you, our dear next door neighbor, of your
bright smiles and your warm occasional
conversations that we had during your evening or
late afternoon walks in the neighborhood. We could
not believe it when we were told you got ill, and
always wish that it was only a wrong diagnosis
and you would be healthy again. Now we missed
visiting you before you left so soon. We wish we
could have more time. We wish you rest in peace
and every living soul in your family refrains from
sorrow.
Ramya Sreenivasan
December 16, 2012
She was such a generous scholar and friend, always ready to share a citation and to follow up by physically sending the materials. She was also a surprisingly good mimic! And, unusually for someone brought up in north India, she loved Carnatic classical music from south India. I will miss you Kumkum.
Rajarshi Ghose
December 16, 2012
Kumkumdi, Thank you very much for your affection and mentorship over the past one decade. Your warmth will be sorely missed. RIP
Utsa Ray
December 16, 2012
I cannot express how much I am missing you already Kumkumdi.Rest in peace.
Utsa Ray
December 16, 2012
Cannot express how much I am missing you already Kumkumdi.You were such an inspiration. Rest in peace.
Indrani Chatterjee
December 16, 2012
My memories of Kumkum are spread like a film over Kolkata, a city we had both left behind but returned to annually. I remember chuckling with her over the foibles of the city. We shared memories of the teaching of a revered historian of Bengal, who had taught her but not me, but who I also learnt a great deal from. Kumkum was a student dear to the heart of her teachers. But what I remember was that she embodied a particular tradition of teaching-scholarship that was as rigorous as it was generous. I remember Kumkum's generosity most vividly today as I travel through the same city we shared a love for. Kumkum was a truly special person. We will all miss her a lot.
Sanjay Subrahmanyam
December 16, 2012
We go back to the mid 1980s, when we were both finishing our PhDs. Kumkum was not only a fine scholar, but a bubbly and fun-loving person. She will be missed greatly. Deepest condolences to Kalyan.
Dave Christy
December 15, 2012
I have so many wonderful memories. In the late eighties I visited Kumkum and Kalyan at their flat in the Finchley suburb of London. She was conducting research on British trade policies with colonial India, and spoke about her work with such passion and enthusiasm. What a lovely woman, fine scholar and dear friend.
Anand Yang
December 15, 2012
What a tragedy that Kumkum has been, to use words she once wrote me after discovering that she was seriously ill, "downed in mid-stride." She had already accomplished so much as a scholar, teacher, friend, wife, and family member but had so much more to give us all. I am deeply grateful to her for the pleasure of her joyful and stimulating company across continents and decades: beginning with her PhD research days in Patna and Calcutta in the early 80s, to many summers at the IOL in London in the 90s, to the recent decades in the U.S. as a fellow South Asianist from whom we all learned a lot. My deepest sympathies go out to Kalyan who I know meant the world to her and the rest of the family.
Dawn Kann
December 15, 2012
I am so very sorry for your loss. Kumkum was such a special person, always warm and caring. I will miss her very much.
Matthew
December 15, 2012
Kumkum, that lovely smile of yours will be missed by all of us who had the pleasure and honor of working with you.
ruby lal
December 15, 2012
a candle to Kumkum's warm presence, and to her unfailing cheerfulness, commitment and sympathy for all around her.
ruby lal and gyan pandey
Mark and Mary Lou Munn
December 15, 2012
Your warmth and charm as a colleague and friend will be sorely missed.
Rick Asher
December 15, 2012
How deeply we'll miss Kumkum! She embodied the very best in a scholar-teacher-friend-colleague.
rochona/dipesh majumdar/chakrabarty
December 15, 2012
we will miss the warmth of your friendship. your passionate commitment to history will inspire us and so many others.
Cynthia Talbot
December 14, 2012
One of my oldest memories of Kumkum is of the two of us rushing down the streets of Madison, Wisconsin, in the rain, huddling under a single umbrella and getting drenched, but still laughing. She was such a wonderful, joyful person, always supportive and encouraging to her colleagues. We will miss her warm presence even more than her admirable scholarship. She will always have a treasured place in my heart.
Carla Petievich
December 14, 2012
Kumkum, you were such a fine scholar and warm person. I am so very sorry for your family's loss. Rest in peace, friend. Your warmth and your wonderful work will keep your memory alive.
Geraldine Forbes
December 14, 2012
Kumkum was a wonderful and warm friend and colleague and a fine scholar. We met at the India Office in London and over the years met frequently at conferences and worked together on committees. Every time I met Kumkum she was smiling and despite the pressure of work, had time for her friends and students. We have lost a very special person.
December 14, 2012
I don't have words for this loss. I can't bring myself to list wonderful things about Kumkum, as if that would capture the loss.
I'm grateful for the great good fortune of being Kumkum's friend and for the chance to work with her as an intellectual partner on a book. I remember her laugh and the exact sound of her voice. I remember the gracious way she combined intellectual power and depth with extraordinary hospitality and generosity.
I wish I could be there for the visitation on Saturday
Clem Hawes
P.S
And here is a picture of Kumkum -- we were celebrating the publication of her book The Cultures of History at our house. We are richer, and I really believe, better human beings for having known Kumkum. Dear dear Kumkum, how much we will miss you.
Minnie
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