BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Feb 3: World renowned statistician, Professor Emeritus and former Head of Department of Statistics of Gauhati University, Dr Jyoti Prasad Medhi passed away at a private nursing home in the city on Friday evening. He was 92. He had been admitted on January 18 after developing chest complications. Born in 1924 at Ramdia in the then Kamrup district, JP Medhi graduated with Honours in Mathematics from Cotton College securing gold medals, then moving onto Calcutta University from where he took his masters degree in Pure Mathematics by topping with record marks. He joined Cotton College in 1948 as Lecturer of Mathematics, but soon left to join the Mathematics and Statistics faculty in newly-established Gauhati University. He then took his MS degree in Statistics from Manchester University, following it up with D.Sc degree from Paris University. Professor Medhi retired from the Department of Statistics, gauhati University in 1985. Two years later, he was conferred ‘Professor Emeritus’ status by Gauhati University; he was also honored with D.Sc degree by Dibrugarh University, IIT Guwahati and Tezpur University. He authored several textbooks which are taught as part of curriculum in several leading varsities and educatiol institutes around the world. His research papers are amongst the most cited in the field. He also submitted in-depth reports on education, scientific manpower and other academic issues to the Assam government at various times, and was associated with the UPSC, UGC and other prestigious bodies and panels. Professor Medhi leaves behind two sons, two daughters and a host of relatives. His last rites will be performed at 3 pm on Saturday at bagraha crematorium, family members informed.