Assam Science and Technology University (ASTU) Vice Chancellor and former director of Gujarat’s Institute for Plasma Research Prof Dhiraj Bora passed away on Saturday at his residence in Ahmedabad.

He died of cardiac arrest, say sources.

“With profound grief, we would like to inform you that our Vice Chancellor, Prof (Dr.) Dhiraj Bora has left for heavenly abode today at around 11:30 AM at his residence at Ahmedabad, Gujarat,” the registrar of ASTU in a statement.

Dhiraj Bora, 70, was born to Lalit Chandra and Kusum Bora on September 30, 1951 in Guwahati.

He did his schooling at Daly College, Indore and passed out in 1968.

The demise of Prof Bora has been condoled by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other ministers.

“CM Dr @himantabiswa extends rich tributes to renowned physicist and educator Prof Dhiraj Bora on his demise. He was VC, Assam Science & Technology University, Guwahati & ex-Director, Institute of Plasma Research, Gujarat. He leaves behind a rich legacy in academia and education,” the CMO tweeted.

Assam health minister Keshab Mahanta tweeted: “My heartfelt tributes to the eminent physicist Prof Dhiraj Bora on his demise. His contribution as the VC of Assam Science & Technology University & ex-Director, Institute of Plasma Research, Gujarat was enormous. May his soul rest in peace.”

Assam agriculture minister Atul Bora tweeted: “Condolences on the sad demise of renowned physicist, ex-VC of Assam Science & Technology University, Guwahati & ex-Director of Institute of Plasma Research, Gujarat, Prof Dhiraj Bora. I pray for peace of the departed soul.”

Prof. Dhiraj Bora took over as the Vice-Chancellor of ASTU at Jalukbari in Guwahati in November 2016.

Prior to this appointment, Prof. Bora served as the director of the Institute of Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar.

He also worked as the chief scientist at ITER-India.

Prof. Bora also served as the deputy director general and director at the Directorate for Controls, Heating and Diagnostics at ITER International Organization, Cadarache in France from September 2006 to December 2012.

Before holding the prestigious position at ITER, Prof. Bora served as a professor and project leader at the Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar.

He successfully led various projects in this institute.

Prof. Bora is also a certified project manager from the School of Business, George Washington University, USA.

He obtained Master of Science in Physics from People’s Friendship University, Moscow in 1974.

He completed his PhD in Physics in Gujarat University, Ahemedabad in 1979.

Bora started his career as a visiting scientist at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad in 1979 and worked there till 1982.

Prof. Bora had been actively involved in research in the field of Plasma Physics and Fusion Science and Technology for more than four decades.

He was also a guest scientist in the Institut Fuer Plasmaphysik at Juelich in Germany and a visiting scientist in Fusion Research Centre at the University of Texas at Austin, USA.

He has more than 200 publications in peer reviewed international/national journals and proceedings of international conferences/workshops to his name till date.

Prof. Bora was a member of several Indian delegations to IAEA Fusion Research Meetings.

He was a member of the delegation of Indian Academy of Sciences to celebrate 25 years of Indo-Soviet Technical collaboration in Moscow.

He was also a member of the C16 Commission on Plasma Physics of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) and the International Advisory Committee of the IAEA – Technical Meeting and a member of the SSOG group. He was also a member of faculty in the Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai.

Prof. Bora was a member of the Indian delegation to the ITER Governing Council.

He became an ITER emeritus fellow in 2014.

Prof. Bora remained a programme committee member of Fusion Energy Conference of IAEA since 2015.

He was a recipient of the Kamal Kumari National Award for Science and Technology in 2012.

Prof. Bora was conferred Life Time Achievement Award in the 4th International Conference on Environment and Ecology in Gauhati University by the Confederation of Indian Universities, New Delhi in 2018.

Prof. Bora also served as the treasurer, secretary, and president of the Plasma Science Society of India.

He was fluent in many Indian and foreign languages.

Prof Bora’s name is enlisted in the national directory for technical translators of Russian and he translated a number of books and monographs from Russian to English.