The well known Sanskritist, Linguist, Educationist and Scholar of acumen, Krishna Kanta Handique was born at Jorhat on July 20, 1898. Son of Radha Kanta Handique, a top ranking Government Official under the British Rule in Assam, Handique had his early education at Jorhat Govt. High School, then Cotton College, Guwahati (1913-15), Sanskrit College, Calcutta (1915-17), Calcutta University (1917-19), Oxford University, England (1920-23), Paris University, France and Berlin University, Germany (1923-27).
He was the founder Principal of the J.B. College, Jorhat (1930-47). He was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Guwahati University in 1948 and was reappointed in 1951 and 1954 and continued as such till 1957.
He was adorned with Padma Shri in 1955 and Padma Bhushan in 1967 by the President of India. He was nominated by the Maharashtra Government, as Honorary Fellow of Deccan College, a rare distinction reserved for outstanding scholars in India and abroad. He was made Sadasyamahian by the Assam Sahitya Sabha, a highest honour conferred by the Sabha on Scholars of exceptional merit..
Author of three learned works, viz., 'Naisadhacarita', 'Yasastilaka and Indian Culture' and 'Setubandha', K.K. Handique contributed a number of valuable articles to different Assamese periodicals from time to time.
An eminent Italian Scholar, Oscar Botto, described his work 'Yasastilaka and Indian Culture' as "Il dottissimo Lavoro di K. K. Handique", the most learned work of K.K. Handique. This book was praised as a great achievement by the French Savant L. Renou, Professor of Sanskrit at Paris University. The original treatise written in Sanskrit by Somadeva in the 10th Century is an encyclopedic work dealing with Jainism and Indian thought and culture. Prof. Handique's critical dissertation on the Yasastilaka of Somadeva is a monumental contribution in the field of Indological studies. He passed away on 7th August, 1982.
Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is happy to issue a commemorative stamp in honour of Krishna Kanta Handique.
Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India
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