I first met Probal Da sometime in 2011. We were working on a proposal for organizing a national seminar and UGC stipulated we needed to collaborate with another institution. My colleagues and I ( from Brahmananda Keshab Chandra College) walked into the Linguistic Research Unit at the Indian Statistical Institute one afternoon. Professor Probal Dasgupta met us in his room and it was such a reassuring meeting, one that I remember even today. LRU agreed to collaborate with us and the seminar was held at the auditorium of the Institute in February 2012.
It was always a pleasure talking to him and my interactions with him continued even later. We spoke a few months ago, he had been working on a translation and he had been telling me about it.
The news of his passing is such a big loss for many of us who have been enriched by his experience, expertise and his humanity.
Rest in peace Probal Da.