Birth: March 3, 1937, Gorokhiadole, Jorhat, Assam, India.
Demise: September 29, 1981.

Debendra Nath Acharya was an eminent engineer; a great scholar with a dynamic personality. Despite acquiring in-depth technical knowledge, he was gifted with scholarly aptitude towards Assamese literature; even, a master in Sanskrit. Gifted with a photographic memory, his brilliance shone from a very young age.

Acharya has many published works to his credit which won several awards and is widely acclaimed. He used his spare time for writing. Initially he started penning satirical articles for newspapers under the pseudonym- ‘Dronacharya’. Literary works include various essays, short stories, poems, children’s literature and a few significant novels.

His novel 'Jangam' in 1984, posthumously received the Sahitya Akademi Award (conferred by India's National Academy of Letters). Another famous novel ‘Kalpurush’ in 1978 received the Assam Prakashan Parisad Award. Went on to receive the Premadhar Dutta Memorial Award in 1975 for ‘Children’s literature’ from the Assam Sahitya Sabha, Mangaldai Adhibason. His novel "Anya Jug Anya Purush" enjoyed huge popularity.

Entire literary repertoire of his published as well as unpublished works were complied in 2011 under the title ‘RACHANA SAMAGRAH’ (complete works-publishers: Jyoti Prakashan, Panbazaar, Guwahati). This volume was collated by the tirelessly determined efforts of his wife, Mrs. Mahashweta Acharya (Retd. Head of Assamese Department - Handique Girls’ College, Guwahati).

During his brief lifetime, Acharya was instrumental in laying the solid foundation of the Assam Gas Company. Since then, it has forged ahead, becoming the best public sector undertaking of the Government of Assam. Being its Managing Director until his demise, pays tribute to his extraordinary efforts; and uncompromising dedication to the service of the nation and its fellow countrymen.

Acharya was also involved in various social-welfare organizations until his premature end in 1981 (an illustrious 44 years). He lived many a lifetime in his brief sojourn with exemplary excellence as well as being a doting father and husband.