Dr. Proshanta K. Nandi

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Proshanta Nandi, a highly respected emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Illinois Springfield, on March 10, 2023. Dr. Nandi passed away peacefully at the age of 89 at Springfield Memorial Hospital, while holding hands with his wife, son and daughter.

Dr. Nandi was born on September 10, 1933, in Kanpur, India. He graduated with a master's degree in commerce in 1954, and a master’s degree in economics in 1956 from Agra University in India. He received another master’s degree in sociology from Gorakhpur University in India in 1959. Finally, he studied as a Fulbright scholar graduating with a master’s degree in Sociology in 1966, and a Ph.D. in Sociology in 1968 from the University of Minnesota. During his academic career, he received a second senior Fulbright scholarship, two Ford Foundation Scholarships and a Smithsonian Award.

Dr. Nandi joined as one of the earliest members of the faculty at Sangamon State University in 1972. He continued teaching there after it became a part of the University of Illinois Springfield until he retired in 2002. After his retirement, Dr. Nandi volunteered as a member of the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for over a decade.

During his long and distinguished career, Dr. Nandi was widely recognized as a leading scholar in his field. He published numerous articles and books on a range of topics, including the role of women within different cultural contexts, Asian American immigrants in America, nationalism and race. He contributed to national and international conferences on peace and nonviolence throughout his career. He also inspired countless students with classes including “The Principles of Non-Violence” and a class on Mahatma Gandhi, mandating that students commit a random act of kindness as an assignment.

Dr. Nandi was also known for his leadership, mentoring, and compassion. Within the Springfield community, Dr. Nandi volunteered as a board member for Prevention First, a non-profit organization working to prevent alcohol and drug abuse. He was also a long-standing member of the Indo-American Friendship Council and the India Association of Greater Springfield.

Dr. Nandi's legacy will continue to live on through his many contributions to the field of sociology and to the Springfield community. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but his impact and memory will endure. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Chandana Nandi, their son, Jayanta Nandi, daughter, Dr. Papia Nandi, and grandchildren, Yuri and Miro Nandi-Dimitrov.

A memorial service will be held in his honor on March 15, 2023, at 11 am at Bisch & Son Funeral Home at 505 E Allen St. in Springfield, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Habitat for Humanity, one of Dr. Nandi’s favorite charitable organizations.