Prof. Arbind Kumar Lal

I am deeply saddened by the sudden demise of Prof. Arbind Lal. IIT Kanpur has lost a great academician and I have lost a great friend. We have worked very closely in multiple roles. Most prominent among them was when he was the Chairman of Senate Under-Graduate Committee and I was the Dean of Academic Affairs. He was totally immersed in the ethos of IIT Kanpur of flexibility and always supported students in whatever they wanted to do. Always smiling, so full of life.

This is one void that even time would find difficult to fill. May his soul rest in peace.

It was really difficult to come to the terms that Arbind is no more with us. The warmth of his heart for one and all was so conspicuous and spontaneous that he will live close to the heart of everyone who came across his way. I had never seen him saying no to a call for a help, academic or otherwise, as long as it would benefit a needy. Though we were batch-mates in Delhi University during eighties, we met closely in around 2002, and instantly became good friends. I wished we could walk some more distance together?

Goodbye Arbind, my friend.

Prof. AK Lal was my Ph.D. thesis examiner. He came earlier than the scheduled time in the hall where my thesis defense was to be done. I didn't know him by the face at that time. As I was anxiously roaming around the podium of the hall, he asked in a loud voice, who taught you Economics at IIT Kanpur? I told him that I forgot the name of the faculty, but it was a female faculty. 'She is my wife!!', he said with a big smiling face. Then we talk for few minutes before the defense presentation begins, the talk lowered my nervousness. When the presentation finished, and the question-answer session was completed, he asked me a question. 'Ok, so you invested long 5 years in Ph.D., which result (theorem) of yours you enjoyed the most?' I happily told him the result I enjoyed the most. The defense was done, clapping started. He made the defense so easygoing, and that last question I always remember. Last year, I saw him at a conference at ISI Delhi on the retirement of Prof. RB Bapat, he made the conference so lively and delightful. Since then I was in touch with him for guidance, and also working with him. I can't believe he is no more. RIP sir.

During my few interactions with Professor Lal, I observed him as a very jolly and cordial nice gentleman. My deepest condolences to Niyati madam and family. I wish God may give her the courage to bear this huge loss. May the soul rest in peace. Om Shanti.

Shocked to hear the news. May his soul rest in peace. May his family gets strength to bear the loss. My condolences. Om Shanti Om. Regards

Still unable to come to terms with the sudden and tragic demise of my colleague, friend and neighbour for last 19 years Prof. Arbind Kumar Lal. For my family and myself it is like losing a member. It is unbelievable that such a kind and caring individual so full of life could be snatched away so cruelly from us. We stand by the bereaved family in their hour of grief and irreparable loss.

I am very sad to hear this news.

I am sharing one memory which will never fade:

remember, I was a M.Sc student and I did really bad in my first semester and he was teaching us Linear Algebra. He was one to whom I approached first. He told me don't worry about the grades just learn the subject. His famous line, which I will never forget "Just write down the things while reading."

He was the true motivation for me throughout my MSc.

Whenever I came to IIT Kanpur, I always went to his office, and he always ask about my academic life, where are my other batchmates, what they are doing, and the best thing was, he knew almost every one of us by our names. Few days back, I was thinking to meet him, and wanted to thank him for all the support.

I really lost a friend, a mentor, a true motivator.

We will miss you sir! You will always be remembered among your students.

Om Shanti

We served together as wardens in one of the hostels of IITK long ago and I remember his help for smooth operation.With pleasing personality and smiling face of Arbind I feel sad that the left us. My condolences to all his family members. Om Shanti.

Lal Sir's office never intimidated us. Sometimes we used to display overtly entitled behavior in our demand for help. No matter where we were placed on academic scale, we could accost him with ease, and he never failed us. An epitome of patience for his students, he was always available to help and guide in personal capacity. Failure to express this gratitude while he was with us, feels like a reprehensible behavior now. It is a lifelong aspiration-to imbibe his zeal for life and love for humanity. His memories are going to guide the course of our lives.

I am unable to accept his absence. He has always shown his support for me. We have collaborated as a team in many articles. Even now also, some work is still pending at my desk. I wish I could have completed it quickly. He was always there for me. Be it research discussion, family visit or anything.

Rest in Peace, O dearest one. It has truly been a privilege to have shared your company. May you keep smiling into eternity and may we meet again and share a laugh in the hereafter...

I learned Subject Algebra MTH 204 from him and I also admire the problem-solving techniques of him. I use some of his techniques in my teaching as well. I lost my two Teachers Dr Sudipta Dutta and now Dr A.K.Lal. My sincere condolence to his grieved family. Rest in peace Sir.

I interacted with Arbind a lot through badminton. We had some memorable tournament wins as a doubles team.
As with everyone else, I had differences with Arbind also. These ended with a hug which is forever embedded in my memory.

The untimely tragic death of Prof A K Lal is unbelievable to me. I met him HC one hour before his death. His smiling face I still remember. He was fully active and smiling. I sometimes wonder why Almighty recalls such nice individuals who work to give His creation happiness.

May God help all his family members to over come this irreparable loss.

Every time we met, generally over walk in the evenings, he appeared full of energy. He would laugh loudly after sharing a joke. He was a good friend. I will miss him.

Irreparable personal loss.

I am finding it difficult to come to terms with this harsh reality. I have lost a well wisher and a dynamic young colleague. Our bonding with Arbind has been so strong that we always took him for granted for any help during crisis or even for trivial matters. Arbind did not have the word "NO" in his dictionary when it came to helping others. Students are going to miss him in a big way as he was always available to them for any kind of help (academic or personal). Institute has lost a dedicated academician and an academic leader having extraordinary passion for teaching and improving overall academics.