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Mr Ashok Datta, 72 yrs, passed away on April 24, 2021, after a long battle with COVID-19 infection in New Delhi (India). Mr Datta was born on June 27, 1949, in Shimla, Himanchal Pradesh, India. After completing his graduation, he served Border Security Force (BSF) for a brief period, but due to his scientific leaning, he chose to be an entrepreneur and started his own printing and publishing business in New Delhi. He was involved in the printing and publishing of many scientific periodicals. Mr Datta lived a warm and happy life, filled with kindness and gentleness. Mr Datta was a founder member of the Society for Sugar Research & Promotion established and registered in 1999 starting working from his home at Ashok Vihar, New Delhi. He took great interest and initiative in establishing the society during its formative years. He was also instrumental in starting and establishing the publication of Sugar Tech journal which has now acquired the global prominence. The Sugar Tech journal is now being published in association with the Springer Nature and is circulated in almost all sugar producing countries. Due to initiative and farsightedness of Mr Dutta, Sugar Tech became a major activity of SSRP society which has been recognized as one of the best publications on sugar crops all over the world with ISI impact factor of 1.591 (2020). Ever since the inception of SSRP in 1999, Mr Datta played a significant role as Treasurer of the Society as well as planning the academic activities such as conferences and meetings at national and international levels. Mr Datta was a very gentle and soft-spoken person and had a great liking for nature, social services and promotion of scientific activities. He will always be remembered for his extremely valuable selfless services to the Society and promotion of Sugar Tech journal. We, the members of SSRP, express our deep condolences and gratitude to Late Shri Datta ji for his invaluable and significant contributions to the society and leaving a legacy of altruistic service and dedication. He is survived by his wife, one son and daughter and his grandchildren. We pray that GOD bless his departed noble soul with peace and give his family and friends enough strength to bear this irreparable loss.