Shillong, Sep 28 (IANS): One of the most renowned academicians of the Northeastern region, and former Rajya Sabha member Bidhu Bhusan Dutta died in Shillong on Monday after a brief illness. He was 86.

Dutta is survived by a daughter and son Sabyasachi Dutta, who is the Executive Director of the Shillong-based think-tank and research group 'Asian Confluence'.

His wife had passed away a few years ago.

A teacher of Shillong's St. Anthony's College and founder chairman of the 'Asian Confluence', Dutta had established the Sri Aurobindo Institute of Indian Culture in Shillong and authored a number of well acclaimed books.

He was General Secretary of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee and became the General Secretary of the North East India Congress Coordination Committee.

The academician-turned-politician had also closely worked with Assam's former Chief Minister Hiteshwar Saikia and northeast India's other prominent politicians -- Williamson A. Sangma, S.C. Jamir, Hokishe Sema, Purno A. Sangma, P.R. Kyndiah among others.

The cremation would take place in Shillong on Tuesday.