Harsha Mookherjee

Services for Dr. Harsha Nath Mookherjee, age 82, of Cookeville, TN, will be at 11am on Saturday, August 11, at the Franklin Inn, 1308 Murfreesboro Rd, Franklin,TN 37064. Dr Mookherjee passed away Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at his home. He was born September 1, 1935 in Kolkata, India to the late Kanai Lal Mookherjee and Kamala Chatterjee Mookherjee. Dr. Mookherjee and his wife, Ira Ganguly Mookherjee, moved to the US from India in 1967 for him to pursue doctoral studies at Mississippi State University, where he was awarded his PhD in 1971. In 1970, he joined the faculty at Tennessee Tech University where he remained until his retirement as a full professor in 2008 as one of the most published faculty in the Department of Sociology and Political Science. He was an internationally respected authority in sociology and anthropology, became a Fulbright Scholar in 1985 where he was awarded the Fulbright to teach in Papua New Guinea. Dr. Mookherjee cared deeply about his students, establishing The Mookherjee Award, a scholarship for TTU sociology majors that encouraged publishing and academic excellence. He received numerous major grants for an Alcohol Safety Program he oversaw in the Upper Cumberland Area. As a founding member of the local Indian community, he helped to organize religious and cultural outreach programs across the Middle Tennessee region. He and his wife participated in the TTU Host Family Program (ICHA) since its inception in 1970 and he served as President of the ICHU Board for many years. Dr. Mookherjee was a member of the Cookeville Noonday Rotary. He was a dedicated teacher and wonderful mentor, respected and beloved colleague, and cherished friend who will be missed by many in the Cookeville community. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ira; daughter, Paramita (Mita) Mookherjee, son-in-law, Nikita Synytskyy, and grandson, Dmitriy Mookherjee Synytskyy, of Seattle, WA; and three sisters that reside in India. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Mookherjee Award at TTU, PO Box 1915 Cookeville, TN 38505. Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111 You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com