‘Her smile lit up every classroom’: Students remember DU professor Debosmita Paul found dead in Delhi flat

NEW DELHI: The murder of Delhi University assistant professor Debosmita Paul has left students, colleagues and friends struggling to come to terms with the loss of a teacher many describe as warm, encouraging and deeply committed to her students.

Debosmita Paul, 42, an assistant professor in the English Department of Shivaji College, was found dead inside her apartment in east Delhi's Vasundhara Enclave on Thursday.

Police have registered a murder case and launched an investigation.

For many former students, however, the news was not just another crime story. It was the loss of a mentor who had shaped their academic and personal journeys.

I first met Debosmita ma'am during first year in college. She taught English, but her lessons often went beyond textbooks. Cheerful, disciplined and attentive to every detail, she believed in doing things the right way and expected the same from her students.

As a student, I was involved in creating social media content for college. Ma'am would often appreciate my work and encourage me to take on new stuff.

Even after college ended and I got busy with a full-time job, she would casually call or message me about events, urging me to participate and continue creating content.

She always seemed genuinely invested in her students' growth.

I particularly remember a period during my third year when I got busy attending events at other colleges and participating in activities that brought awards to our college. Because of those commitments, I often missed her classes.

Yet she never treated me harshly for it. Instead, she ensured I remained academically on track, supported my extracurricular work and encouraged me to balance both.

Looking back now, those missed classes are something I regret.

Former students echoed similar memories.

"Ma'am always did her work with perfection. She encouraged students to take responsibility, show leadership and give their best," said Abhimanyu Solanki, a former student.

"She was one of the most approachable professors and always greeted everyone with a smile. As Head of ECA, she played a huge role in the personality development and careers of hundreds of students. The Vivekananda Study Circle, in particular, owes a lot to her efforts in reviving it and encouraging students to learn from the principles of Swami Vivekananda."

Another former student, Vriti Jain, recalled how Paul made literature feel personal and engaging.

"Dr Debosmita Paul was my very first professor in college, and honestly one of the reasons Indian literature became so special to me. Her classes never felt distant; they felt warm and full of conversation. Her smile lit up every classroom she taught. Whether it was discussing texts, assignments or future studies, she was always encouraging. Reading those texts will never feel the same again," she said.

Her WhatsApp about read "Be Festive" — a phrase that, in many ways, reflected the person students and colleagues remember.

Energetic, optimistic and deeply involved in campus life, Paul was known for her enthusiasm both inside and outside the classroom.

As one of the members associated with UDAAN, a cultural organisation, she was often at the centre of events and initiatives that brought students together, encouraging participation, creativity and leadership at every opportunity.

A well-regarded academic, Paul spent a decade teaching at Maharaja Agrasen College before joining Shivaji College, where she was on the faculty at the time of her death.

Her scholarly interests encompassed partition studies, Indian literature, postcolonial literature, and translation studies, as noted on Shivaji College's official website. She completed her undergraduate studies at Maharaja Agrasen College, pursued her postgraduate degree at Barkatullah University, and went on to earn both her MPhil and PhD — the latter in 2016 — from Jamia Millia Islamia.

At Shivaji College, the shock was equally profound.

College principal Virender Bhardwaj described Paul as a sensitive and hardworking teacher who had become an integral part of the institution during her two-and-a-half years there.

"She was enthusiastic about cultural activities and would often accompany students wherever they participated," he said, adding that she never appeared distressed or troubled in the days before her death.

A condolence meeting was held at the college on Friday, where students and faculty members gathered to pay tribute.

According to police, a PCR call was received at New Ashok Nagar Police Station at around 2.35 pm on Thursday after Paul's sister, Devarati Paul, reported finding her dead inside her apartment at Satyam Apartments in Vasundhara Enclave.

Cops said Paul lived alone in the flat. Concerned after repeated phone calls went unanswered, her sister visited the residence, broke open the lock and discovered the body.

Police found severe head injuries and suspect she was attacked with a blunt object. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the apartment complex and nearby areas and are also gathering details of visitors, including delivery personnel, who may have visited the flat in the days before the incident.

A case has been registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and multiple teams have been formed to identify and apprehend those responsible.

For those who knew her, however, the investigation is only one part of the story.

The other is the memory of a teacher whose vibrant smile, constant encouragement and belief in her students left a lasting impact on countless lives.

(The author is a former student of Maharaja Agrasen College)