Vishwa Nath Datta

Vishwa Nath Datta (25 May 1926 – 30 November 2020) was a distinguished Indian writer, historian and professor emeritus at Kurukshetra University.

[3] Datta went to Cambridge University for research work where he was guided by Sir Herbert Butterfield and Percivel Spear.

Datta's association with Harivansh Rai Bachchan travelled further from Amritsar to Cambridge, and the friendship grew.

In a series of works, Bachchan discussed his enduring bond with Vishwa (Nath), dedicated his book, Buddh Aur Nachghar Tatha Pratham Kathaye to him and his wife, Kamala and considered him the first "nakshatrta purush" (the brightest star in the zodiac) he had met.

"[4] Datta was Professor Emeritus, Kurukshetra University, where he set up the Department of History in what was to become the newly founded state of Haryana, after leaving a lucrative position in government service.

His other works included A Nationalist Muslim and Indian Politics, Being the Selected Correspondence of the Late Dr. Syed Mahmud (1974); Madan Lal Dhingra and the Revolutionary Movement (1978); History of Kurukshetra (1985); Sati: A Historical, Social, and Philosophical Enquiry Into the Hindu Rite of Widow-Burning (1988); Maulana Azad (1990); Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Sarmad (2007); Gandhi and Bhagat Singh (2008).

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh commented "I compliment all those who have helped shape The Tribune into the newspaper it is today—the generations before us and the current torch-bearers of this fine institution.

Guha said Datta was "comradely, collegial and friendly", which was at odds with the usual hierarchical structure in academics.