Surendra Kumar Gupta, Ph.D.

Surendra Kumar Gupta, Ph.D. peacefully left this earth surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.  He was eighty-seven years old.

All family and friends are welcome to attend the visitation and funeral services. Visitation will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline. Funeral Services will follow at 5:30 p.m. at the funeral home. A Celebration of Life event will be held on March 4, 2023, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the venue to be determined. Please see updated details on the venue at the Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline website (www.esterdahl.com)

Dr. Gupta grew up in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains in Dehra Dun, India. The son of an educator, he was a passionate and outstanding student from an early age excelling in both math and the humanities. He received his Masters in History from Lucknow University and won a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to attend Johns Hopkins University where he received his Ph.D. in Russian History. His dissertation was focused on Indian-Russian relations during the Cold War. Dr. Gupta then moved to Pittsburg, Kansas and was a Professor of History at Pittsburg State University for more than thirty years before retiring to continue his scholarship activities. Dr. Gupta was an outstanding educator teaching several generations of students in history and was a noted scholar having published several books and many research articles in his field. His scholarship activities took him to many countries all over the world and he also led many historical based tours of both Russia and China.

Dr. Gupta is survived by his wife, Swarna Gupta, his daughter and son-in-law, Drs. Archana and Nikhil Wagle of Bettendorf, IA, his oldest son Shailen Gupta of Bettendorf, IA, and his youngest son and daughter-in-law Drs. Rajnish and Pooja Gupta of Dublin, CA. His later years were filled creating joyous memories with his five grandchildren Rishi and Keshav Wagle and Milan, Avi, and Kishan Gupta.

Professor Gupta’s life was one filled with intellectual vigor and a commitment to his family. Up until the day he died, he loved nothing more than an evening sipping chai and engaging in passionate conversations about politics and history.  His death is a tremendous loss for all those who knew and loved him and may his soul now rest in eternal peace.

Memorials can be made to help support The Vivekananda School in care of 5421 Red Fox Road, Bettendorf, Iowa 52722.

Professor Gupta’s life work was in education and he believed passionately that humanity best moves forward if we educate children irregardless of their socioeconomic status. His main philanthropic endeavor was to help fund and support The Vivekananda School, which aims to provide a world class education to poorer children in the Uttarakhand region of India. His children plan to continue this support in his legacy.