Alumni Outstanding

 

Alumni Outstanding

 

Spouting basil

with leaves little

casts its captivating spell

by its sacredly scented smell

foretells its future, sacred and pious

and be a need of functions religious

wherever it goes to adorn

there the aura of holiness is born

Dama at his teens

with god gifted genes

exhibited his brilliance

like sprouting basil’s fragrance

being an extraordinary

by his acumen exemplary

over his subjects in the curriculum

with grasping power and wisdom

Stayed he at the top

no adversary, him, could stop.

silent and soft-spoken

but in oratory a champion

his innocence

in his smile and silence

expresses he in eloquence

on a topic,, its essence.

man of few words

least afraid of any hazards

sincere to the core

Innovative sure

Concentration intense

Humility immense

hypocrisy, absent

love for friends, abundant

confidence his forte

resilience is his bouquet

iron willed determination

never likes discrimination

set at teenage an ambition

teaching as his profession

when a little of the world is known

as if the love for the profession

was planted in him from heaven.

Epics tell

histories dwell

that in the days of yore

with regards in heart’s core

adorations pored

on par with the Lord

at a teacher as a Guru

implanting wisdom, true.

that baptized Dama as a child

with age, in him, thoughts also piled

to arrest the human degradation

needs it true teacher’s dedication

people tell

on him, the divine spell

shaped his aim

before on earth's crust, he came.

stuck he, to it

never made a drift

from childhood  at the school examination

“ Write, in life your, ambition”

to the stage, with choices galore

in the merit list being at the fore

his aim remained to be a teacher

foregoing perks, prestige, and power

with uncertainty in a teaching career

never he compared himself with a peer.

in technical division

in his branch of specialization

topping the university

he was having choices, free

to choose a profession to vie for

most alluring, most sought-after

Grammar does not permit

but no articles can fit

to Dama  to give his due

by alma- maters two

with awards precious

as outstanding alumnus

a rarest of rare accolades

that will thwart time’s crusades

on his way

he did not sway

at multiple junctions

to change his decisions

to be other than a teacher

that no allures could alter.

at the perks and power of the chair

he did not bother to stare

at each junction

luck shaped his destination

to make him a professor par excellence

with his research of awesome brilliance

applied and exhibited in practice

proving their worth as priceless

By ostentatious show

own trumpet people blow

to claim laurels and fame

and histories to speak of their names

to thwart time’s scythe as their aims.

As a man of value

disliked Dama this view

keeping such show at bay

longes he to remain away

staying at a place far-flung

unseen and unsung

on his contributions, numerous

in fields multifarious

at his alma- mater

as a teacher and its destiny shaper

school of medicine and management

are result of his  efforts, ardent

His innovative pursuance

in Tata Steel showed off its brilliance.

the tree of researchers he could guide

its luxuriant growth nothing can hide,

the tree proved his worth

across and beyond the earth

under his leadership  at his state

a technical university, the state could create

he gave his guiding direction

in right path gloomed the technical profession

As chairman of AICTU he did wonder

shaping its future to glitter

An evergreen Academician

his aura time and age could not stain

like old basil

whose fragrances whither a little

His brilliances never wane

that no laurels on earth can contain

his sacrifices on front, family, and social

unique he is with dedication colossal

proud we feel

with teenagers’ zeal

as Dama’s classmates,

pals and playmates

staying as borders

together for five years

then onward till todate

our contacts did not abate

for his contributions

laurels and recognitions.

Reminisce we

hostel days with glee

during study hours our commotions

irate Dam in his lessons

xeroxing his drawings,

borrowed on begging his blessings

and spoiling its glaze

in us his irritations blaze

disturbing him in the examination

were our habits common

responded he was a little

on honesty, he was not brittle

but a few days before the examination

for shortcut preparation

lent he support

sharing his tips from his port.

Scenes many

cherishing and funny

peep in us

reminiscing days glorious

with Dama in a classmate’s role

his role-play still we extol

our love and gratitude

over the years have accrued

for Dama in his teens to seventies

bring us to our knees

to pray to the lord

on him to accord

blessings to dispel

three miseries spell

removing his pains and tribulations

and grant him the bliss of the heavens.

Madam Sukalyani!!To you

our heart-felt gratitude is overdue

for standing behind Dama day in and day out

removing all stumbling blocks on his route.

 

 

P K Routray

In the service of the Lord

 

(Damodar Acharya is my classmate from 1965 to 1970. He was Director IIT Kharagpur Chairman AICTU,  first VC of BPUT Orissa)