To Siba,, Much we owe

To Siba,, Much we owe

 

A citizen, senior

a towering figure

retired

adored, admired

by all  his students

and by  their parents

by his peers and juniors

superiors and seniors

loved by the governor

being his boss as the chancellor

lauded by the public,  his audience

as a speaker-par excellence

also dear to  ignorant and wise

him, all  together eulogize

of whom loudly boast

his Alma-mater, most

of whom, his home town is proud

to whom we, his pals stay bowed

I found him yelling

with tears falling

over his Brundi’s body

as a shock of  a grave tragedy

like an immature small child

missing its mother,crying, wild

in it I saw his love for a friend

that tear, him did not offend

at such age and public  stature

but to Siba, it, friendship towers over.

Reminded it me of his gravest shock

at a younger age that he faced like a rock.

Then losing a friend and classmate

breaking down revealing his inner trait.

towards bondage of friendship

that made  ever me, to worship

since last fifty-eight years

as a moment that now it appears

   spending evenings many

on rock ofr Ma Budhithakurani

His jokes funny

captivating and brainy.

 that still I remember often

with words unspoken

not palatable to others

but pals’ agonies’ snatchers

brightening a gloomy face

seekers sought Siba's grace.

One often brings me to smile

remembering his ascents and style

“ On characteristics’ grandeur to pen

of Aurengazeb by Pederikakhya then..”

 

Born and brought up

at his ancestral setup

in Badamba, a town small

shifting at career’s call

away to Angul to bless us

making our days glorious

that continued to date

leaving us at the final exit gate

Siba ! Dreamt we many days with you

your jovial grace to life adding hue.

“ Man proposes God disposes”

that like none we could not asses.

Missing you Siba from among us

you made our time a bed of cacti.

Siba your philosophy, is very true

while bidding Jnana's final adieu

reverberating at Trisulia junction

you cited the Upanishadic version.

 

Remember I my all travels with you

at classmates' picnics, get-togethers a few

where hours looked like a second even less

when you are there, us to address it.

A vice chancellor of university two

administering many, how could you do?

As classmates, on us your grace benign,

and all who worked with you, it, will enshrine

our gratitude of life to you with a sigh

 we pay, thank God for such a divine tie.

 

Beg your pardon, at you, my jealousy

on the choice of careers by you and me

As Dronacharya you sat near the king

forgotten was I, your glories epics sing.

Shifted you to Sambal pur for study higher,

aiming at conjugal life and career together

achieved with laurel in both to your credit

Hey madam! You aided to achieve both right.

We Siba’s classmates  to you, the gratitude we owe

as pronounced by him, to you along with Siba we bow.

Hey shuvra shougata your success was your dad’s pride

despite being ever humble, his joy, he could not hide.

we also share pride with your dad while blessing you

to console you at this juncture words are too few,

our blessings for you will be forever

along with your dad’s from the heavenly altar.

 

Hey Siba your grace illuminate

bestowed on me, your class

temted it ,me to add marks extra

adding illegally to my class, the aura.
Now pray, I, God to pardon

as it was teenagers ‘omission`

As a vice chancellor in position

brought puffed rice in person

from Baripada to this Sudama’s door

 by Lord  Krishnan, now cries this poor

Hey Lord! Siba defeated you indeed

for friend’s sake reversing your deed.

Encrypt your mid-age mischief, I must

on our classmate, fair sex now lost

Coveted all then her with passion on

For her simplicity, she must be in heaven

Her offsprings both got your grace

meriting from their mother’s teenage face.

with Madam Meena, nothing to worry

on your behalf, we tell her a big “ Sorry”

of course, for Sibs some were hazards, professional.

Grape vines, numerous involving him were logical
Meena is magnanimous to excuse ever her hubby
as both of them with the lord separately made a lobby
to stay together life after life for eternity
Hence any mischief of Siba at any age to her has no entity    

At teens exhibited you

a stage actor, true

as an actor versatile

a hero to a villain hostile

a heroine to a comedian

direcror to producer – tasks utopian.

In real life you enacted it

and succeeded with credit.

Your role on the earth's crust

performed well meriting His trust

must have it secured his recognition

for the next role, the way to liberation.

I could not bow at your martial remains

apologize I blaming my health and pains.

 

P K Routray

In the service of the Lord

 

(N B Siba is my classmate sice 1964 and was the vice chancellor of north Orissa, a professor at Utkal University. He passed away on 17 th October 22univerxity and proo vice chancellor Central university at Orissa. this is a tribute to him)?