A Boss Departed

A Boss Departed

P K Routray'

 

In my twilight days

at my past, often I gaze

with pleasure and gratitude

and also in dwindled magnitude

my anger, hatred and anguish.

All of them now I equally relish.

In heart of my heart, I long to meet

the persons in the past, loving and sweet

juniors, peers and superiors in the profession

friends, acquaintances, with me socially woven

as all in their own capacity

contributed for me to exist.

Long I to pay them my gratitude in person

before I depart to my final destination.

Towers over them all, my first big boss

to whom I served as a TA with much fuss.

Under the patronage of his office

initiated I my plant career and service.

The exhibitions of his managerial executions

taught me and many, life’s valued lessons.

For the sake of the plant at his younger age

shifting dates after dates he delayed his marriage

The plant and its health were uppermost in his mind.

His family need and comfort were kept behind.

To all he appeared tough and rough

when their efforts at the plant were not enough

to stretch them to their higher endeavor.

Sky is the limit, he urged to intensify one’s labor.

Before meeting him. all including his peers used to quiver.

They used to consult me as to his mood and temper.

and got coached by me their far junior before they enter.

thus skyrocketing then my vanity and arrogance

I beg now pardon from all for then my ignorance.

His is a true example of coconut character

soft, sweet, lovely within though hard exterior.

His out brust had seasoning effect on me.

His true nature as I knew, bow I with a bent knee.

Many incidents on recollection bring me tear

a boss like him to get and to emulate I cherished forever.

His car of old model at times needed cranking

being the last to leave the office for his plight my hear is still aching

His beetle story, his promises, his failure are known to me

on his request to shun the habit the ways I had to see.

At a very lower rung in managerial cadre

he was entrusted the major departments to administer

he did it successfully to commission Bokaro steel

marshaling the resources, genius was his skill.

Five decades of separation

on the subsequent destined mission

kept me at dark on my first chief

but one-year bac I talked over the phone with him in brief.

Strong steady with authority was his tone

he intended to visit Puri to see the lord on the throne

“ if a need arises some of your time Can you afford?

I want to visit Puri to bow ar Jagnath the supreme Lord”

A god sent opportunity to meet him in person

to express my gratitude and prostrated salutation.

Luck shattered my dream and this life’s aspiration

as in the newspaper, I saw the announcement on his final separation.

Hey B B Dutta Sir! We from Bokaro Steel past and present, alive and gone

pray the Lord to rest your soul in peace and tranquility in unison.

 

 

( N . B -Mr B B Dutta was deputy chief engineer in 1972 at Bokaro Steel Plant when i was a graduate trainee serving him as his technical assistant. he was then head of electrical, power plant, instrumentation automation and gas facilities. he left for his heavenly abroad on 29th January.)