To Our Departed Teacher

To Our Departed Teacher

(P K Routray

Bondage at our Alma-mater

knitted over long five years

since1965 when we joined together

you for your doctoral work to aid scientific innovation,

we to learn A B C of our engineering profession

further nourished and nurtured there after

as fellow alumni, and as students and a teacher.

too swet and too strong that was to so suddenly shear.

Cruel is the destiny to snap the long loving tie,

a truth of life none on this earth can ever deny.

The news of your death broke our heart bringing tears to our drying eyes

reminding us of our association, now as if a fiction with fabricated lies

We tell our grand children on us as students and you as teacher

How you controlled us not by cane but the tones of a big brother.

We remember our naughty nuisances in class when you faced the black board

melting us to repentance when you turn your head with smile sharper than sword.

We remember, relish and smile now at your murmuring objection

when with volumes of books our senior batch entered the hall of examination

to appear an open book examination system in one design paper

being fresh from college unaware you were and were caricatured by our seniors.

The joke was shared by you with us and your colleagues without hesitation

teaching a morale that preparation is a perquisite at every step even for invigilation

As a friend, philosopher and guide, you were our true teacher of this life

in you we found a true Master who gave us the strength to cross over many a strife.

Over the years on occasions we met you when you called us by our first name

With this advanced age, and experiences of many chairs, we swear we relished the same.

We left our Alma- mater after five years and hardly could serve her

You dedicated your entire life at her service, a real love of a son to his mother.

We salute you, Sir as a worthy Alumnus and as our revered teacher

pray we the Almighty to lay your soul in peace and bliss forever.

(Proff Patel taught us while continuing his P hd. in 1965. he was only seven years senior to us. He was a teacher and friend for us. This is a tribute to him.)