Sudhir, I repent

Sudhir, I repent

P K Routray 

 

 

Stout personality,

standout humility,

stainless smiling face,

subtle, Scintillating grace.

splendid, soundless gait

Serene, sublime emotional state

shaped Sudhir’s worldly frame

consumed now by pyre’s flame.

Lost to us is our dear classmate

to me a colleague par excellence as I rate.

Console us, our scriptures with one say

that soul of Vasudev is immortal, it can never die.

But fails it to soothe our hearts’ bleeding in pain

cherishing the bondage, with minds of a man insane.

Remember I with tears the nostalgic memory

cherished events over more than half a century

as a classmate sharing our pain and pleasure

in one hostel over five years staying together

sharing the same dining hall bathrooms and toilets

same check post same back post exhausting our pockets.

And then as a colleague in Nalco since its inception

shoulder to shoulder working till our superannuation.

Over half a century, our association

fragranced by Vasudeva, a unique person.

All superlatives in his praise will fall short

that with him my long association can assert.

To our alma-mater, I bow to say her

Vasudev as a professional had no peer

He is an architect to Nalco’ grandeur

unveiling to the world “How rich was poor”.

Leaving his alluring position

from a PSU the fertilizer organization,

leaving the allures of a set town

to remote Damanjodi he came down

with his family and small daughters

braving the uncertainty with future blurs.

Uncertain was then the company’s viability

with no education and medical facility

with wild bears frequenting his doweling place

no market, no communication to a distant place.

Allround Vasudeva-like selfless contributions

ignoring own goals for the sake of the nation

igniting the raw resources available with them

put the company, the deposit, the tribal at the helm.

They could only architect Nalco’s success story

humbles were they never vying after any glory

proving that the rich was carpeted as poor

a scenario at places rich in forestry, water, and ore.

Only after they scripted Nalco’s success story

rushed to the deposit world players, all in hurry.

A bauxite deposit once not suitable for exploration

the tribal around too raw to craft the production

the environ not conducive to the technology’s need

deterred the big players of the world to ignore it as a weed.

Negotiating Sunki stiff mountain range on the road

to receive gigantic equipment from home and abroad

abiding the laws and impediments on the rout

in time for erection and operation to Vasudeva a tribute.

Setting up a department on par with the best at abroad

Vasudeva is the brain the guiding force that all we laud.

Honest to the core, sincere without dispute

rose he in the ladder in career to GM as the fruit.

His subordinates and superiors from bottom to top

his peers, competitors now shed tears nonstop

cherishing, relishing their time with him in anguish

praying that his loss is only a tragic dream, it will vanish.

Some recollected his butt smoking habit

to smoke a cigar many a time extinguishing it.

Some tell the unheard pitch of his angry tone

sufficient for his erring subordinate for correction.

Some tell his help and advice saved them from ruin.

All in one voice tell Vaudeva was a man genuine.

Once on my lament

on his heart ailment

suspected by a doctor

drew his laughter.

He proved it funny

with more amorous journey.

As his classmate since teens

I vouch he is made of special genes.

At an age

when battles we wage

with siblings of our own

to share a mother’s protection

and to hold grandma’s finger

to go out of the house in fear

Vasudev left his state Punjab all alone

to a far off state Orissa for preparation

to embark on his life’s mission

leaving behind his parental protection.

Awed and worried was not he, at his early teens

at variations of dialects, customs, and cuisines

adopted he, it, best with India the rest

With such Alumni, our Alma-mater feels blessed.

To my Alma- mater I must bow to tell

your Vasudev was an alumnus jewel,

his contributions add glory to your fame.

Driven by his love for you, near to you he came

to serve all his life you, being his inspirations

and he could not part your gifted companions.

His soul needs your blessings to stay in peace

his dedications to your teachings, not go amiss.

To Nalco our crafted mother who nurtured us

Bless this soul your architect with deeds wondrous

His contributions, time can never wash away

but with time his name in memory will not stay.

Vasudev I salute you as a man on the street,

unconcerned for your Rengcolian, Nalconian feat

but for your care for those who love you

by ensuring your parting is not a bolt from blue

enduring the wraths of the diseases for four years

you acted normal to keep your loved ones in cheers

but your pains during your last fortnight of mortal stay

robbed their pains instead all prayed lord to take you away.

To madam Vasudeva and Raju, Tina, Sonu we pay our gratitude

to serve our dear friend with love at the highest magnitude

bearing the torture to their beloved in heart

put prayers for their health and happiness without dirt.

Recollect I, our wonderful association

as a nicker clad Vasudeva to Vasudva grown

with teeth breaking the bone to falling from its bone

with many queries to life and death, I moan.

Do the sincerity hard work for industrial success

curse a technocrat with diseases that none can assess.

With a healthy life style with vices hardly any

Why did Vasudeva depart and si also many?

Why do man die if he is to repeat the role again and again?

will we really get Vasudev repeating his roles with us as men?

Hey Vasudeva! I stayed with you so long

but I repent not singing at you on you my song.

Now my ached heart sings after your departure

at Lord's feet for peace and bliss to you as my prayer.

 

 

(Sudhir kumar Vasudeva is my classmate in REC wef 1965 to 1970 and was my colleague in NALCO till superannuation. This poem is writteb in his humor.)