A man with no peer

A man with no peer

 

At my fontanel

reverberates a yell

that Kali is an angel

not a man, mortal

sent with a mission

as a man common

to demonstrate

for the fellow beings to emulate

the values and ethics

within divine-set yardsticks

to arrest human degradation

in this age of deterioration.

All, we hail, “He did wonder

succeeding in every sector

with his angelic

and prolific

thoughts, words and deeds

what the society now needs,”

scoring over time, set

may it be the project date

or growing his family tree

luxuriant, vibrant, dirt-free

or binding men in a social knot

securing in each heart a slot.

Suave, sober and sweet

determined to thwart a defeat,

superbly skilled,

iron-willed,

soft-spoken,

hurting ever none

despite commanding tone

with smiles of his own

ever ornamenting

never deserting

his brown face

glittering his grace

that captivated

and crafted

an aura

to dispel any trauma.

bonding us all

him with love Kali we call.

-a name nectarous

and stimulates us.

Hailed him in public

as, to Krishna, did a Gopi, rustic

his spouse, Sabita in his presence

lauding his credence

that made us jealous

“Never a hubby has heard thus.”

As a student

he was brilliant.

After days at alma-mater

poured on him, offers.

Preferred he a career

in a giant public sector.

As a PSU engineer

excel him, could no peer,

with honors, showered

assured was his march upward,

on the managerial ladder.

He could capture

the post of general manager

to the pride of our Alma-mater

Superannuated he

from the company

where initiated, he, his career

                                                          -an acclamation, to cheer.

His ability and success,

covetously could asses

the wizards in the power sector

with tempting offer

obtained his assent

to join their top management.

There he did wonder

inflating their exchequer.

Daily year after year

the strain he could bear

for more than forty years.

Steps umpteen to negotiate

amidst pollutants in spate

heat, noise abnormally high

hazards numerous to vie

braving those all

the target set for Kali did never fall..

 

Blessed are we few

as with him we grew.

Besides his kith and kin

his favor, we could win.

as his classmates since a teen.

we was ever on his inner scene.

Rec seventy

is a batch well-knit

Joining their web

propelling never to ebb

spouses with their partners

made life agog with pleasures.

Annual trip of merrymaking

many hearts together it could bring

to forget oldage with teen agers’ joy

Kali was the kingpin to make the ploy.

Golden jubilee meets

all get-togethers’ treats

Sundarbana, Gauhati, Kerala Srtilanka trip

all their success was under his captainship.

 

Kali! I don’t shy

at my loud cry

like a child for its lost mother

as shock made my vision blur

embarrassing all present

from your grandkid to neighbor, distant.

Instead I consoling your progeny

the scene was made an irony

before your grandkids your daughter

consoled me back to composure.

the outburst was not mine

something divine

lying within me latent

seeing you, silent

burst on its own

to me, it is not known

as if it is the sound of all hearts

mutilated and torn to parts

or it met you at ether

on your way to next harbor

to His abode, as we pray so

and prayers of all. you, who know.

 

Your WhatsApp to me

often now I see.

that indicates me, your assignment

for a lifelong commitment

seeking a life certificate for you

I shall wait for next week due

as was fixed by you as week next.

Tell me friend How was it hexed?

Preserve I your last WhatsApp

as prasad in my heart with strap

Tears will come often

hearts will scatter broken

till our sigh continues to run

lost we of this life with you living fun

No Kali will be there, us to marshal

Rec 70 cannot sustain this blow lethal.

 

But finally for absolute good

you,assure we should

as thus

from us.

Hey Kali! Wiping out our tears

you, we bid adieu with cheers

so that desert you must

us at earth crust

 on your mission

with Lord, your union.

Hey Lord! We pray for pardon

his om hission and commission

if at all done

under mortal discrimination’

 as those are only for us

Bless Kali for his deeds glorious.

 

P K Routray

in the service of Lord

 

 

 

(To me Kali’s lastWhatsApp

: Dear Prasant,

      I am sure, you must be submitting life certificate for your pension, can you you help me in getting life certificate ? I am getting a pension of ₹1364/ per month.

X X X X

Let me try some time next week.)

 

 

(K C Panigrahi was my class mate in Engineering wef 1965 to 1970 and since all these years we stayed bonded with around 150 classmates. He departed us on 30/11/2021. This is a tribute to my friend