Sunday, 28 February 2016

Kanhu's memories : Headmaster (Late) Shri Kishore Chandra Panda on his 101st birth Anniversary

Kanhu’s School days: 


Pre-amble to my School days:
As my memory goes back to sixties I am born in SIKIRI village, near Hinjilicut, taken care by mother the great, Smt. Ra’as Padhy & my elder brother Shri Kalu Charan Palo. At that time, our village had no upper primary school even. But to our good luck, when I was studying in the primary school in class two, there was an initiative for upgrading the lower  primary school to Upper primary school by our village school committee. In the process, I, along with few of our class mates to name  at least one is Surendranath Maharana passed out from UP school. It was the year 1960-61. It was a great worry for the parents.As there was no ME school  in our village due to which some class mates left studies. Although one high school, named ‘Brundaban Vidya Pitha’ was available (established in 1941-42) at HInjilicut, 3 kilo meters away from our village, SIKIRI.  But crossing that much distance was a big
टी task for us. However, I and some of my friends took admission in the Brundaban Vidyapitha (BBVP), High school in the  year 1960-61 in class sixth and first time I met Sghri Kishore Chandra Panda , a great Personality at that time.
Our School days at BBVP: From our village few of class mates named Surendra Maharana , Maguni Padhy, Gadadhar Padhy, and others were got admitted into the BBVP high school. To my knowledge as it goes, I remember the teachings of some of our ex teachers like Shri Natabar Panigrahi (Mathematics teacher), Madan Mohan Pada Social studies  , Shri Patnaik (English) etc. They were the gems of the teachers during the sixth & seventh classes. Especially I can’t forget the kneel down /Uda-basha punishment for the non homework students by our Shri Natabar Panigrahi ,Sir ! Similarly Our English teachers’s grammar teaching style is yet remembered ! Moreover my crossing the Rushi-kulya river canal passing by our village (as there was no bridge across the canal) in the rainy days was a great hurdle for me to come to school. There was only the mud (Kacha) road available joining Hinjilicut & SIKIRI. Sometimes one of our servant uncle, Shri Sadananda Gouda  used to help me in crossing the canal. I was finding it difficult to come to school by walking due my physical delicacy. Anyhow two years passed by like this by burning midnight oil ( Kerosine Deep/lantern) in the village itself as there was electricity at that time in my village .
Paradigm Shift in my life style:
Then we were promoted to eighth class. Somehow starting few months went by. Then, it came the rainy days. Our servant was not available in the morning hours for letting me cross the river during the first hour of the days. Then my elder brother, Shri Kalu Charan Palo (by birth surname Padhy)  , who had left the high school studies due to not allowed to stay in BBVP hostel, decided to put me in hostel in the same year while I was in eighth class. Here on wards my life style got leveraged by the influence of my brother’s status in the village and I started enjoying school days from then onwards. I made good friendship with many of my hostel mates like Amiya Kumar Mohapatro, Gouri Shankar Prusty, Balaji Panda, Bijoy Kumar Bishoi, and other class mates like Bijoy Kumar Mohapatro, Srihari Panda, Gurunath Sahu, Khali Panda, Santosh Kumar Padhy, Bhaskar Padhy, etc.
Some memorable events:
 I remember, during one of the Saraswati Puja occasions, we used to celebrates with good variety of dishes like, Puri, Aludum, Payasam(Khiri), Ladu, Bundi etc. There was a discussion about a good eating. One of class mates, Mr. X   claimed that he could eat maximum number of Puries with all other dishes too. The completion went on; It reached to a number 22. We were worried whether he needs to be taken to hospital or will go smoothly. However, it went on well, he was declared safe! Another friend Mr. Y was very much eager to get first class marks by competing with other first class achievers. But it was difficult in the normal way of studying. However, he did not leave it like that. You will be surprised to know that, he started reading, writing, reading & writing the same topics, now & then until he gets by hearted with the topics. This way he could achieve his goal of getting a first class marks in the  Matriculation examination and afterwards he went to Defence service,, I think he is retired & living in Delhi.  One of my friends Mr.Z because of his general knowledge in the national & internal levels he was fetching the crowd in the All India Radio Scool programs assembly near the window of our Head Master Shri Kishore Chandra Panda(KCPanda).
Memoirs of (Late) Shri Kishore Chandra Panda, Headmaster, Brundaban Vidyapitha, Hinjilicut:
What to tell about me and others, some became friends & remained as my good friends, some are within reach & some are far away! Having told so much about me & others , I have not spoken about my Headmaster, Shri Kishore Chandra Panda on whose 101st birth anniversary we all Matriculation 1966 Batch pass outs are coming  together to remember him and recollect his memoirs on 1st July 2016.  His contribution to our locality and our people at large will be remembered for ever. His contribution to our school is unforgettable. He has also struggled to establish this school with begging bowls along with school committee members during 1941-42. He had inspiring qualities to recollect the event, I put across in brief in this article that one day in the pity hours he took us to the paddy fields to teach something. HE called on the casual workers for getting the bowed saw and asked us to go cut the grasses. We were hesitant to do so. Then instead of scolding us, he himself took another bowed saw and started cutting the grasses.  Then we started following him , this way his teachings are well remembered by me and probably for others too.
Condolences:
To those bereaved families of our friends, who passed away of their lives in the course of their journey on this earth with us. May Lord Jagannath give them strength to live with their children & families.
Post Matriculation Status:

I think, our 1966 Matriculation batch was one of best batches, of the BBVP high school during those days. Many of us have achieved their dream goals and well placed & many are retired, living in a peaceful lifestyle. In the process, too achieved my qualifications with  B.E (Electronics) graduate, MBA(Finance Management) ,PGDBA (HRM & FM),Post Diploma in Computer Engg ),Diploma in Electronics & Telecommunication. I served the DGAQA, Min.of Defence, Govt. Of India as a Sr. Sc. Officer-II, Served for sometimes in NAL, Sr. Consultant at few Private Organisations, and at present I am running my own concern company, KCTRONICS Innovative Consultancy Services Private Limited as the Managing Director at Bangalore, India. vide: http//www.kctronics.in , http:www.kanhucharanpadhy.blogspot.in , E-mail:kanhupadhy@gmail.com, kanhu@kctronics.in 

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