At the time of passing Matriculation, Odisha (then known as Orissa) was not a separate province. Orissa & Bihar was then one province whose capital was Patna. As such, he passed Matriculation from the Patna University.
After High School he wanted to pursue higher education through college at Cuttack since there was no college at Dhenkanal. He then moved alone from Dhenkanal to Cuttack in the hope of staying with one of his maternal uncles there. That uncle also happened to be a Professor in the college at Cuttack. On arrival at Cuttack he contacted said uncle who greatly disappointed him. The uncle told that he can not support him for the college education. My father then requested him only to allow him to stay at his outhouse so that by giving private tuition he can earn and support himself for the college education. This arrangement too was not agreed by his uncle and he advised him to join some service without pursuing higher studies. Thus ended the dream of my father's college education. Much later, when my father was a senior officer in the Police Department, the same uncle had to beg favour from my father who readily provided the same; such is destiny's poetic justice!
Left with no other alternative, he applied to join the police department and succeeded in being recruited as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (A.S.I.)of Police in Bihar-Orissa cadre. Had he been a college graduate, he could have joined as a Sub-Inspector (S.I) instead of A.S.I..
He was very diligent, honest and hardworking right from beginning. Within two and half years he got promoted to the post of S.I. at the age of 26 (1927) and was posted at Lalbagh police station of Cuttack. In four years, i..e. in 1931, he became the youngest In-charge of this most important police station of the state.
On 1st April 1936, Orissa was separated from Bihar and became a new province whose capital was Cuttack for a long time. Father then was automatically assigned to the Orissa cadre of the police. He was promoted to the post of Inspector of Police in 1940 and was posted to Angul. Here he first purchased his Motor Cycle which he sold out due to mother's objection/fear in 6 months time. After one and half years, he was transferred to Jaypore in Koraput district.
During the independence movement of 1942 his posting continued at Jaypore. Although he performed his official duties true to his conscience, he continued to have his soft corners for the freedom fighters. His police station was surrounded by the agitators who were attempting to put fire to the building. He controlled it single handed and, without resorting to firing, He dispersed the agitators only through a "lathi charge". During the lathi charge some of the agitators went under the culvert to our official bungalow near by. Two of them were caught by our home orderly constable; during their thrashing by him I, who was then 8 years, also joined in giving a blow or two. My father freed them and did not register any case against the duo. For his bravery he was awarded Imperial Police Medal during the year.
During the year 1944, father was transferred from Jaypore to Cuttack on promotion as Deputy superintendent of Police (Dy.S.P.) My youngest sister was born that year and she was named "Lakshmi" after the goddess of wealth/good fortune. During 1945 he was transferred from Cuttack to Balasore where he stayed as Dy. S.P. till 1948. After Independence in 1947 and merger of princely states during 1948, he was nominated for interview to posts in the elite Indian Police Service (I.P.S.). On the basis of interview and excellent service records he was selected to the I.P.S.. Incidentally, all the British bosses of father had rated him very high. They used to openly tell that his noting, drafts, knowledge of law etc were of highest order and better than any post-graduates in the department. His command of English language was appreciated by all and sundry.
After becoming an I.P.S officer in the year 1948, he was posted to Keonjhar district as its Superintendent of Police (S.P.). He took charge of his position from Mr. N. K. Ray, I.P. (Imperial Police) who was the son of Justice B. K. Ray the then Chief Justice of Orissa High Court. At the beginning of this posting, he purchased an old Station Wagon of Ford company from ex-Maharaja of Keonjhar. This vehicle he kept till year 1952 when he sold it and purchased a Ford Zephyr car. After one year, my father was transferred and posted as S.P. of Bolangir district at the beginning of 1950.While he was at Bolangir, my eldest sister had an accident which damaged her brain. In spite of all efforts she could not be cured. This became the most sad incident for the parents and my father could never reconcile. During this period I was studying in class ten and eleven of P.R.H.E. School, Bolangir from where I passed the test for appearing in the Matriculation examination of Utkal University in 1951. I sat in the same examination from Cuttack center as, by that time, my father was posted as S. P. Cuttack.
During the years 1954 and 1955, he was the S.P. of Balasore district and, for the final stint in his career, he was made the S.P. of Mayurbhanj district whose head quarter was Baripada town. He retired from service in the year 1959. He and the family moved to our newly constructed bungalow at Cuttack. This bungalow he constructed during 1958 on a scenic spot on the bank of river Mahanadi. The house stood in a compound which had one acre of land in the posh area of the then Cuttack city.
After retirement only, he gave in marriage both daughters (middle & the youngest) as well as both the sons. During this time, I also joined my fist job at Calcutta after refusing to take a lecturers job under Orissa Education service. My Younger brother stayed all along with my parents as, during his entire service period, he was stationed at Cuttack.
After the marriage of all their children, the parents completed their full responsibility. However, due to her brain damage, the eldest daughter became a source of lifelong pain and tension for the parents. This tension further aggravated due to the peculiar, strange and abnormal attitude/behavior of the second daughter in law staying with our parents. Mostly due to this tension, my father got high blood pressure followed by a stroke during 1979. This affected his speech and he got paralysed after he woke up from the coma subsequent to the stroke. When this event happened, I was posted at Bhubaneswar but, had gone a day earlier to Bombay (Mumbai) with my wife and three children under LTC by road in my car. On receiving information about father, we all immediately drove back to Cuttack on the next day after servicing the car. After reaching Cuttack I arranged for the best neurologist under whose treatment and, mostly due to the strong will of my father, he got back his speech. He also recovered from paralysis by 1981.
During my posting at Bhubaneswar from 1974 to 1983, every week end, I and family used to visit and stay with the parents at Cuttack. This has been the happiest moment for me, wife and my children who, still remember the unending affection of the grand parents. In July 1983 I was transferred to Lucknow after almost 9 years stay in Orissa. My parents became very sad hearing the news of my transfer and, for the first time in my life, I saw tears swell in my father's eye. He did not survive for more than three months after my transfer & his soul departed to its heavenly abode on 8th October, 1983. Thus ended the life of a saintly man who endeared himself to all in his lifetime. In his memory I had penned a few lines in the form of a poem published in my book of English poetry. The book has been published with the tittle "Bouquet of Wild Flowers". The said poem, placed at pages 92 & 93 of the book, is produced below:
My Father
"At early age he lost his parents
Matured amidst ample adversity,
Found no love amongst the kin
Endured bravely fate's adversity;
Began his studies in a small town
Full of foliage and chirping birds,
Nature and Books he would clone
The school days did finally pass.
As a lonely circumspect teenager
His own destiny did bravely chart,
Crossed all barriers without fear
God bestowed him a modest start;
Hope and dreams were the companion
Life became a saga of simplicity,
The downtrodden he would champion
Never hankered for fame or publicity.
His faith in honesty never shook
For punishing guilty he would book,
Protected the innocent without fear
Justice to him was always dear;
His life was always an open book
Truth and fair play were the tools,
For the sanctity, society he shook
To totally clear its encircling mess.
A family man he was to the core
Immensely loved his dear family,
Never wished them to know any fear
Like a cocoon shielded them totally;
Taught his children to be always brave
Never to tolerate falsehood or sin,
Faith in God they should take to grave
And destiny's war they will then win.
As a god fearing man full of support
He bestowed all the love to the family,
Sacrificed all his own needed comfort
For the entire family to be very happy;
Children grew up and took their way
But the father never remained far away;
His blessings were for them to protect
He never awaited their love to detect.
Truly he was a saintly hermit at heart
Never indulged in mundane pleasure,
Neither anger nor sorrow had their feet
In his broad mind's groove or corner;
His filial bondage was ever so deep
It never found any fault in offspring,
Never hankered for their care or help
In old age calmly bore his suffering.
Let mighty Lord ever rest his soul
In true glory and abundant peace,
Let his life's story remain an ideal
For his grand children's lovable face,
Everyday we dearly miss you dad
And search for your soothing hands,
Let your ideals grace our mental pad
To ever remind and truly guide us."
* * * * * * *
He was very diligent, honest and hardworking right from beginning. Within two and half years he got promoted to the post of S.I. at the age of 26 (1927) and was posted at Lalbagh police station of Cuttack. In four years, i..e. in 1931, he became the youngest In-charge of this most important police station of the state.
During 1930, he got married to my mother who was then only 16 years old. The age gap between my father & mother was thirteen years. During 1931 my eldest sister was born. She was followed by a son (who died young at the age of 1 1/2 years), then myself and two of my younger sisters and a brother in between. After the death of his first son he wanted to leave the official quarter in 1933 so that mother was not reminded often of the tragedy. Accordingly, he got transferred to take charge of the Reserve Police Line of Cuttack. Since this posting did not have an official quarter hence, nearby at Buxi Bazar area, he took a house on rent from one Kassim Sahib. This gentleman, who belonged to the Bohora community, had left Bombay to settle at Cuttack after his two ships had sunk in high sea during their voyage with Cargo. This was the house where I was born in 1935.
On 1st April 1936, Orissa was separated from Bihar and became a new province whose capital was Cuttack for a long time. Father then was automatically assigned to the Orissa cadre of the police. He was promoted to the post of Inspector of Police in 1940 and was posted to Angul. Here he first purchased his Motor Cycle which he sold out due to mother's objection/fear in 6 months time. After one and half years, he was transferred to Jaypore in Koraput district.
During the independence movement of 1942 his posting continued at Jaypore. Although he performed his official duties true to his conscience, he continued to have his soft corners for the freedom fighters. His police station was surrounded by the agitators who were attempting to put fire to the building. He controlled it single handed and, without resorting to firing, He dispersed the agitators only through a "lathi charge". During the lathi charge some of the agitators went under the culvert to our official bungalow near by. Two of them were caught by our home orderly constable; during their thrashing by him I, who was then 8 years, also joined in giving a blow or two. My father freed them and did not register any case against the duo. For his bravery he was awarded Imperial Police Medal during the year.
During the year 1944, father was transferred from Jaypore to Cuttack on promotion as Deputy superintendent of Police (Dy.S.P.) My youngest sister was born that year and she was named "Lakshmi" after the goddess of wealth/good fortune. During 1945 he was transferred from Cuttack to Balasore where he stayed as Dy. S.P. till 1948. After Independence in 1947 and merger of princely states during 1948, he was nominated for interview to posts in the elite Indian Police Service (I.P.S.). On the basis of interview and excellent service records he was selected to the I.P.S.. Incidentally, all the British bosses of father had rated him very high. They used to openly tell that his noting, drafts, knowledge of law etc were of highest order and better than any post-graduates in the department. His command of English language was appreciated by all and sundry.
After becoming an I.P.S officer in the year 1948, he was posted to Keonjhar district as its Superintendent of Police (S.P.). He took charge of his position from Mr. N. K. Ray, I.P. (Imperial Police) who was the son of Justice B. K. Ray the then Chief Justice of Orissa High Court. At the beginning of this posting, he purchased an old Station Wagon of Ford company from ex-Maharaja of Keonjhar. This vehicle he kept till year 1952 when he sold it and purchased a Ford Zephyr car. After one year, my father was transferred and posted as S.P. of Bolangir district at the beginning of 1950.While he was at Bolangir, my eldest sister had an accident which damaged her brain. In spite of all efforts she could not be cured. This became the most sad incident for the parents and my father could never reconcile. During this period I was studying in class ten and eleven of P.R.H.E. School, Bolangir from where I passed the test for appearing in the Matriculation examination of Utkal University in 1951. I sat in the same examination from Cuttack center as, by that time, my father was posted as S. P. Cuttack.
During the years 1954 and 1955, he was the S.P. of Balasore district and, for the final stint in his career, he was made the S.P. of Mayurbhanj district whose head quarter was Baripada town. He retired from service in the year 1959. He and the family moved to our newly constructed bungalow at Cuttack. This bungalow he constructed during 1958 on a scenic spot on the bank of river Mahanadi. The house stood in a compound which had one acre of land in the posh area of the then Cuttack city.
After retirement only, he gave in marriage both daughters (middle & the youngest) as well as both the sons. During this time, I also joined my fist job at Calcutta after refusing to take a lecturers job under Orissa Education service. My Younger brother stayed all along with my parents as, during his entire service period, he was stationed at Cuttack.
After the marriage of all their children, the parents completed their full responsibility. However, due to her brain damage, the eldest daughter became a source of lifelong pain and tension for the parents. This tension further aggravated due to the peculiar, strange and abnormal attitude/behavior of the second daughter in law staying with our parents. Mostly due to this tension, my father got high blood pressure followed by a stroke during 1979. This affected his speech and he got paralysed after he woke up from the coma subsequent to the stroke. When this event happened, I was posted at Bhubaneswar but, had gone a day earlier to Bombay (Mumbai) with my wife and three children under LTC by road in my car. On receiving information about father, we all immediately drove back to Cuttack on the next day after servicing the car. After reaching Cuttack I arranged for the best neurologist under whose treatment and, mostly due to the strong will of my father, he got back his speech. He also recovered from paralysis by 1981.
During my posting at Bhubaneswar from 1974 to 1983, every week end, I and family used to visit and stay with the parents at Cuttack. This has been the happiest moment for me, wife and my children who, still remember the unending affection of the grand parents. In July 1983 I was transferred to Lucknow after almost 9 years stay in Orissa. My parents became very sad hearing the news of my transfer and, for the first time in my life, I saw tears swell in my father's eye. He did not survive for more than three months after my transfer & his soul departed to its heavenly abode on 8th October, 1983. Thus ended the life of a saintly man who endeared himself to all in his lifetime. In his memory I had penned a few lines in the form of a poem published in my book of English poetry. The book has been published with the tittle "Bouquet of Wild Flowers". The said poem, placed at pages 92 & 93 of the book, is produced below:
My Father
"At early age he lost his parents
Matured amidst ample adversity,
Found no love amongst the kin
Endured bravely fate's adversity;
Began his studies in a small town
Full of foliage and chirping birds,
Nature and Books he would clone
The school days did finally pass.
As a lonely circumspect teenager
His own destiny did bravely chart,
Crossed all barriers without fear
God bestowed him a modest start;
Hope and dreams were the companion
Life became a saga of simplicity,
The downtrodden he would champion
Never hankered for fame or publicity.
His faith in honesty never shook
For punishing guilty he would book,
Protected the innocent without fear
Justice to him was always dear;
His life was always an open book
Truth and fair play were the tools,
For the sanctity, society he shook
To totally clear its encircling mess.
A family man he was to the core
Immensely loved his dear family,
Never wished them to know any fear
Like a cocoon shielded them totally;
Taught his children to be always brave
Never to tolerate falsehood or sin,
Faith in God they should take to grave
And destiny's war they will then win.
As a god fearing man full of support
He bestowed all the love to the family,
Sacrificed all his own needed comfort
For the entire family to be very happy;
Children grew up and took their way
But the father never remained far away;
His blessings were for them to protect
He never awaited their love to detect.
Truly he was a saintly hermit at heart
Never indulged in mundane pleasure,
Neither anger nor sorrow had their feet
In his broad mind's groove or corner;
His filial bondage was ever so deep
It never found any fault in offspring,
Never hankered for their care or help
In old age calmly bore his suffering.
Let mighty Lord ever rest his soul
In true glory and abundant peace,
Let his life's story remain an ideal
For his grand children's lovable face,
Everyday we dearly miss you dad
And search for your soothing hands,
Let your ideals grace our mental pad
To ever remind and truly guide us."
* * * * * * *
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