THE STORY OF DURGA DUTTA TRIPATHI

Cozily cuddled among lush green surrounding was a building, a building that nested many departments; Department of Journalism, Department of German Language, Department of Russian Language and Department of French Language. Moving clockwise next to it was the Department of History, adjacent to it was a slope with a way leading to Science Faculty, then the way leading to Department of Microbiology. Following it was the Chanchi Mehta Auditorium, close to it was the General Education Building, next to it were two hostel buildings and then the Library, besides it was the Cyber cafe for collegians. In the center of all these buildings lay the cricket ground.

Before and after the class we the French student would pass time chit chatting under the shady trees overlooking the entrance. Once my eyes fell on a young and eye-catching person, he was stylish, his accent native and language expressive, I asked my friend “Who he was?”. My friend replied “Durga Dutta Tripathi, section head of our department”

It was in the second year that I came in touch with him. It was an introductory meeting we exchanged views, thoughts, hobbies, likes and dislikes. It was just a matter of few weeks, we came closer. I told him that I have started expressing my thoughts in the form of couplets and I would be glad if you help me improve it. He happily agreed, whenever I approached him with a new work, he was there ready to receive it, correct it and comment on it, his company was encouraging and motivating. I would be there at the department’s office in his company, whenever I was free. He was a clean person, and would insist a person to work on the right thing and in the right way. He would talk about his school day, the way he commuted from his village to the school; he would also talk about his grandfather who was well versed with Sanskrit Language and a disciplinarian. The attribute of being disciplined was endowed to him by his grandfather.

We had become friends. When friendship matters more, all other things matter less.

        

The Diploma results were declared. I was sitting in the office with Durga Dutta Tripathi and Madhu Suraiya. They had jointly accepted me as a faculty to teach the students of Adult Education and Continuing Studies. When we three arrived at the classroom, Durga Dutta Tripathi advised me two thing.

1.   Never lie to your students.

2. When asked, if you don’t know a thing, accept it, work on it and explain it the next day.

With these sermons in mind, I started teaching. I would see that nobody was left out. I used to make it an interactive session. I gave them a feeling that you too can do it. My intention was to build bridges so that the traffic of teaching commutes over it smoothly. I remained successful. On the last day while parting few girls and boys tried to touch my feet. Never had I thought collegians to behave so in a college. That was an eye-opener for me. It left me with a question? “Do we teacher try to understand our students?”.

The honor and respect so gained was all because of his guidance. I didn't follow the hearsay, instead guided by his wisdom I tried to be honest.  I found “The world is not the way people say but it is the way we explore it. 

Next I will be there with the story of Sudhakar Devangodi.