Open Letter
‘Where are you?’
‘How are you?’
‘Can you hear me?’
This may sound like the queries
Of an astronomer about aliens
In distant planets,
But they are not.
This is nostalgia or reminiscence
Of an aged idle man in his mid-sixties
Separated by long distance and time
From the dear and near, - or well known.
Can you hear me Sirs-dear and revered –
My hearty gratitude for you all:
Pandab Sir who mixed love with sympathy;
Ranga Sir who taught basics of grammar and
Put its foundation stone;
Subas Sir good, loving, and handsome,
Said to be the most eligible bachelor then,
Embraced sainthood, not a bride,
For reasons best known to him and left us.
Roy Sir added drama to teaching English
While doing ‘The Tinder Box’ or grammar.
Sadashiba Sir —who was so precise and clear,
That learning Sanskrit from him was very easy.
Acharya Sir —who taught us Odia, was so loud and clear
That he could be heard from a distance.
Poet –teacher Tripathy Sir –how can you forget his antics?
Gave us brief written work and vanished from sight;
As you wondered where he went, you found him
Standing at your back pulling your ears!
Head Sir, lectured like a college teacher–
Flawless and fluent was his English.
This list is just a sample.
Chaudhury Sir—now ninety years old or so and ALIVE!
Has been an excellent science and math teacher
Who makes difficult lesson pretty easy
And where are you—
Deepti, Alekh, Mitra, Redy and Khetra
Have you all left for heaven
Or sticking to this dusty world of ours—
Keeping watch on your all ex—
And how are you—
Padmanav, Sneha, Sudesna et.al–
(Must have become grand - parents now).
This a request, in an open letter,
Please respond to it, at least in dream.
