What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god.”, thus sings the immortal bard Shakespeare.
One such species of humanity overflowing with the milk of human kindness and sympathy for his loving students was Professor Devendra Kumar Ray. He was like a holy angel who had led his flocks of students imbuing them with a passion for literature and with a love for reading and scholarship.
He opened his innings to his first love teaching in the newly-opened BJB College in the year 1959 and subsequently joined as HoD English, Khalikote College and was a faculty in the PG Department of English in Ravenshaw College.
A brilliant teacher of English, he had assimilated in him the quintessential traits of his illustrious band of predecessors like Prof KPS Pillai, Prof PS Sundaram, Prof Obrien, Prof. Dr Prafulla Pati and Prof Sarbeswar Dash. He had enriched the glorious tradition of the Department of English of Ravenshaw College by his inimitable style of teaching and unique individual talent.
Climbing the hierarchical ladder, he was appointed as Registrar, Utkal University, Director of Textbook Printing and Publication, Director of English Language Teaching Institute and Director of Public Instruction of School and Mass Education, Odisha.
He was the second Odia to achieve first-class in English MA from Utkal University, the first person being Prof GK Das who retired as Prof of English from Delhi University.
Honours and accolades came cascading down upon him. In recent past, he was conferred upon the Ravenshaw Ratna Award by the Ravenshaw University. Students remember with nostalgia his unique method of teaching where in the lectures from his mouth at Ravenshaw classrooms fell upon his students like a Delphic oracle from the mount of Olympus.
He was adored for his intense love towards English language and literature and his teachings were to his students like a fresh mountainous air after a sultry summer afternoon. A profound scholar, an eloquent speaker, a strong administrator, he was also a cordial person who exhibited a deep love for his profession that earned him love and admiration from the student mass. Anyone who is someone in Odisha today is unmistakably his student.
He belongs to a family of repute and renown. His late father was an illustrious headmaster of a High School. His two brothers SK Ray and DK Ray were Director of Veterinary Services and Chairperson of OERC, respectively. He was leading a life of isolation for the last three years after his wife left him alone and joined the other world. He is survived by his son, who lives in Canada, and two daughters who stay in Bhubaneswar. Finally, he joined his pilgrimage to eternity on September 14, 2020.
He may not be physically there, but he will be spiritually alive in the minds and hearts of his students and his teachings shall ever be deeply embedded in the psychic residue of the collective unconscious of the student community.
The alumni of PG Department of English of 1973-1975 batch offer thier deep condolences to the bereaved family and their prayers rest with Lord Jagannath for allowing his soul to rest in the eternal abode of celestial bliss!
(The writer, a senior journalist, was a student of PG Department of English, Ravenshaw College, 1973-1975 batch)