It was sometime in November 1992. I was then Dean, College of Agriculture, Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT). We had invited Biju Patnaik, then Chief Minister, as the chief guest for the College Commemoration Day in the morning. The function went on with its usual format of reading the annual performance report, speeches by the Vice-Chancellor and the chief guest and thanks giving. At the end, while CM was leaving, a group of girl students, without my permission, requested him to attend a programme to be presented by them in the evening at around 6 pm. The CM refused as he had other engagements.
It was 5.30 pm. I was in my room clearing some files. I received a call from the CM’s office that the CM would come to attend the programme of the girls at 6 pm.
I rushed to the Assembly Hall of the College. The hall was open, but there was nobody inside it. An attendant was playing some film songs on the microphone. I went to the entrance hall of the college. It was in a mess. There had been an exhibition arranged in the hall in the morning, where each department of the college had presented their research achievements. The exhibition was dismantled in the afternoon, leaving the display tables, torn papers and dust. I went back to my office. Everybody had left except caretaker Mr Samal. I called him and both of us started clearing the entrance hall. We pushed the tables to the staircase room. Mr Samal got a broom and swept the floor. I went out and found some students. I told them to run to the hostels and tell the students to come immediately to the Assembly Hall as the CM was arriving at 6 pm. I rang up girls’ hostel and asked them to come immediately as the CM was arriving to witness their performances. I had an old jeep at my disposal. I sent it to the girls’ hostel to ferry them to the Assembly Hall. I rang up the Vice-Chancellor. He was in his office and came immediately.
The Chief Minister arrived sharp at 6 pm. We received him and brought him to my room. I had some arrangements in my office. I offered him a cup of coffee and some cashew nuts. I tried to engage him with some discussions to gain some time. He ignored, drank his coffee and got up with some cashew nuts in his hands and proceeded towards the Assembly Hall. I followed him keeping some distance as I apprehended the hall might be empty. I had heard that he was free with his hand. Luckily when we reached the Assembly Hall, it was half-full. The girls had also arrived and were on the stage preparing for the show. My students had responded to my SOS.
Within a few minutes, the girls started their programme. The hall became full with the students. The programme was good. At the end of the programme, the CM went on the stage, thanked the girls and left.
He was a brave man short in his temper but with kindness in his heart. My students had once blocked his car when he was coming out of his residence to go to his office. He got down and thrashed some boys but called them for a discussion in the afternoon. Students told me that they had gone prepared to be thrashed. That was the shortest way to draw his attention and get some benefit.
(gnmitra@gmail.com)