E-Paper
When Pt Nehru helped Prof SC Deb in climbing stairs
HE IS a man of letters but has been very fond of weapons, especially firearms. He is thin but quite agile even at the age of 74. He was born in a reputed 'taluqdar' family but leads a simple life. He comfortably recalls the events and incidents which took place several decades ago and his style of narration is impressive. His sharp memory and ability to articulate his ideas clearly made him a popular teacher.
HE IS a man of letters but has been very fond of weapons, especially firearms.
He is thin but quite agile even at the age of 74. He was born in a reputed 'taluqdar' family but leads a simple life. He comfortably recalls the events and incidents which took place several decades ago and his style of narration is impressive. His sharp memory and ability to articulate his ideas clearly made him a popular teacher.
Amar Singh, former member of the UP Higher Education Service Commission, taught English at Allahabad University from November 1955 to September 1992 and remained a member of AU's Executive Council twice, once as a nominee of the Chancellor (Governor).
Since his ancestors (taluqdars of Osah in Rae Bareli district) had actively participated in the first war of independence and invited the wrath of the Britishers, a large part of their State was confiscated. But, despite all these odds, his father Babu Achal Singh, whom Amar Singh considers the most complete man, took best care of his duties and responsibilities. Education of children was on the top of Babu Achal Singh's agenda. He was fortunate enough that his sons too did not disappoint him.
Amar Singh always remained an above average student but he took more interest in study of culture, literature, natural history, philosophy and history than his course books and this greatly helped him develop his personality.
The excerpts from the interview:
When I came to the University of Allahabad, it was the last phase of its days of glory and the giants, whose names are legend now, moving about on the campus and shedding lustre on it. We were fortunate enough to bask in the sunshine of their love and it was this love as well as the knowledge they imparted which made us what we today are.
Dr Amar Nath Jha even after becoming the Vice-Chancellor used to take a BA class in the English Department. It was a unique experience to hear Prof JK Mehta deliver lectures on 'Economic Theory.' Pandit KC Chattopadhyaya carried us through the beauties of Kalidasa's 'Meghadutam' in his metallic and ringing voice and sometimes had to pass over (with a smile) those portions hurriedly, which were rather explicit in their descriptions of the scenes of love. This made us particularly interested in those stanzas, which we studied in detail in our rooms.
Presided over by the great Professor Satish Chandra Deb, English Department had in those days luminaries like Dr PE Dustoor, Prof KK Mehrotra, Raghupati Sahai 'Firaq' and Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Prof Deb's scholarship and knowledge was awe-inspiring and overwhelmed us.
In December 1957, Dr PE Dustoor and noted Hindi litterateur Agyeya came to attend the marriage of my teacher Dr VDN Sahi from Delhi. In the evening when the marriage procession was about to start, English teacher Prof PC Gupta introduced Agyeya to Dustoor and said: "Agyeya is a famous Hindi writer."
Agyeya added: "We travelled together and were in the same compartment."
When Prof Gupta again described Agyeya as a noted writer, Prof Dustoor smiled and said: "I see, but how would I know about his writing skills because in the train he was only reading." There was laughter and Agyeya was quite non-plussed.
The Late Prime Minister Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru had come to Allahabad University to address its 70th anniversary function. There was a special convocation and the academic procession was to be formed at English Department. The arrangement for putting on gowns was made in an upstairs room. Prof Deb, being heavily built, moved up only one step at a time. Nehruji, agile as he was, quickly walked down the verandah to the staircase. Prof Deb, who was a few steps behind, called Nehruji and went up to him and put his hand on his shoulder and said: "Panditji help me up." Nehruji with Prof Deb's hand on his shoulder and supporting him went up slowly. Nehruji also brought Prof Deb down in the same fashion a few minutes later. That day we realised what stature a teacher commands in society if he is worthy of a name of a teacher.
Prof Deb was life-long secretary of the Public Library. Nehruji as Prime Minister visited Allahabad and his itinerary included a visit to the library also. Nehruji was being carried around the library by Prof Deb. The library did not have a big budget and, therefore, nothing substantial could be added to its stock. Nehruji said: "Deb Saheb bas itna hi hai yahan?" Prof Deb spoke out angrily in English: "Panditji, this is your city and you are the Prime Minister. What have you done for this old institution and you are known as a lover of books." And then he spoke in Hindi "Aap yeh kyun nahi kahte ki yeh kya kam hai jo is buddhey ne isko bacha ke rakkha. Paise ka intzam kijiye aur tab library ko dekhne aaiye." Nehruji smiled (they understood each other very well and were old friends) and both of them walked out to the waiting car where Prof Deb saw him off.
Life has been rich and rewarding and the evening has come. A feeling of thankfulness fills one's heart for being able to live as we lived.
Those lines of Robert Bridges come to mind:
I have lain in the sun,
I have toiled as I might,
I have thought as I would
and now it is night,
My head full of sleep
my heart of content,
For the friends that I met,
And the ways that I went,
That perhaps sums it up, beautifully, for me.
