Even in death, Professor Nagrath
maintained his stature and dignified presence. Not for him the bent, lean,
sunken body and a contorted face. He looked composed, the face continuing to
reflect his serious demeanour.
He continued to teach till the
end (and a God blessed long life it was), as late as two months ago, when I
paid my respects to him at his daughters residence in Hyderabad. He taught me
in my 66th year what punctuality is all about, what preparedness is
all about. There he sat, in the sofa immaculately dressed with his traditional
tie ready to receive a guest promptly at 4 PM-a student, one amongst the
thousands he taught. I go back to 1964
when the Professor was the Head of the Electrical Engineering Branch at BITS Pilani
and I was a graduate student there. In those days, the student –teacher
relationship was more akin to a devotee-God relationship. I had never spoken a
word to the teacher then, awed by his breadth of knowledge and the sincerity of
his teaching. Fifty years on, I am scarcely able to open my mouth still , the
past rushing back in waves of incidents. His charming daughter Ritu and her
Mother played wonderful hosts, getting me to settle down and putting up with my
torrent of words expressed in nervous awe of the Professor.
Professor was hard of hearing the
only handicap in an otherwise razor sharp intellect and memory as old as the
mountains. He shared with me details of his early days in BITS just at the turn
of independence, his distaste of the Corporate world and his quick return to
the Alma Mater in early 50,s to pursue Academics. I gathered today that he
finally retired from BITS in 2000. Many of comments, spoken rapidly like an
excited schoolboy, were just not audible to him. The Professor never exhibited
his hearing handicap. He just kept quiet and Ritu and Mother stepped in to
continue the conversation. Professor eyes sparkled, however, when he talked of
his 17th book in preparation- in longhand, page at a time. I assured the Professor that I would arrange
a visit of fellow Alumni from Hyderabad to meet him. By his passing away he
imparted another bit of learning – of the need to be committed to statements,
or not make them at all.
His Family was around him today,
the daughters and the son. Mrs Nagrath,
stoic in the moment of distress, whilst Ritu received mourners quickly
relieving them of the embarrassment of what to say. His son sat throughout with
his wife at the end of the room, quiet and immersed in thoughts and the second
daughter (from the USA),went around offering Prasad.
In keeping with the customs of my
community I slinked away without bidding adieu to the grieving family.
Breathing the late morning moisture drenched air, as I got into my car, I looked
up and sent a silent prayer to the Grand Old Teacher , now with the Gods , to
bless me with some of the sterling
qualities that made Professor I.J Nagrath a true Guru .
No comments:
Post a Comment