1. When I started to learn and get acquainted with the environment around me I found books, small to very large and in at least five languages – Odia, Hindi, Sanskrit, English and Bengali, neatly tucked in wooden racks and almirahs all around the house. I learnt that you get knowledge from the books. Bapa was always finding time, even with his busy schedules, to read the books and use those. In his book shelves you will find all kinds of books – ayurvedic books and journals, journals from leading agriculture universities, religious books, political magazines. Then I was not aware that Bapa had not even gone to High School. Later when I learnt about that Bapa was no more with us. Otherwise, I would have definitely asked Bapa, how he acquired so much of knowledge without going to school.
2. There were two almirahs in the Puja room with varieties of ayurvedic medicines. All were prepared by Bapa with great effort and care. I learnt that Bapa was also a doctor who can prepare medicine himself. People were getting free medicine from him. Later I learnt that Bapa had acquired that knowledge through reading only. Many Kabirajs were seeking Bapa’s assistance to identify species. Bapa had even started plantation of botanical species with medicine properties.
3. When Bapa was making tours to different places, he was taking me with him. I had accompanied him in his tours by bicycle as well as his official jeep. On one occasion I remember travelling with him in a motorcycle. But someone else was driving the vehicle. I have seen him dealing with common men as well as high ranking government officials. Then I was not able to make much from such interactions. But later I realised how commanding, clear and respectful he was in his dealings. I have also accompanied him in election rallies and meetings. Bapa had taken me to cast his vote in a 1977 election. Later I learnt that Bapa’s party Congress had lost that election badly. But even on that day when Congress party was hated out of power all over India, my Bapa was lovingly welcomed by SanAnkaria villagers where the booth was located. I remember accompanying Bapa to his meetings and discussions with top political leaders including Nandini Satpathy. I remember being with him when he rushed to a spot, by bicycle, after hearing violent fight between two communities. Though I was kept out at a secured place, I could clearly see from the window how Bapa handled both the parties and how the dispute was resolved within an hour or two after he intervened. It was about 12 midnight then.
4. I have many funny memory of Bapa as well. I will share about one such incident. When I learnt that he is going to Bhubaneswar to bring a Jeep for the block office, I drained out my coin kitty. That had five 5 paise coins. I gave those five coins to Bapa and asked him to bring another jeep for me. I remember accompanying Bapa to field in a July afternoon that year. Paddy transplantation was underway then. I remember the field as well. It was ‘Amba duli’ and we were seating under a Jamu tree. When I curiously asked Bapa, where is the Jeep for which I had given him 25 paise, he said it is in the block office as we do not have a garage. It is a different matter that the jeep continued staying in the block office garage for ever.
5. I have accompanied Bapa to agriculture fields in heavy rains, bitter winters and terrible summers. Every time I would get new examples of his desire for perfection. On one occasion he found the rows not straight enough. He asked to plough that again and do transplantation afresh. Our ‘bari’ bore the stamp of his farm knowledge. It had almost everything that could have grown in our climate – betel leaf, haldi, ginger, banana, papaya, orange, lemon, mangoes, guava, grapes, and even bhanga leaves; and flower & vegetables of numerous varieties. At no time of the year, the one and half acre garden looked deserted.
6. I have also seen Bapa getting angry – with officers, with Maa, with workers and so on. But I do not have much memory of that as I tried to run away from him when he was in such mood. But I do not remember Bapa ever hitting me. I remember one occasion when I had jaundice fever and I was in lot of pain. I remember how Bapa had cancelled all his programmes to stay with me full-time.
7. I also have memory of Bapa when he was in hospital bed in the last couple of month of his life. As a patient he was getting a packet of ‘Renus’ bread, some milk and a boiled egg. I was savoring those delicacies whenever I was at hospital. Bapa’s activism and resolve to democratically fight stayed with him till his end. He was seriously ill and yet he strongly protested unhygienic condition of toilets in different wards of VSS medical college hospital in Burla. He had even threatened to launch hunger strike if things do not improve. I do not remember whether the things improved or Bapa left. I clearly remember the evening before Bapa eventually left us. He was sitting in his hospital bed. He asked me to come to his side and cuddled me. I do not remember what I said to him or what he said to me. On that evening I was not aware that something terrible was in store for us in the next morning. I was not aware that that was the last cuddle I will ever get from Bapa.
8. In the next morning I remember Nilambara dada coming to Fatak residence in a black ambassador car (Then Nani, Gain had taken rented a house close to Modern Lodge in Fatak, Katardhua. While father was admitted in hospital we were staying with Nani. Jinu Bhanja was about a week old then). Somehow, I had missed the leads from the faces around me. May be because my fascinated for car, bus and trains. When I was told that we will go to village in the car I was very happy and excited. When I was told that Bapa too has returned back to village in another car I was happier. When the car entered the village I saw my school gates closed. It was neither a Sunday or a holiday. I was hoping to wave my hands from the car to fellow school friends. That would have been a moment of pride for me – waving from a moving car. As the school was closed I regretted losing that opportunity. As we entered middle of our village Panchamahala, I found out the other car, a white ambassador. I was hoping that the whole village will dance in joy at seeing not one but two cars at a time. But, I saw heavy and moist faces all around. When they saw us, me, Maa and Nani getting out of the car; their cries only got louder. I ran inside the house only to find that Bapa was lying motionless in the ‘duara’ near the Tulsi ‘choura’. It took me some time to realise that Bapa was no more with us, he had already left us. I clearly remember crying my heart out. In fact, I remember everybody crying, inconsolably. Even ‘Kakas’ too were crying - in ways, I had never imagined. They were crying like small kids. Kalia dada was crying and cursing god. I remember him crying, ‘god, I was doing your puja everyday. This is what you gave us?’. Later I saw him throw stones at ‘Kandhen budhi debta’ in anger. I remember people carrying Bapa towards Mahanadi Ghat. I accompanied Bapa till the end of the village but then somebody carried me back from there against my wish. In the afternoon, I remember eating rice and dal (without salt, haldi or spices) in the cowshed. At that time my school headmaster Nayak sir was seating beside me. He handed me over 108 rupees. That was my class fifth scholarship money for one year. What a day that was. I had lost my father in the morning and was getting my scholarship from the headmaster.
9. Since then Bapa has come in my dream some times. I remember one such dream where he took me to the village ‘kata’ where a siphon was being constructed. That siphon, which Bapa had planned, is yet to be constructed.
Bapa, whatever I have seen of you is very little. Others know far more than what I know of you. But even in that little period that I have been with you, you have given me a lot. You continue to guide me with your memory, your writings, and your messages through others (like Nani).
But Bapa… I have just one complaint - you left me a little too early.
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