The Dreamer and His Dreams

Pradeep Biswal

The daily newspaper Dharitri brings out an annual issue in the month of November each year containing writings of eminent authors on the occasion of their foundation day. I had chanced upon one such issue around 1975-76 wherein there was a long poem by the poet Rajendra Kishore Panda titled ’Abamika’. I was awestruck with the poem and reread the poem several times. I didn’t know anything about him but the poem endeared him to me. This poem was subsequently included in his celebrated work ‘Anya’. 

On my arrival in Vanivihar in 1979, I took interest in going through his poetry collections available in the University library and got so impressed that I wrote a critical essay on his poetry. Then I came to know that he was a senior IAS officer and quite an established poet in his own right. On one occasion poet, Kulamani Jena invited me to his government quarters on Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Bhubaneswar. I was very delighted to see him face to face and enjoy his love and affection for young poets. The relationship bloomed subsequently and he became a friend, philosopher and guide in my journey. 

In the early eighties, he was at the height of his creativity and was being discussed in literary circles. Shri Panda had established a literary organization named Varnamala when he was the RDC in Sambalpur. Prof. L. N. Mishra, then Professor in Political Science in Sambalpur University and his classmate in Allahabad University was the Chairman. Shri Mishra later became VC of Utkal University. Then as Administrator of Sambalpur University he introduced the Gangadhar National Award in literature which has become a very prestigious literary award of the country now and is so far free from any controversy. 

In Bhubaneswar, he wanted to revive Varnamala and roped in me and two of my close friends – Gourahari Das and Paresh Patnaik. Besides, Sudarshan Nayak, Aswini Mishra and few others were in the inner circle.

At one  point of time, Rabi Narayan Senapati was made the Vice-Chairman. Through Varnamala a lot of activities were undertaken including a national level multilingual young poets conference, publication of journals and books and establishment of a library of its own. A building was hired  in the Unit-3  area and periodic meetings were held. 

At the same time he floated the idea to have a forum for senior citizens. Bahuvachan  was then established with Bighnaraj Patel as Chairman and myself as Secretary. Senior citizens from all walks of life including Professors, Engineers, Scientists, Administrators were members. Every month we used to sit and discuss important issues. An elaborate  proposal for East Coast Railway was prepared with help of retired officers of railways and submitted to the Prime Minister and Railway Minister. Within a year or two finally it was announced by the Railway Minister and most of the suggestions were accepted.

He was an ardent admirer of poet Sachi Routray and with consent of the poet and his family members Sachi Routray Foundation Trust was created under his chairmanship and me as the Director. Eminent writer Satakadi Hota was the vice-chairman. The purpose was to popularize his works at the national level. However, due to nonavailability of funds the organization could not move forward and became defunct within a few years. 

When Shri Panda was Secretary to the Governor he developed a good rapport with the then Governor Shri Yagya Dutt Sharma and with his consent started a State Council of Culture with the Governor as the Chief Patron. Under the auspices of the Council Konark Samman and Governor’s plaque were instituted to honor eminent people in the fields of literature and culture.

Unfortunately, within a few years the Council came under the Culture Department and became almost defunct. Subsequently, he took over as the Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies Department. Then the consumer movement was in a nascent stage in the State and he tried to give it a push. Firstly, with his initiative the nomenclature of the department was changed to Food, Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department. He established the State Consumer Protection Council as the apex body at the State level. He organized a national level seminar on Consumer Protection in Bhubaneswar with prominent activists from the national level and introduced awards for consumer activists, consumer groups and writers on consumer protection law. 

He also tried to establish consumer forums in all districts and strengthen the Consumer Commission at the state level. For creating consumer awareness he created a separate institution under State Civil Supplies Corporation. After a particular  selected candidate could not join, a fresh advertisement was made. 

I got selected by the selection committee and accordingly I headed the organization. The first issue of the quality journal ‘Chetana’ was published along with a bare Act and Rules for the benefit of the public. Besides, he prepared a model service rules for the employees of the Corporation which was appreciated by the CM. 

He then incurred the wrath of the Minister for not consulting him in appointing agents of the Corporation and recruiting the supply inspectors. The Minister insisted on his transfer and then he was transferred as Secretary, Culture in the Department of Tourism and Culture. Subsequently, he was posted as Special Secretary, Higher Education Department to facilitate him to draw his salary since there was no independent post of Secretary, Culture. 

Culture was very close to his heart. He tried to concentrate on innovative things in the Department. He made service rules for the Academy staff who were languishing for years. He created a dedicated cadre of Culture Officers at the district. The academies were depositing their revenue in the government treasury which was affecting their funds. He discontinued the practice and provided more grants. 

As a matter of principle, he was not attending as a guest in the functions of the Department and the Academies except ceremonial functions attended by the CM or the Minister. He initiated the Kalamandal project as a hub for multicultural activities throughout the year in the Capital in the pattern of Kala Bhavan in Bhopal with grants from the Central Government. 

Unfortunately, till date it could not see light of the day. In order to activate the Sahitya Akademi he offered me the position of Secretary of the Academy but I politely declined in view of my bad experience in the past in Civil Supplies Corporation after his departure. While he was actively engaged in giving the department a new dimension, some of the vested interests in the department started conspiring against him. Suddenly, he was transferred as Settlement Commissioner, which was an innocuous posting for any senior officer. 

The new office had not even an office car and telephone because of his predecessor incurring huge liabilities. In Civil Supplies Corporation he did not avail the car earmarked for the Chairman since he had a car as Secretary of the Department. He did not have a car and then he went to the office riding a bicycle which became a headline in the newspapers the next day.

He felt humiliated and proceeded on leave. His parents were then ailing and he did not even have a phone to contact the doctor. He was facing financial difficulties so much so that his wife had to go to Sambalpur by bus to encash a fixed deposit she made out of her savings. With much difficulty, we could arrange a telephone at his residence, availing priority category as a Central Sahitya Akademi award winner with help of an official in BSNL. Subsequently, he became CEO of OCAC and Chairman, IPICOL for some time. 

Being a very honest and upright person he at one point of time raised a voice against the establishment and his remarks about the ‘shadow ruler’ got headlines in the newspapers. He finally retired as Member, Board of Revenue and returned to his old love: poetry.

Now he has again revived Varnamala although I am no longer associated with it due to my other commitments.  I wish his dreams would take shape one day. 

The Story is the Twelve in a series of articles.

(Mr. Pradeep Biswal is a bilingual poet writing both in Odia and English. His poems are widely anthologized. He is also an editor and translator of repute. A retired IAS Officer, Mr. Biswal presently holds the position of Member, Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority and stays with his family at Bhubaneswar. Views are Personal)