How do I say a Good Bye once for all Harish Sir !!

 How do I say a Good Bye once for all Harish Sir  !! 

Last two weeks have been only getting news of some or the other demise.  At times it is a father, mother of a friend or someone very close in the relation.  Not that am tired of attending the same, but one after the other the news are coming and you start thinking… Oh.. God whats wrong. More specific, when you have some emotional bond with the person himself or the relation that we have had with a friend.  Others pain is my pain is the learning imbibed in the body and I always get shocked by all such news.

Yesterday, a similar news of a teacher who I am very fond off.  I always remember him in terms of the strict discipline, balance in life he maintained till his last breath and lived always on his own terms with no compromise to the principles he had set for his life.  Yes, I am talking of Prof. Harish Deshpande (Utikar) who was my teacher, mentor, guide, moral support in my college days.   Though aparaently he also happens to a friend’s father, but we still were connected with a Teacher – Student thread only.  There are certain slogans lot of products have and one of the is “Live Life King size” , he really lived his life a like a king. There are also certain personalities who are very typical and they this typo creates an image or it also becomes his style.  

I moved from Beed to Ambajogai in 1986 as my father was transferred there and had to take admission in SRT College for 12th Commerce.  Its an interesting story to read that from 11th Science I was forced to move to 12th Commerce – multiple reasons, this is not a right platform to reveal.  It was more on affordability of the future expenses. Strange !!  In our college there was a facility to appear even commerce in English medium and I preferred to opt for it.  Imagine, I was only student opting for the English medium for 12th commerce, this was to compensate my own feelings from Science to Commerce.  All classes used to be in Marathi which I used to attend as there were common subjects like Accounts, Stats and Languages.  Getting books in English version was out of question and was dependent only on the great support, guidance by late Harish sir.  He pushed me hard for this and always supported me for anything that I would need as a guidance.  Forget notes etc. but I used to write whatever he used to discuss and I used to make notes of it.   Though I have not scored reasonably great in my exams but I could answer all exam papers in English and cleared the major hurdle in the education ladder which higher secondary.  I still can see me asking for number of supplements in the class and there was no question of any one bothering me as only person writing exams in English.  This still would be surprise to many as during those apart from studies we discussed thousand other things so friends roaming with me in college never knew about this.  I am sure still most of them would be surprised. 

I got promoted to B. Com first year again in English medium.  One fine day I went to Harish sir residence to check on this. We had a lengthy discussions around this topic and he convinced me to continue the medium and nothing to worry.  Day in and day out, besides the common subjects I used to learn on my own.  Whenever time permits meet him in the professors room in college and take his guidance.  Then he put me a habit of sitting in library and doing my own studies there.  Though I tried and practiced, but me being involved in all cultural activities of the college could not do it in a sustainable way as my batch mates were always making a fuss of this.  But then I used to murmur the thoughts on my own and used to study.  Harish sir used to give me the question sets in his handwriting which I used to answer and submit to him – this was our internals one on one.  This way I kept on going ahead.

One fine day I was dancing in the Ganesh immersion procession and got a message that I received a call letter through employment exchange for which my friend Atrivard Deshpande helped me for getting a position in Garware Video Cassettes in Aurangabad.  This was in 1989.  I was not sure to take this OR not.  Again he was my mentor, support, guide with the call letter next day I went to him and he in a fraction of second asked me to take it.  In fact my other interest was to take a role of Stenography Professor in that college itself as I did it a full time course in ITI post my SSC and those days this was a rare skill available.  Fortunately, our college had this subject as additional optional subject apart from other technical courses. But to do so, I had to complete my degree, masters and then apply – which was a lengthy process.  So this opportunity came in just second year so without any second thought accepted it. 

I moved to Aurangabad taking this assignment and joined Garware as Trainee Steno typist and started working.  Soon after joining organization needed to a background verification check and our HR sent the background verification form.  It was addressed to him and you wont believe he gave such a fantastic information about me, praising all my skills, enthusiasm etc. in additional remarks column apart from the routine questions.  My HR fellow specially shown it to me (it actually is a confidential thing otherwise).  But he also was so happy to see it that a college boy having such a good reference.  This kept on going for couple of jobs I changed and then it was all online.  But the first corporate job in life I could sustain it with a positive background verification he shared is something I would never forget. At one hand I was happy to be part of the working in the corporate world earning a salary of Rs.500/- per month which then raised to Rs.750/- I was badly missing my fun elements in the college, youth festivals wherein we participated big bang way… wrote my own dramas, directed them in the group, group dances, poetry recital etc.. but I always made it a point that every year I attended them as they happened in Aurangabad some time… and used to appear for examinations of my subsequent degree years… story kept continuing till I completed my post graduation in 1993.  Intermittently met Harish sir and took his blessings…. But as time surpassed I could not see him in person for a long time and never thought that I would miss it permanently as was hopeful of meeting him some or the other time …but almighty god called him before it.   Rest in peace sir….

Sharad Puranik