Autobiography of Nilakantha Das - VII

This is the 7th in series of recapitulation in my own words portions of Pandit Nilakantha Das's Biography in Odia. Enjoy...

Pandit Nilakantha Das was a strict disciplinarian, a martinet in school though he advocated democracy in decision making. All teachers were consulted before taking any important decision. Similarly the character and academic proficiency of a student was given utmost importance before he was made a monitor of his class (it was a boys only school). The class monitors were monitored, lest they misuse the powet bestowed upon them.

Meanwhile Gopabandhu made a trip to Shantiniketan, an innovative, model school founded by Rabindranath Tagore in Calcutta, to get a first hand view of its operations and cloned a few of its modus Operandi. Satyavadi now was a School with 400 boarders. Big or small, rich or poor, the students or teachers were asked to do self help, doing all menial jobs themselves - a la the concept implemented in Shantiniketan.

Mr. Macombe, the British Inspector of Schools was very impressed with the Satyavadi, especially by its famed library which post destruction by arson rose from its fumes like Phoenix, so much so that he instructed to all schools under his jurisdiction to extend similar facilities.

Sri Nilakantha Das was tough on his teachers. Once he overheard an English teacher - "Any word ending with 'ly' is an adverb". A smart student questioned back - " Are Italy and Cicily adverbs too" ? Pandit Nilakantha called this new teacher out from his class, asking him to look for a job elsewhere.

The founding fathers of the School knew the adage - "All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy". They took the staff along with all 400 students went to Konark on a study tour cum picnic trip. They began their walking journey along with an army of 11 bullock carts loaded with logistics.

It was the time of World War I. The students marching in an orderly manner to left - right command of group monitors were mistaken for soldiers by the villagers they passed by. The battalion of Satyavadi camped at BALANGA HATA, then took a break at NIMAPADA before reaching GOP in evening.

The locals excited by this sight of the long caravan welcomed them with lantern lights and music of drum beats. They were served a sumptuous dinner, feeling greatly obliged for the BIDYARTHIs or students, the prospective future of the society at a time a few educated folks adorned the masses. After thanking their hosts, the caravan left early next morning for Konark to reach their by noon. They all spent a fabulous days there, before walking back to Satyavadi - a week well spent from the monotonous drudgery of school life.

Many eminent personalites came as Chief Guests during the Annual Function held in the school every winter. One of them was UTKALA GOURABA (The pride of Odisha) Madhusudan Das. SLOKANTA (Antakhyari of hymns), BAKRUTA (Speech) competitions were regular features, along with DOO DOO (Kabaddi) game. 

Impressed, when Utkal Gouraba credited Utkala Mani (Gopabandhu Das) for building a Nalanda in Odisha, a humble Gopabandhu said - "Not me. It is our Nilakantha who deserves this credit due to his tireless work and dedication". Such unselfish attitude of giving credit where credit is due is unimaginable these days.

TO BE CONTINUED, AS I READ 📖 FURTHER