The genius of Sri Balaram Prusty

Sri Balaram Prusty chose to be a teacher though he could easily have become an administrative officer. His memory and his honesty are legendary. He retired from Orissa Education department, on superannuation and at present – at the age of 72- he is a guiding spirit behind the Old students’ Association of D. N. High School, in which he studied and then taught as an assistant teacher and then administered its affairs as a Head Master. He is among the very few teachers who hated to be a tutor and devoted his entire energy and recourses to character building.

Here is one of the many unforgettable vignettes from his time and life as a teacher:

Last rites of a retired teacher:

Sri Rangadhar Mishra served as an assistant teacher in D. N. High School for almost 3 decades and after retirement continued to stay in his samantaray pur residence, which is just in front of the school. He was highly respected for his dedicated teaching and had a good following. Yet as it happens after retirement he spent most of his time in a small room of his residence and would be found poured over a news paper or a book or contemplating about his good old days.
Sri Balaram Prusty, as his wont, kept a regular touch with his former colleagues and as Sri Rangadhar Mishra stayed in the immediate vicinity of the school there was no exception in his case. It so happened Sri Balaram Prusty visited him just a couple of days before his demise, when the old master complained of aching limbs and hinted that the time has come for departure. Sri Balaram Prusty made light moment of such remarks and tried to convince him that he was still fit for more endurance! Soon after, Sri Rangadhar Mishra passed away and as Sri Balaram Prusty was the headmaster of the school he wanted his earthly remains (dead body) to be brought to the school and all the students and staff paid their last tribute to the departed master. Pupils and the staff of the school renewed a vital value of our human existence- that to show the last respects to a deserving departed soul- which seems to be receding in our quest for quick fixes and lack of commitments to institutions and values.
Sri Balaram Prusty gracefully intimated to the sons of Late Rangadhar Mishra that if they wished, the school would be glad to open its premises for conducting the last rites of Late Rangadhar Mishra, with in the school premises; of course he had already figured it out that it would not interfere with the teaching.
For Sri Balaram Prusty, what was more important was that the departed teacher was a member of the larger family and the school was a living and breathing institution and so in the time of need it was becoming of the institution to stand by its adherents- whether serving or retired..
The last rites of Late Rangadhar Mishra were duly carried out and Sri Balaram Prusty would be remembered for ever for showing such courage and conviction and upholding such enabling values of camaraderie and valor.

19 Sept 2009- Meeting to discuss about the Paltinum Jubilee

It has been informed by the secretary- Mr. Trilochan Das - that the next meeting to deliberate about the "platinum Jubilee" would be held on 19 July 2009 at 3.30 PM in the school premises.

Those alumni, who can make it to the meeting are welcome.