Narayan Sahu who represented Orissa’s Deogarh constituency in Lok Sabha from 1980-1984 from Indian national congress has been attending regular classes at Utkal University at state capital Bhubaneswar with all other students of his grandchild’s age.

Every day he reaches the educational institution on time and was seen seriously listening to the lectures and jotting down the points while sitting in the first row of the class room.

He does not feel bad. Rather he enjoys spending time in the library, speaking to students and teachers on Philosophy-the subject on which he wants to become a master.

“I am comfortable with everybody. I don’t think other students and teachers have any problem with me” clad with white shirt and pajama, Sahu- who was also a syndicate member of the same university in 1977 said.

“I have never stood second in any examination in the past. I have always stood first. This time I hope to top the university” the man who got admission into the two year post graduate degree course in philosophy of the university this year’s academic session after qualifying an entrance test said.

“Classes started on August 16 this year and since then I have never missed any one. I will try not to miss any class in the coming days” he said.

Sahu a resident of Gelheikateni village in the district of Dhenkanal, some 190 kms from state capital Bhubaneswar was also a member of the state legislative assembly for two consecutive terms from local Pallahara constituency from 1971-1973 and 1974-1977.

The veteran congress leader who graduated from century-old Ravenshaw College at Cuttack in the state decades ago with Economic honours with distinction and also secured a bachelor degree with distinction in education (B.Ed(Distn.) has opened several private schools in his home district during his political career.

“It was always a dream for me to become a post graduate. I have already devoted much of time in serving the people of the country “Sahu said. 

Sahu has four daughters and two sons all of them married and settled. His wife died six years ago.

The man who lives in a government guest house meant for former legislatures at Bhubaneswar gets a monthly pension of about Rs.14, 000 (six thousand as an ex member of legislative assembly and eight thousand as a ex member of Lok Sabha).

He does not own a vehicle nor does he have any house or land at state capital.  “I have applied for a room in one of the gents hostels in the university campus and hope I will get one to pursue my study” he said.

“I joined the university as a student because I must do now what I could not do earlier” Sahu who was born on 31 March 1938 and now almost retired from active politics said.

“I want to concentrate on study for next two years. I don’t have any other agenda“ Sahu who travels to the university in auto and some time in town bus like many any other college students said.   

“When I saw him, I thought he is the father of any student but when I was told he is a student it made me happy” philosophy department head R C Das said adding that he himself feels proud about it. 

Students reading with the septuagenarian leader have also similar feelings.

Mahatma Gandhi had said ‘Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever’. “He is an example for us. His interest in study inspires all of us” said one of the 64 students of his class.

“We consider him as our son. Whatever our father is doing we are happy” one of Sahu’s sons said.

-------IBNS----

Communal harmony and respecting to each others religion has become an age old  tradition in Orissa, which is evident from the fact that since past  71  years, a Muslim family of Cuttack is producing an almanac ( *Panchang *) known as
Orissa Kohinoor Press Panjika.

The almanac has been accepted by the highest Hindu  religious body , the *Mukti Mandap Pundit Sabha* of Sri Jagannth temple of Puri.

All the rituals of Sri Jagannath temple as well as other temples of the State are performed following this almanac.

Almost all  the Hindu families in the State consult this *Panjika *( panchang ) for finding out suitable dates for marriage, foundation laying ceremony, griha prabesh and other auspious  occasions.

Though presently a number of "Pancjikas " are available in Oriya language , the one produced by the Kohinoor Press is
considered as most authentic. The Panjika is referred by almost all Hindu families, religious institutions , temples etc.

The present owner of Orissa Kohinoor Press which produces the *Panjika * Sk. Joharul Islam, is a master degree holder in literature with degree in law.

With the evolution of printing technology, the Kohinoor Press has also come  a long way. From hand composing and letter press printing now it has adopted Desk Top Printing and designing through computers and multi-colour printing
in offset press.

Annually few lakh of copies of the *Panjika* is produced  and marketed. Not only the people of Orissa use this Panjika, people from the State living outside the State as well as in foreign countries also use this *Panjika*  for reference.

Sk. Joharul Islam, proprietor , Kohinoor Press says, .  " We were engaged in publishing books since 1928. We started producing  the Almanac in 1935. This was approved by the *Mukti Mandap  Pandit Sabha* of Sri Jagannath temple, Puri. Every year the approval comes from them only.

Soon after the Almanac comes out of the press, rituals are performed at Sri Jagannath temple before it is released for sale. Earlier there was only one Alamanac in Orissa which was published by Arunodaya Press. Now our Almanac has become a 72year old publication.

Our Almanac named as " Orissa Kohinoor  Press Panjika " is  most popular among the Oriya Almanacs. … Presently we have 15 employees and Pundits ( Astronomers ) . Every year we are producing this Almanac ( Panjika ).

Though we are Muslims, this Almanac is well accepted by  Hindus and even by Sri Jagannath temple of Puri as well as by the Muslims. This is of great help to the people who refer it for performing various rituals etc….

The Pundits ( Astronomers  and Astrologers ) use to prepare the scri pt after  making necessary calculations. We compose it in computer and print it through offset process.

We are also producing calanders , future forecast booklets ( Rashi Phal ) . Our Pundits prepare the scri pts and get approval  of Mukti Mandap Pundit Sabha, the highest  Hindu body who fixup and approve norms for different rituals, fairs and festivals of Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

After the approval we go ahead with production of the Panjika. My father has started it  72 years ago  and I am continuing it without any problem."…

Odisha.in

Meet 30 year-year-old Shashanka Shekhar Dash a resident of Deulsahi Village under Baripada municipality in Orissa’s Mayurbhanj district.

Dash, a voracious reader and writer himself, had started off by collecting Oriya dailies 12 years back. Very soon his hobby became his passion and he started hunting for rate and old newspapers published across the globe.

“I love to read books and newspapers, even old editions so I started by collecting Oriya newspapers.

Later I decided to collect newspaper from other states, say Mr. Dash, whose collection comprises of newspaper from England, USA, Sri Lanka, Italy, Tanzania, Laos, Malaysia, Switzerland, Netherlands, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Israel, Uganda and Bangladesh.

The dailies are in different languages like English, Hindi, Urdu, Oriya, Bengali, Sanskrit, Marathi, Gujurati, Malayalam, Japanese, Nepali, Konkoni,  Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Ol-Chiki, Karbi, Punjabi, Bi-lingual (English and Oriya), Assamese etc.

“I contact editors of different newspapers over the internet and over on telephone and request letter them to send me a copy of their paper. Many of them do not respond while several others have been sending me free copies and encouraging me free copies ad encouraging me to carry on with my hobby” Dash told Odisha.in .

Dash has put his collection on exhibiting many times and is planning to organize the exhibition at United State of America and United Kingdom very soon. This plan has now under processed after the recommendation by Debasis Nayak, minister of state sports and information he will go for exhibition.

However, Chair person of Baripada municipality also plans him to exhibit his exhibition in premises of municipality campus for journalism students of North Orissa University and for public awareness, said Mr. Dash.

A journalist by profession he who works for electronic media never thinks about the finance while he purchases any new newspaper. He has been exhibited his rare collection which includes some of the oldest newspapers at the local exhibition center and exhibited the state level in Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal.

Even his residence is his exhibition centre. He has also published six literary works for the children and has the distinction of registering his name as a poet in the “Who’s who of Indian Writer’s 1999” published by the ‘Sahitya Academy’ and also ‘Oriya Lekhaka Parichiti’ published by Bhubaneswar Pustak Mela Committee on 2006.

“I have enriched my knowledge by nurturing a hobby like this” say Mr. Dash.