After politics, 71-year-old student seeks to master philosophy (Lead, superseding earlier story)

BHUBANESWAR - Two-time legislator and once an MP, Narayan Sahu now wants to be a master of philosophy. The 71-year-old has just enrolled himself at a postgraduate course at Utkal University.

The native of Gelheikateni village in the district of Dhenkanal, some 190 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, had graduated with economics honours in 1963. Then he joined the Congress, became a legislator from Pallahara in 1971, was re-elected in 1974, and won the parliamentary election from Deogarh in 1980.

But once Indira Gandhi was assassinated, Sahu lost interest in politics.

“I have had a moderately successful political career. But after some time I lost interest in politics, especially after the death of Indira Gandhi,” Sahu told IANS.

“Once I turned 70, I pondered what I would do as I have still many years left in my life. So I decided to continue my studies. First I thought of doing my postgraduation in economics, then I thought philosophy is the right subject for me considering my age as I am passing through Banaprastha - the third phase of life,” he laughed.

In Vedic tradition, human life is divided into four stages, of which the third, vanaprastha, is spent in meditation in forests.

After deciding to continue his studies, Sahu’s problem was to find his old certificates.

“I had little idea where my graduation certificates would be since they had lost their relevance for me. Since I did not have a regular job I had almost forgotten my certificates. After searching for a couple of days I recovered my old certificates which had turned pale and yellow,” he said.

After dusting off the old certificates he applied for the course, prepared for 15 days, sat for an admission test, and passed.

“I was a good student throughout. Though I was not worried about my marks earlier I was worried about this entrance test. A couple of days after the entrance test one of my friends rang me up when I was in Ahmedabad and told me about the result. I almost danced in joy.”

Midway through his political career Sahu had got himself admitted to a law course and Masters in Education course but dropped out of both. This time he has promised himself he will not do the same.

“I am obediently attending classes. In fact I am enjoying them,” he said.

His fellow students are a quarter his age and many of his teachers about half. All are curious about him.

“Of course teachers and students are curious when a dhoti-clad septuagenarian attends class. For the first few days I attracted curious glances from students but now it is ok and they have started accepting me as a classmate. And I don’t mind learning from people half of my age,” Sahu said.

“It is a new experiment for me. It is an experiment to bridge the generation gap as I have often seen in my political life that youngsters don’t gel with me.

“I am trying to understand the young people here and interestingly all the youngsters are happy to get me as a classmate,” he said, while the crowd of college students around him nodded.

Sahu was once a member of the Utkal University senate and could recommend a student get a hostel room. Now he is seeking one for himself.

“It is like a rebirth for me. I am trying to forget my past life and am starting anew and counting my birth from the day I took my admission in the university though I was born way back in 1938,” he said.

The father of two sons and four daughters is getting every cooperation from his family members to pursue his studies.

“All my family members are quite supportive of my decision. Especially my grandchildren are pretty encouraging,” he said.

(Byomakesh Biswal can be contacted at byomakesh.b@ians.in )