RAM BILAS MISRA
Short Profile of Prof. Dr. R.B. Misra, ex Vice-Chancellor, Avadh University, Faizabad, U.P. (India)
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. R. S. Mishra
Phone: +91-9454544926
Address: 380 A, Gōmţī Nagar Extn. Sector 1, Behind (International
Section) of New City Montessori School and Kalptaru Apartments, Lucknow–226010, U.P. (India);
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. R. S. Mishra
Phone: +91-9454544926
Address: 380 A, Gōmţī Nagar Extn. Sector 1, Behind (International
Section) of New City Montessori School and Kalptaru Apartments, Lucknow–226010, U.P. (India);
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Talks by RAM BILAS MISRA
“भैया उठो, भैया जा रहे हैं ।”
हे पुत्र ! उठो, बेचारा शिशु दिवँगत हो रहा है । पहले तो मैं समझ ही न सका, किन्तु सचेत होने पर इस हृदय-विदारक सँवाद की पीड़ा का आभास कर सका था । ]
जब विदेश में एकाकी जीवन बिताता था तो ‘रामचरित मानस’ का पाठ करते समय अनेक प्रसंग रुला देते थे । “बिछडे सभी बारी - बारी” [ संदर्भ 12 ] में चित्र संकलित करते समय प्राय : भाव विह्वल होना पडा । वर्तमान पुस्तक की रचना एक लम्बे अंतराल से प्रतीक्षित थी । कोई न कोई रचना प्राथमिकता पाती गई किंतु अभागी बीटू के जीवन की भांति ही उस पर ये उद्गार व्यक्त करने में एक युग बीत गया । आगामी 1 जून को बीटू को गये 29 वर्ष पूर्ण हो जायेंगे - यह सोंचकर अब अधिक विलम्ब असहनीय लगने लगा । अत: मैंने अब इसे पूर्ण करने का संकल्प लिया ।
वर्ष 1965 का वह क्षण कितना मनहूस था जब मैं अपने क्रोध पर काबू न पा सका था । [ संदर्भ 12, अध्याय 12 से उद्धृत - एक दूरस्थ सम्बन्धी (श्री रामराखन लाल पाण्डेय), जोकि उत्तर रेलवे प्राथमिक पाठशाला, उत्तर मलाका, इलाहाबाद में एक शिक्षक थे, ने उसे भ्रमित किया, कि वह बी.टी.सी. प्रशिक्षण केंद्र में प्रवेश लेकर प्राथमिक विद्यालय में एक अध्यापिका बन सकती है । मेरी अनुपस्थिति में ही एवं मेरी सहमति के बिना वह आर.आर. पाण्डेय के साथ उक्त प्रशिक्षण हेतु आवेदन फार्म जमा करने चली गयी, जिसका मैंने बुरा माना । आवेश में आकर मैंने उसे एक थप्पड़ मार दिया । दुर्भाग्य से उसकी नाक से रक्त आ गया । उसके एवं अँततोगत्वा पूरे परिवार का दुर्भाग्य इन्हीं दु:खद क्षणों से प्रारम्भ हो गया था । मैं उस समय २३ वर्षों से भी कम आयु का था, जबकि बहन मुझ से ७ वर्ष छोटी थी । मुझे अपने अपरिपक्व निर्णय पर जीवन भर पश्चाताप रहेगा । मैंने पिता को तत्काल प्रयाग बुलाकर बहन को उनके साथ सेमरई वापस भेज दिया, जोकि वह चाहते ही थे, ताकि उसका विवाह कर सकें । मेरे सभी श्रमसाध्य कार्य - यथा, साइकिल से उसे विद्यालय ले जाना, इलाहाबाद विश्वविद्यालय से वापसी पर पुनः उसे विद्यालय से घर लाना निरर्थक सिद्ध हुए । मैंने भरसक प्रयास किया, कि उसका विवाह नगर क्षेत्र में निवास कर रहे किसी शिक्षित परिवार में सम्पन्न हो सके । किन्तु उसकी अवयस्क आयु एवं अल्प शिक्षा एक बड़ी बाधा बनी रही । ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में व्याही गयी अनेक दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण कन्याओं की दुर्दशा मैंने देखी थी, जो वे अपने विवाहित जीवन में भोग रही थीं । अतएव, मैं अपनी बहन को उस दर्दनाक जीवन में ढकलने हेतु कभी नहीं सहमत था । पिता, पति एवं ससुराल के मध्य प्रायः घटित होने वाले अप्रिय संवादों ने सरोजिनी की बलि ले ली । वर्ष १९६५ में अध्ययन में व्यवधान डालते हुए उसे प्रयाग से सेमरई वापस भेजने वाला लेखक का (प्रथम दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण) निर्णय २१ वर्ष की अपरिपक्व मनःस्थिति का था, किन्तु जुलाई १९८० में शारीरिक रूप से अतिशय शिथिल हो चुकी, गर्भवती बहन को ससुराल में रहने देना (वयस्क बन चुके) लेखक की दूसरी गंभीर भूल सिद्ध हुई । काश ! उसे प्रयाग ले आता तो उसका जीवन बचाया जा सकता था । ]
जीवन की तीसरी बड़ी भूल ने राजन को ही खो दिया । उसने आगाह किया था कि वह मात्र दस हजार रुपये प्रति माह की नियमित आय पाकर भी अपने को धन्य समझेगा किंतु मैं उसके अवांछित आचरण से दुखी होकर उसकी यह इछा भी पूरी न कर सका । उसने अपने अनावश्यक खर्चों एवं महात्वाकांक्षाओं को इतना फैला रखा था कि अपनी सीमित आय का विचार ही त्याग दिया था ।
पुस्तक में ८ सोपान सम्मिलित किये गए हैं - प्रथम अध्याय बीटू का संक्षिप्त विवरण प्रस्तुत करता है । अध्याय २ में उसकी शैक्षिक उपलब्धियां दर्शायीं गयी हैं । अध्याय ३ में उसके तथा परिजनों के मध्य कृत पत्राचार को दर्शाया गया है । ध्यातव्य है कि इस अध्याय में मात्र कुछ ही पत्र सम्मिलित किये जा सके हैं अन्यथा पुस्तक पूर्ण करने में पुन: विलम्ब होता । अध्याय ४ में बीटू से सम्बंध लेखक की अन्य रचनाओं से कतिपय स्फुट वाक्यांश उद्धृत किये गये हैं । अध्याय ५ लेखक के निकटस्थ (जीवित) परिजनों की जानकारी प्रस्तुत करता है जबकि अध्याय ६ बीटू से सम्बंधित कतिपय चित्रों को प्रस्तुत करता है । ग्रन्थ में प्रयोगित क्लिष्ट शब्दों की सरल शब्दावली अध्याय ७ एवं शब्दों के संक्षिप्त रूप अंतिम अध्याय में पूर्ण रूप में विस्तृत किये गये हैं । पुस्तक के अंत में संदर्भित ग्रंथों की सूची संलग्न की गयी है, जिनका लेखक ने निरंतर उपयोग किया है ।
जीवन का अस्तित्व ही सार्वभौमिक यथार्थ है । कवि अब्दुर्रहीम खानखाना लिखते हैं –
“रहिमन पानी राखिये, बिन पानी सब सून । पानी गए न ऊबरै मोती, मानुस, चून ।।”
जीवन समाप्ति के उपरान्त सभी कुछ अर्थहीन हो जाता है । जीवन विधाता की विलक्षण देन है, उसका संरक्षण एवं संवर्धन सभी जीवित प्राणियों का उतना ही पुनीत कर्तव्य है, जितना कि जीवन-दाता की उपासना । मेरा यह सद्प्रयास पृष्ठ ४ पर उद्धृत सभी परिजन कन्याओं को समर्पित है ।
लेखक उन समस्त सुधी-जनों के प्रति अनुगृहीत है, जिन्होंने इस संकलन को पूर्ण करने में किसी भी प्रकार का सहयोग किया है । सह-धर्मिणी (रेखा) एवं पुत्र-वधू (कीर्ति) भी धन्यवाद की सुपात्र हैं, क्योंकि जहाँ रेखा ने पुस्तक से इतर नित्यप्रति के अन्य आवश्यक कार्यों की ओर लेखक का निरंतर ध्यान कराकर अपना धर्म निभाया, वहीं कीर्ति लेखक को जीवित रहने हेतु सभी आवश्यक सेवायें उपलब्ध कराती रही । ग्रन्थ की रचना का सम्पूर्ण कार्य स्वयं लेखक द्वारा संपन्न किया गया है एवं सभी भाँति इसकी शुद्धता संजोये रखने का हर संभव प्रयास किया गया है । किन्तु, फिर भी यदि किसी प्रकार की कोई अशुद्धि शेष रह गयी हो तो उसका उत्तरदायित्व लेखक का होगा ।
लखनऊ (भारत): ११ मई, २०२३ /
ज्येष्ठ कृष्णपक्ष पंचमी, वि.सँ. २०८० राम बिलास मिश्र
The book mainly deals about the saga of few brave hearts of the above regions (cf. Chapters 2 - 8) and also depicts the contributions of the author towards academia and society (Chapters 9-11). The author, as a non-professional historian, simply wants to convey a message to the youths to know more about their seniors who took birth for some mission. It is not merely reportage like easy-going newspapers or magazines. Instead, the serious scholars, researchers and advanced learners may enjoy the intricacies of concise information presented with minimal description. Instead of “beating around the bush”, “Gāgar mein Sāgar” (compact and compendious), approach is adopted. Author’s long academic expertise with research background of more than five decades earned globally has helped for the presentation. The author neither intends to commercialize his labour nor wishes to mesmerize the mediocre readers but if the bright and advanced learners make use of it as a reference book his labour will be adequately rewarded.
It consists of 13 chapters of which the first one is introductory describing the author’s philosophy and Hinḑī characters. Next four chapters dwell upon the Avaḑh Region. Beginning with ‘Bureaucrats’ and covering up to the ‘Martyrs’ become the subject matter of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 dwells upon the ‘Mathematicians’ up to ‘Sportsmen’ in above region. The author had been greatly inspired by his research supervisor (Paḑmàshrī Prof. Dr. Raţnà Shankar Mishrà) – a high profile mathema- tician with global recognition, embellished with all the honours and coveted positions available in the country right up to the General President of Indian Science Congress and a prestigious Member of the Editorial Board of ‘Tensor’ Society of Japan representing several continents (outside Japan). His vast attainments are detailed in Chapter 4; while the next chapter presents few more dignitaries of Avaḑh region. I have been hearing the daring acts of Rājā Faţéh Shāh of Khutār and my own great grandfather, Pţ. Gaņéshī Lāl, right from the childhood. Their courageous acts are reported herein. I wonder if my reportage on the great heroes of the famous Kānyàkubjà Brahmin family sprouting from Bhagwanţ Nagar, establishing two Colleges: KKC and KKV in the very heart (Lucknow) of Avaḑh Region and giving birth to their talented academician, Dr. D.N. Misrà, may catch an eye of his leftover family to realize the importance of their ancestors? I was introduced to my wife’s close relative (Prof. Amréshwar Avasţhī) much later (in 1992). I was thrilled to know from a colleague at Asmara (Eritrea), hailing from Mahārāshtrà in 2000, that Prof. Avasţhī is regarded as the father of Public Administration in Indiā. It is sad that the mediocre and ‘good-for-nothing’ breed of humans are more highlighted by the media in the country on the cost of such intellectuals. He too finds his profile in my narration. Chapter 6 covers the great heroes of all walks of life in Kāshī region. It is most deplorable to note the continued struggles in the life of a celebrity Munshī Prém Chanḑ, whose works could have won any laurel, had he been exposed to the Western countries. The unfortunate writer, born in Kāshī region, died in silence in the city of Nawābs only. Having penned down a story of 2 worthless Nawābs in his satire, Shaţranj-ké-Khilādī (cf. Sub-section 1.4 in the chapter), he himself got victimized. It is also painful to note the aristocratic attitude of writer’s own kith and kin deriving no lesson from their father’s impoverished life. Chapters 7 and 8 cover the great heroes of Prayāg region. The author gets impressed only by the creators of new inventions benefitting the masses, or great souls having led a pathetic life, or have done any personal obligation upon him or his family. As such, the author is impressed by a few people in the long list therein: Shrī B.N. Pāndéy, Pţ. S.N. Misrà, Professors N.R. Ḑhar, P.L. Bhatnāgar, U.N. Singh, R.S. Shuklà and Shrī Chanḑrà Shékhar are few such great souls.
Author’s general articles and books are presented in Chapter 9, and Chapter 10 details his mathematical works. Chapter 11 enlists his other literary works and some Véḑic Manţràs. From time to time great saints, Riṣhīs and divine people appeared on the Earth to enlighten the society. Born in a Vaishņav family, the author has enriched his knowledge through interactions with many saints and has achieved considerably by regular chanting of these Manţràs for long. An appendix is added vide Chapter 12 including a write-up on Lord Srī Kriṣhņà and Shrī Chanḑrà Bhūshaņ Ţrivéḑī aka Ramaī Kākā. The last chapter details the abbreviations used in the book that ends with References. Baring few exceptions for italic English words, the words of non-English languages are italicized. To pronounce the Hinḑī words correctly, especially by the non-Hinḑī readers, a scheme is elaborated in Chapter 1, § 3.
The author is thankful to all those providing valued information: particularly, Shrī Umā Shankar Bājpāī, retd. I-G Police; ex-student, Shrī Ōnkār Nāţh Pāthak, retd. Additional Commissioner, Income Tax Dept., GoI; Shrī R.S. Shuklà s/o my ex-teacher Prof. Dr. K.S. Shuklà of Lucknow Univ., Shrī Yashō Varḑhan grandson of Āchāryà Narénḑrà Ḑév, etc. Shrī Pāthak also assisted me in reading galley proofs of the manuscript and made valuable suggestions. Author feels lucky to be cared by his family members: wife (Rékhā), 3rd son (Rōhiţ), his wife (Keerţi) and their kids (Ākarshaņ and Samriḑḑhi). Even the little ones served me for my energy needs facilitating the task. They too richly deserve my sincere thanks. The entire composition of the book is accomplished by the author single handed. Though every care is taken to maintain the accuracy yet, if any discrepancy is seen, the author alone shall be responsible for the same.
Lucknow (Indiā): September 06, 2021 Rām Bilās Misrà
“रहिमन वे नर मरि चुके जे कहुं मांगन जाहिं ।
उनते पहिले वई मरे जिन मुख निकसत नाहिं ।।”
I too witnessed it repeatedly in my life. The first setback I received in January 1980, when I contested the Parliamentary Election, for the first time, from Shahabad Constituency in U.P. The constituency was composed of three Assembly Segments of Hardoi district: Bawan, Pihani and Shahabad, and two Assembly constituencies of adjoining Lakhimpur-Kheri district: Mohammadi and Haiderabad. The last one included villages immediate to that of mine (Semrai) and Gola Gokarannath Town. I had studied there for seven years (class 6 - 12) during 1951-58. Many small traders and shopkeepers were regular debtors of my father. I also had many close relatives living there including my own real maternal uncle and his family. Even the maternal village (Deokali) of my mother was included in the constituency. So was the case of the maternal villages of my father and both grandmothers. In spite of all such bondages, I could hardly poll 118 votes from the entire town of Gola Gokarannath and 18 surrounding villages. Even the real maternal cousins of my father and others did not vote for me. Although my father trusted his cousin (Pt. Chhotey Lal Shukla - a Freedom Fighter) to the extent that he kept a large drum full of petrol for our vehicles at his house and deposited a considerable sum with his trusted jeweler (Sri Ram Gupta who was known as a staunch Congressman). Alas! no considerations worked in my favour.
On contrary, I could visit a distantly located Shahabad Town just twice during my election campaign only; but polled 147 votes, where I had no relatives and no any personal contacts. I cannot forget the loving words uttered by an elderly Muslim medical doctor who rushed to me during my electioneering. He confessed to have heard a lot about my knowledge, persona and candidature that he made it a point to visit me. He also claimed to be a “London Returned”. Those days it used to be an additional feather to one’s cap to have made a trip to London or abroad. Presumably, I might have succeeded in getting his blessings. Similar was the solitary instance demonstrated by my ex-teacher: Shri Brij Mohan Sharma, who had taught me English in 12th class at Public Intermediate College, Gola Gokarannath in 1957-58. He openly declared that he had cast his vote in favour of his student, i.e. me.
Being the only candidate hailing from the two Assembly constituencies of Lakhimpur-Kheri district amongst 10, I was very much optimistic to attract voters especially from this region. Anyway, it was the first debacle in my life. Later on, at many occasions I had to taste a bitter toast in my diverse and hectic activities ranging from academics to administration and a bit of political involvement. It may be added that I had again contested a Parliamentary Election second time (and that was the last so far) in 1991 - this time from Lakhimpur-Kheri constituency itself, where my own village was included. Again, it proved to be a setback. Out of 16 contestants, I alone was a Brahmin face, but nothing worked in my favour in spite of having made painstaking and strenuous campaigning.
I always carried an impression that my students love me maximum as I had never exploited them, never accepted anything from them in terms of material gains for my most dedicated service while imparting the knowledge to them. At times, I used to conduct my class even upto extended hours, say 4-5 hours, at A.P.S. University, Rewa (M.P.). In addition to my administrative liability as the Head of the Department and Dean, Faculty of Science, I used to devote completely to fulfill my academic obligations to the maximum extent possibly more than any teacher in the University. The only asset of my hard labour had been to find alumni of that small place right upto a level that one of my students (Dr. Sanjay Pant) is now an Associate Professor at a prestigious College of Delhi University. Two years back when I made an appeal to donate generously for the leftover family of my nephew (late) Mr. Arun Kumar Misra, not even a single student from Rewa came forward to my call. Going out of the way, I questioned a student (Mr. Santosh Kumar Mishra), who was gifted a soft copy of my own text-book on Tensors, published by us only, free. He took an alibi of caring his own ailing father. Neither any contribution came from Avadh University, Ayodhya, where I administered as a VC during 1989-92. Even my own research students: Prof. Paras Nath Pandey, then working as the VC of Nehru Gram Bharti University, Prayagraj, Prof. Chayan Kumar Mishra (appointed by me only at Avadh University), and Dr. Mahendra Pratap Singh (appointed by me at Avadh University and, later, on my recommendation at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi) donated nothing. The people can be so ungrateful that even the incumbents like Prof. Ajay Pratap Singh (appointed during my regime only) at Avadh University and others never thought of even showing their lip sympathy.
The indifferent nature of such ungrateful persons discouraged me much and I was reluctant to issue another appeal for similar help for the devastated family of my second nephew (Rajan) who died on 31st December, 2022. Instead, I requested my associates to get any job to the widow of Rajan. A favourable response was exhibited by a retired IAS cadre officer (Shri Dinesh Singh) of Prayagraj who, without my request for any monetary help, remitted Rs. 5,000 to the beneficiary (Mrs. Kanan Bala Mishra). Another retired IAS Officer of Panjab cadre (Engr. Dr. Narinder Wadhavan) encouraged me to issue another appeal to generate some funds for Rajan’s family. Of late, I could muster enough courage to circulate another appeal for donation to the bereaved family of dear Rajan on 15.3.2023, and donated Rs. 2,50,000 from my own sources. On my call, our eldest son (Shri Rakesh Mishra, Advocate, Allahabad High Court) also came forward managing Rs. 500,000 for my mission. The amount was remitted to Kanan Bala’s Bank A/c on 10.4.2023. Some of my trusted friends, colleagues, students also joined me for this pious mission. I was moved by unconditional love that I received from them, notably Prof. S.N. Pandey of Gorakhpur (contributing Rs. 31,000), Shri R.K. Saxena, Director, Amity University, Lucknow (Rs. 10,000), Shri Santosh Awasthi, Lecturer, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalay, Trivediganj, Dist. Barabanki (Rs. 10,000), Prof. Pramod Kumar Singh, HoD, Mathematics, University of Allahabad (Rs. 7,500), and of late our relative Smt. Poonam Trivedi, Sr. Bank Manager, S.B.I., Mumbai (Rs. 20,000), etc. [Cf. Chapter 6 for full list of donors].
I wished to raise the amount at least up to Rs. 1,000,000 (Rupees Ten Lakhs) distributing it amongst the three beneficiaries in the Rajan’s family:
(i) Rs. 2,50,000 earmarked for M.B.A. studies of his son (Rohan aka
Priyanshu);
(ii) Rs. 2,50,000 earmarked for further studies of his daughter (Ms
Arpita); and
(iii) Making a reserve of Rs. 500,000 for his wife (Smt. Kanan Bala) for any
emergency.
In addition to Rs. 2,50,000 of mine and Rs. 500,00 of our son a sum of Rs. 1,30,000 only could also be received from others. As such, the planned amount was short of Rs. 1,20,000. I continued requesting for possible supplemental funds to my many associates. This had tremendous impact on an ex-student of mine (Shri Dharmagaj Prasad) who had already contributed Rs. 5,000 earlier. He decided to contribute the entire short amount (Rs. 1,20,000) and provided me much relief. His generosity and magnanimity inspired me to make all this narrative and I decided to pen it down so that it lasts forever.
What a pity! I got few flashes much earlier. As says the proverb: ‘Coming events cast shadow ahead’ I wrote the following couplet hardly a month before Rajan’s death:
'रमना' यह संसार है, अपना कोउ न जान । जिनको तू अपना कहे, वे भी नोचै प्रान ॥
जिनके तू काज सरे, वे सब भए महान । तेरी सुध ना काहु को, किनमें भरमे प्रान ॥
धीरे - धीरे सब चले कायर, चतुर, महान । ना तू कुछ करि सक्यो, देखत रह्यो सुजान ॥
जो थोड़े बाकी बचे, उनके भी अटके प्रान । क्या जाने अब कौन चले - क्यों सोंचे नादान ॥
My reportage consists of Two Parts: the first one devoted to dear Arun while the latter one details relevant saga about dear Rajan. Both parts have altogether seven chapters: three in the first one, and four in the latter. The last chapter includes information of miscellaneous nature concerning Rajan: some of his literary taste, social and professional life exhibited through pictures. He was very particular to fulfill his social commitments. The last one was his participation (along with his son) in the marriage of my own eldest granddaughter (Aparna) on 2nd December, 2022 solemnized at Prayagraj - the auspicious occasion boycotted by me on certain issues. In our last meeting he commented that I should have attended her marriage. My response was that you are not privileged to say so; instead if I abstain from your own son’s marriage you would have it so to complain. Alas! now if such hypothetical lapse on my part actually happen Rajan would not be there to complain. The saga ends with a list of few of my previous literature whose contents could be reproduced here.
Needless to add the author shall ever remain indebted to the kind hearted thoughtful donors who richly deserve our gratitude. On behalf of our grief stricken daughter-in-law and her children, I offer my humble thanks to them for their humane considerations. God shall always shower His divine blessings upon these noble brethren. My thanks are also due to my own eldest grandson (Mr. Rahul Mis...
“सुहृद वृन्द, सज्जन पुरुष, क्षल प्रपंच से दूर ! मन ह्वै जात अजौ वहीं वा संगम के तीर !!”
I have already paid my homage to all the Brahmins at Prayāgrāj in my earlier book [Ref. 7]. The present one (partly extracted from [7]) narrates the saga of the Kānyàkubjà community at large. Naturally, it is extensively supplemented and almost all KKBs of prominence have been included. The information is presented here in 11 chapters. The first one offers a Summary and includes the origin of KKB community, whereas the next one reveals the background of the author shaping his ideas and belief. Chapter 3 (forming the main backbone of the saga) accounts all pioneer KKBs in different walks of life. Arranged in alphabetical order, it includes academicians, administrators, ambassadors, artists, astrologers, chief ministers, recipients of national awards, defence personnel, educationists, freedom fighters, governors, jurists, (Honourable Chief) Justices and Judges of Allāhābāḑ High Court and elsewhere, littera- teurs, martyrs, mayors, medicos, politicians (including ministers at both state and central levels), (solitary) Prime Minister, religious & spiritual leaders, rulers, scientists, student leaders, Vice-Chancellors, (solitary) Vice President from the community etc. and ends with writers mainly in Hindi literature. The next two chapters offer detailed biographical sketches of my two teachers: mentor & Ph.D. supervisor: Paḑmàshrī Prof. Dr. R.S. Mishrà and Prof. D.N. Misrà for his extraordinary roles respectively. Chapter 6 enlists the prominent Brahmin Kings & Rulers all over the world. Great Revolutionaries, social reformers and the record–setters in different spheres are included in the 7th Chapter. Few more brave hearts of Avaḑh Region are included in the Chapter 8, whereas the next chapter (Appendix) includes few brave hearts of my native place and my visionary father. Chapter 10 includes 326 abbreviations used in the text for brevity. Since the internet is freely consulted so gratitude is offered to their authors. However, few additional References also find their mention at the end.
Every effort is made to present the factual statements and utmost care is taken yet many entries could not be confirmed. Writing history of the community, that provided excellent leadership to the society, both in ancient and modern times, is now given discredit by biased governments and other agencies. Many historians, especially the colonizers and invaders, did not do justice with our community and presented its distorted image. At times, readers may find more relevant spellings of many (Indian) words wrongly spelt by foreigners and blindly adopted by us. I have purposely replaced the ending ‘a’ by ‘à’ giving soft sound in the names of deities: ‘Rāmà’, ‘Krishņà’, ‘Shivà’, etc. and in religious epics: ‘Rāmāyaņà’. Similarly, the letter ‘c’ used for the sound of ‘ch’ in the old literature is dropped. The sound of Hindi letter च (cha) is given by ‘ch’. The spelling ‘Vijnan’ used by the colonizers is deliberately replaced by more appropriate one as ‘Vigyān’ that it actually means to. It has become customary to suffix the letter ‘a’ to many Hindi words written in English, such as my own surname (Misrà) while the correct pronunciation is without stressing the ending ‘a’. To distinguish the soft sound of the ending an accented letter ‘à’ is used replacing ‘a’ in such words. However, as per Hindi grammar, the ending ‘a’ in the same female surname has to be stressed; so, it is retained as ‘Misrà’. Non-English words / phrases and few English phrases as well, for distinction, are italicized. At times, readers may get puzzled to note my presentation in mathematical way. Foot-notes are used for brevity, e.g.1 for prefixes “Prof. Dr.” and 2 for prefix ‘Honourable’ before Judges. References to entries in Chapter 3 are mentioned elsewhere in the text as “cf. Entry…” while “cf. Chapt…” refers to the entries in rest of the chapters. Though repetitions are avoided but birth details, educational qualifications, life span of persons covered in the text may be exception, when enlisted elsewhere.
Any suggestions for improvement of the text and healthy criticism shall be highly welcomed. My sincere thanks are due to my ex-student (Shrī Onkar Nāţh Pāthak, retd. Addl. Commissioner of Income Tax) and my senior at Lucknow University, turned a close relative (Shrī Uma Shankar Bājpāī ji, retd. I.G. Police, U.P.) for checking the proofs and offering valuable comments.
[What a telepathy – today is the 28th death anniversary of my niece (Reenā aka Beetoo) and I had totally forgotten about the sad event. Her soul flashed at 5:15 a.m. when my wife shouted if there is someone trying to enter our bedroom. I am yet to complete a book on her.]
Lucknow (India): 1st June, 2022 / 12:27 p.m.
Jyéshth Shuklà Pakshà 2, V.S. 2079 Rām Bilās Misrà
“दुनिया ऐसी बावरी, कि पाथर पूजन जाय । घर की चाकी कोइ ना पूजे, जेहिका पीसा खाय ।।”
देश एवं समाज के दोनों ही वर्गों (शिक्षित एवं अशिक्षित) को अन्य सभी का साहित्य पढ़ने में रुचिकर लगता है, पूजा-पाठ उनके जीवन का अभिन्न अंग बन जाता है, धर्म-शास्त्र एवं धार्मिक – ग्रंथों को गला फाड़-फाड़ कर चिल्लाना सुखद प्रतीत होता है; किन्तु अपनों के बारे में वर्ष में मात्र एक बार श्राद्ध-तर्पण कर इतिश्री समझना ही उनकी दिनचर्या बन गई है । जो भी लेखन-कार्य मैं सम्पन्न कर रहा हूँ, इसे कोई भी शिक्षित जन पूर्ण कर सकता था, किन्तु उसे यह कभी रास न आया। फलतः, ८ वें दशक के उत्तरार्ध में आकर इस लेखक ने यह संकल्प किया कि अपने पूर्वजों एवं कुटुम्बी-जनों को भी अमरत्व प्रदान करने का साहस जुटायेगा । वर्ष २०१५ में लेखक ने प्रायः ८ मासों के अथक प्रयास से अपने पिताश्री (हरद्वारी लाल) का जीवन-वृत्त पूर्ण किया [ देखें सन्दर्भ १३ ] । तदुपरांत, अपनी जन्म-स्थली (सेमरई) के समस्त प्राणियों (मनुज, पशु-पक्षी, सांस्कृतिक धरोहरों, कूप-तड़ाग, ऐतिहासिक पूजा-स्थलों, वृक्षों आदि) का स्मरण करते हुए २०४ पृष्ठों के एक विषद-ग्रन्थ की रचना पूर्ण की [ सन्दर्भ १४ ] । प्रायः ४० वर्षों (१९६३ – २००२) के प्रयाग-वास में अनेक विद्वत-जनों के सम्पर्क में आकर खट्ठे-मीठे अनुभव पाये थे । वर्ष २०१७ उन्हीं सुधीजनों के स्मरण करने में व्यतीत हुआ । सर्वप्रथम्, २९ अप्रैल, २०१७ को पूर्व सहकर्मी प्रो. डॉ. हनुमान प्रसाद दीक्षित के असामयिक निधन पर शोक-संवेदना लिखी । तदुपरांत, प्रयाग स्थित गणित विषय के सभी अध्यापकों का स्मरण कर उन्हें अपने श्रद्धा-सुमन अर्पित किये [ संदर्भ १५ ] । सितम्बर २०१७ से ही साधनारत होकर ४ मासों से भी अधिक का समय लेकर प्रयाग के समस्त विप्र-जनों / विद्वानों का स्मरण कर २४३ पृष्ठों के एक दुर्लभ ग्रन्थ [ संदर्भ १९ ] की रचना पूर्ण कर उसे २१ जनवरी को इन्टरनेट पर पोस्ट किया ।
सोंचा कि कतिपय दिवस विश्राम कर अगली पुस्तक की रचना प्रारम्भ की जाय, किन्तु यह भी सोंच आया कि कहीं ऐसा न हो जाय कि अगला क्षण इस जीवन में आये ही न । अतएव, उद्भट विद्वान् रावण की परामर्शानुसार, शुभष्य-शीघ्रम का अवलंब लेकर इसी जीवन में अपने सभी पारिवारिक सम्बंधी-जनों के संस्मरण संजोने हेतु एक ग्रंथ की रचना पूर्ण की [ संदर्भ २० ] । यह अकिंचन से लगाकर अद्भुत एवं विलक्षण प्रतिभा संपन्न संबंधियों : श्रीयुत उमाशंकर बाजपेयी (आई.पी.एस.), चन्द्र प्रकाश त्रिपाठी (आई.ए.एस.), पूर्व आयुक्त, सहारनपुर मंडल एवं डॉ. ऋषि केशव पाण्डेय (आई.ए.एस.) से भी परिचय कराता है । पृष्ठ १९ पर उद्धृत चित्र श्री बाजपेयी जी की राष्ट्र के प्रथम नागरिक से हुई भेंट भी दर्शाता है । स्वयं लेखक अनेक विश्व-स्तरीय विभूतियों यथा श्रीमती इंदिरा गाँधी, राष्ट्रपति डॉ. शंकर दयाल शर्मा, डॉ. ए.पी.जे. कलाम एवं नोबेल पुरस्कार प्राप्त वैज्ञानिक प्रो. डॉ. अब्दुस सलाम जी के निकट संपर्क में आ सका । यों तो अपनी एक मात्र जीवित बची हुई अनुजा (सरोजिनी) पर विषद लेख सन्दर्भ १३ के अध्याय १२ में प्रस्तुत किया गया था (जिसे अभी तक इन्टरनेट पर नहीं पोस्ट किया जा सका है); अतएव, उसे उक्त पुस्तक के अध्याय ११ में भी समाहित करते हुए सरोजिनी पर कतिपय अन्य जानकारी भी प्रस्तुत की गई है । उसे अपने ही निकटतम परिजनों से मिली दु:खद यातनाओं की पीड़ा ने मेरे मन को जीवन-पर्यन्त अत्यधिक व्यथित किया है । २४ जून, १९६९ से १० जनवरी, १९७९ तक लिखे गए उसके पत्रों को मैंने अब तक अपने पास संजोकर रखा था, किन्तु अब जीवन के “दिवस का अवसान समीप ” सोंचकर इन पत्रों की छाया-प्रतियाँ भी इसी अध्याय में प्रस्तुत की गई हैं, ताकि समस्त जन-मानस इससे कोई सीख ले सके । एक अत्याचारी निरंकुश शासक (कंश) ने सार्वजनिक रूप से “मामा – भांजे ” के पवित्र सम्बन्ध को कलंकित किया था, सत्ता-लोलुप सम्राट (औरंगजेब) ने अपने पिता को ही जेल में डाला था, किन्तु सरोजिनी की असहनीय पीड़ा उसके अपने क्रूर पिताश्री से प्रारम्भ होती है । पिता, पति एवं ससुराल के मध्य प्रायः घटित होने वाले अप्रिय संवादों ने सरोजिनी की बलि ले ली । वर्ष १९६५ में अध्ययन में व्यवधान डालते हुए उसे प्रयाग से सेमरई वापस भेजने वाला लेखक का (प्रथम) दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण निर्णय २१ वर्ष की अपरिपक्व मनःस्थिति का था, किन्तु जुलाई १९८० में शारीरिक रूप से अतिशय शिथिल हो चुकी, गर्भवती बहन को ससुराल में रहने देना (वयस्क बन चुके) लेखक की दूसरी गंभीर भूल सिद्ध हुई । काश ! उसे प्रयाग ले गया होता तो उसका जीवन बचाया जा सकता था ।
जीवन का अस्तित्व ही सार्वभौमिक यथार्थ है । कवि अब्दुर्रहीम खानखाना लिखते हैं –
“रहिमन पानी राखिये, बिन पानी सब सून । पानी गए न ऊबरै मोती, मानुस, चून ।।”
जीवन समाप्ति के उपरान्त सभी कुछ अर्थहीन हो जाता है । जीवन विधाता की विलक्षण देन है उसे संरक्षित रखना सभी जीवित प्राणियों का उतना ही पुनीत कर्तव्य है, जितना कि जीवन-दाता की उपासना ।
वर्ष २०१८ से अब तक साधनारत होकर लेखक ने अपने सभी गुरुजनों [ संदर्भ २२ ], गोला गोकर्णनाथ (जहाँ कि लेखक ने ६ वर्षों तक अध्यन किया था) एवं समीपस्थ क्षेत्र के सम्भ्रांत जनों [ संदर्भ २७ ], पूज्य गुरुवर की पवित्र भूमि (उन्नाव) के कतिपय विद्वानों [ संदर्भ २९ ], दो निकटस्थ सम्बंधियों के विछोह [ संदर्भ ३०, ३५ ] पर संस्मरण, गुरुजनों (प्रो. रत्न शंकर मिश्र एवं प्रो. देवेंद्र नाथ मिश्र) के जीवन-वृत्त [ संदर्भ ३६, ३७ ]; अवध, काशी एवं प्रयाग का इतिहास तथा अपना जीवन-वृत्त भी २ खंडों में पूर्ण किया [ संदर्भ ३३, ३४ ] । स्वयं तथा अर्धांगिनी के ८१वें जन्म-दिवस के उपलक्ष्य में आयोजित समारोह [ संदर्भ ३९ ] तथा अपने जीवन-वृत्त का वर्षानुक्रम में प्रस्तुतीकरण पूर्ण कर ही रहा था कि अचानक रमेश चंद्र का भी विछोह सहन करना पड़ा ।
यह दैवी संयोग है कि शेरपुर जैसे अकिंचन एवं अज्ञात गांव में जन्मा बालक एक परम सिद्धि को प्राप्त कर सका । लेखक का मत है कि उनके पूर्व जन्मों के सद्कर्मों के फलस्वरूप, इस जीवन में वह किसी महान विभूति की आत्मा को जी रहे थे । ४१ वर्ष में विधुर बने रमेश ने अपने पारिवारिक बहु-विवाह की परम्परा का परित्याग कर २७ वर्षों तक जीवन पाया । इस मध्य, उसने अपने समस्त उत्तरदायित्यों का निर्वहन किया । उप्लब्ध संसाधनों का यथा शक्ति उपयोग कर अपने दोनों पुत्रों को समुचित शिक्षा दिलवाई । तीनों पुत्रियों के विवाह भी सम्पन्न कराये । अनेकों उच्च शिक्षित जन तथा प्रतिष्ठित संत भी नारी के मोहपाश में लिप्त हो जाते हैं किंतु विधुर बने रमेश के जीवन में किसी नारी का समावेश कभी नहीं प्रतिबिम्बित हुआ । उसके आचरण पर कभी कोई आक्षेप नहीं लगा । उसकी सतत साधना ही इस सोंच को दर्शाती है कि वह एक असधारण मानव थे जो बीत-राग के ऊपर थे । सम्भवत:, यही कारण था कि उनकी शव-यात्रा के समय वैश्विक आपदा के होते हुए भी इतना विशाल जन-मानस उमड़ पड़ा । लेखक के संज्ञान में वर्ष १९८० में दिवंगत हुए श्री बाल गोविंद वर्मा (जोकि सरल एवं मृदुभाषी होने के साथ ही केंद्रीय मंत्री पद को भी सुशोभित कर चुके थे) शव-यात्रा के समान रमेश को भी ग्रामीण एवं नगरीय समस्त जन-मानस ने वैसा ही सम्मान दिया । उनकी रिक्तता की क्षतिपूर्ति करना निश्चय ही एक दुरूह कार्य होगा । ईश्वर ने उस पुण्यात्मा को मानवता की सेवा हेतु मात्र इतना ही समय सुनिश्चित किया था । सम्भव है कि त्रिकाल-दर्शी को उनकी सेवाओं की कहीं अन्यत्र आवश्यकता रही हो ?
८ जनवरी २०२२ को लेखक ने सोंचा न था कि उसकी श्रद्धांजलि एक पुस्तक का रूप ले लेगी जिसमें अब तक ६ अध्याय समाहित हो चुके हैं । प्रथम अध्याय उनकी पारिवारिक पृष्ठभूमि का परिचय कराता है, जब कि अध्याय २ में लेखक द्वारा अर्पित श्रद्धांजलि प्रस्तुत की गयी है । अगले अध्याय में उनके निकटस्थ पारिवारिक सम्बंधियों को दर्शाता है । अध्याय ४ में लेखक की कतिपय पद्य रचनायें एवं मन्त्र प्रस्तुत किये गये हैं । अध्याय ५ उनसे सम्बंधित कतिपय निकटतम व्यक्तियों का चित्रावलोकन कराता है । अंतिम अध्याय लेखक द्वारा विरचित समस्त गणितेतर साहित्य की सूची प्रस्तुत करता है; जिसका अभिप्राय है कि लेखक जिस साधन विहीन ग्रामीण अंचल से निकल कर जीवन में जो भी ऊंचाइयां स्पर्श की हैं, वे किसी अन्य को भी इसी प्रकार उत्साहित कर सकें एवं प्रेरणा दायक बन सके । लेखक की रचना (जीवन-वृत्त - खंड २) उसके गणितीय साहित्य का बोध कराता है ।
लेखक उन समस्त सुधी-जनों के प्रति अनुगृहीत है, जिन्होंने अपने चित्र इन्टरनेट पर पोस्ट कर रखे हैं, जिनमें से कतिपय यहाँ प्रस्तुत किये गये हैं । साथ ही, लेखक रमेश के अग्रज (श्री रमाकांत मिश्र) तथा भतीजे (राजन) के प्रति भी धन्यवाद ज्ञापित करता है, जिन्होंने अपनी पारिवारिक जानकारी उपलब्ध करायी । अर्धांगिनी (रेखा), एवं पुत्र-वधू (कीर्ति) भी धन्यवाद की सुपात्र हैं - रेखा ने पुस्तक से इतर नित्यप्रति के अन्य आवश्यक कार्यों की ओर लेखक का निरंतर ध्यान कराकर अपना धर्म निभाया, वहीं कीर्ति लेखक को जीवित रहने हेतु सभी आवश्यक सेवायें उपलब्ध कराती रही ।
ग्रन्थ की रचना का सम्पूर्ण कार्य लेखक ने अल्पतम समय में स्वयं संपन्न किया है एवं सभी भाँति इसकी शुद्धता संजोये रखने का हर संभव प्रयास किया है । फिर भी यदि किसी प्रकार की कोई अशुद्धि शेष रह गयी हो तो उसका उत्तरदायित्व लेखक का होगा । लेखक की मनःस्थिति पं. माखन लाल चतुर्वेदी जी की बहुमूल्य रचना ‘एक फूल की अभिलाषा’ से प्रभावित है –
“ चाह नहीं, मैं सुरबाला के गहनों में गूँथा जाऊँ ।
चाह नहीं, प्रेमी-माला में बिंध प्यारी को ललचाऊँ ।।
चाह नहीं, सम्राटों के शव पर हे हरि, डाला जाऊँ ।
चाह नहीं, देवों के सिर चढ़ भाग्य पर इठलाऊँ ।।
मुझे तोड़ लेना ‘वनमाली’, उस पथ पर देना तुम फेंक ।
मातृभूमि पर शीश चढ़ाने, जिस पथ जायें वीर अनेक ।।”
लखनऊ (भारत): १४ जनवरी, २०२२ (मकर संक्रांति) राम बिलास मिश्र
(i) homage to the teacher (Prof. Dr. Ḑévénḑrà Nāţh Misrà) who could be counted as the second or third senior most doctoral degree holder in his discipline (Topology) in the entire Indian sub-continent;
(ii) exposing his real talent and some rare virtues to this world, which is often dominated by the Western culture and traditions;
(iii) Informing his own kith and kin who might have undermined the worth of their intellectual guardian.
Professor Misrà showed his brilliance right from his beginning. His score of marks (149 out of 150) in mathematics at his B.Sc. (Final) examination of Lucknow University held in 1949 remained unbeaten for long. After passing his Masters in Mathematics from the same University, in 1953 he proceeded on study leave from his alma mater to France and pursued his studies for the doctoral degree at the University of Paris. He was awarded Dr. ès Sc. Degree in 1957 for his doctoral dissertation in a most advanced and modern subject known as Topology – a branch in Pure Mathematics not yet fully comprehensible to many scholars in Indiā and abroad.
The author (with rural base and hailing from a conservative Brahmin family of highest cadre amongst Kānyàkubjà Brahmins) could never appreciate the smoking habit of such a capable scholar. Dr. Misrà developed a chain smoking habit and was fond of ultra-modern life style: wearing a long necktie sometimes even with bathroom slippers – so called Hawāī chappals introduced in Indiā around 1960. Honestly speaking his smoking habit caused a repelling impact on the adolescent mind of the author and I never thought of joining research under his supervision. Now at the fag-end of life I must do justice with the highly academic brilliance of the scholar; and, in spite of his some shortcomings, he richly deserves for my narration – especially when he is gone for his heavenly abode. He might have never taken me so seriously that I shall endeavour to make his reminiscences forever.
It consists of 10 chapters of which the first one is introductory describing the Hinḑī characters and the author’s philosophy. The Indian proper names are generally italicized and written in accented (Roman) letters in order to give the original sounds. Efforts have been made to incorporate all the information related to my Gurū jī (Prof. Dr. Ḑévénḑrà Nāţh Misrà): his origin, education, academic pursuits, published works, rare photographs, his close relatives, etc. in the Chapters 2 and 3 of the book. Homage paid by the author to all his Gurūs, Teachers and Mentors and charities made are detailed in Chapter 4. Next chapter presents a tableau of some unforgettable moments in the academic life of the author. The Chapter 6 presents author’s general articles / books, while the Chapter 7 details his mathematical works. Chapter 8 enlists author’s other literary works and some Véḑic Manţràs. It is an established fact that from time to time many great saints, Rishīs and other sages and divine people appeared on the Earth and guided the society in one way or the other for the benefit of the mankind, for providing stability to the restless mind and for the purification of the soul. Born in a Vaishņavà family, the author has enriched his knowledge through interactions with many sages and has achieved considerably by regular chanting all the Manţràs presented in this chapter for a long time. Readers may benefit themselves from these Manţràs as per their own choice. Chapter 9 presents some of the ‘Surviving elders in my subject (Mathematics)’ and the last chapter details the abbreviations used in the narration. The book ends with References to the existing literature.
The author has derived much of personal information, provided in the book, from the youngest brother (Shrī V.N. Misrà) of Gurū jī. The information given in the web sites of Mr. Suḑhīr Misrà (the elder son of Gurū jī), Kānyà Kubjà College, Lucknow and others have also been utilized. Hence, they all deserve my sincere thanks and gratitude. The author feels lucky to be cared by the immediate members of his family: wife (Rékhā), the third son (Rōhiţ), his wife (Keerţi) and their kids (Ākarshaņ and Samriḑḑhi). Even the little ones cooperated in serving me for my energy needs facilitating my task easier. Hence, they too richly deserve my sincere thanks. The entire composition of the book has been accomplished by the author single handed. Although every effort has been made to preserve the accuracy even if any discrepancy is found for which the author alone shall be responsible.
What a happy coincidence that many centuries back the ancestors of the author also migrated from ‘Ganj Morāḑābāḑ’ situated in the East of the ancestral district (Harḑōī) of Pt. Jai Nārāiņ Misrà aka Kakkā jī – the maternal grandfather of Prof. D.N. Misrà jī to Sīţāpur and Lakhīmpur-Khérī districts of U.P. Possibly, the Lord saved my life many a times just for the sake of performing such noble tasks. As per the eternal belief, the debt of above mentioned holy soil of my ancestors could be repaid only after coming to this life. As such, the composition of this biography was pre-determined to be completed by me only.
In the last phase of life, the author is influenced by the valuable work of Indiā’s Hinḑī Poet (Paḑmà Bhūshaņ Pt. Mākhan Lāl Chaţurvéḑī) – ‘The desire of a flower’.
“ चाह नहीं, मैं सुरबाला के गहनों में गूँथा जाऊँ ।
चाह नहीं, प्रेमी-माला में बिंध प्यारी को ललचाऊँ ।।
चाह नहीं, सम्राटों के शव पर हे हरि, डाला जाऊँ ।
चाह नहीं, देवों के सिर चढ़ भाग्य पर इठलाऊँ ।।
मुझे तोड़ लेना ‘वनमाली’, उस पथ पर देना तुम फेंक ।
मातृ-भूमि पर शीश चढ़ाने, जिस पथ जायें वीर अनेक ।।”
[ Have no desire to be entwined in fairy’s jewels.
Have no lust to dress up a garland entice a fiancée.
Neither any wish to be adored in the funeral of the emperors,
Nor an ambition to be offered to a deity, and flaunt the fate.
Pluck me O Gardener ! and throw me on the path,
Where march the martyrs of the motherland. ]
Lucknow (India): August 14, 2021 Ram Bilas Misrà
“दुनिया ऐसी बावरी, कि पाथर पूजन जाय । घर की चाकी कोइ ना पूजे, जेहिका पीसा खाय ।।”
देश एवं समाज के दोनों ही (शिक्षित एवं अशिक्षित) वर्गों को अन्य सभी का साहित्य पढ़ने में रुचिकर लगता है, पूजा-पाठ उनके जीवन का अभिन्न अंग बन जाता है, धर्म-शास्त्र एवं धार्मिक–ग्रंथों को गला फाड़-फाड़ कर चिल्लाना सुखद प्रतीत होता है; किन्तु अपनों के बारे में वर्ष में मात्र एक बार श्राद्ध-तर्पण कर इतिश्री समझना ही उनका स्वभाव हो गया है । मुझे अपने पूर्वजों के क्रिया-कलापों का कोई भी लिखित विवरण न प्राप्त हो सका । मेरे पूज्य पिताश्री की विलक्षण स्मरण शक्ति प्रशंसनीय है कि उन्होंने मात्र ‘‘श्रुति” के माध्यम से पीढ़ी-दर-पीढ़ी प्राप्त पारिवारिक जानकारी मुझ तक पहुँचाई ।
माँ सरस्वती की आराधना में संलिप्त होकर देश-विदेश में पठन-पाठन करते हुए वर्ष १९६३ से २००० तक गणितीय शोध-लेखों की रचना में संलिप्त रहा । तदुपरांत, पाठ्य–पुस्तकों एवं अन्य पुस्तकों की रचना प्रारम्भ की । अवध विश्वविद्यालय में सम्पन्न क्रिया-कलापों को लिपिबद्ध कर, वर्ष २००० में, प्रथम पुस्तक प्रकाशित की । तब से अब तक गणित विषय के ६७ शोध-पत्र, ३४ पुस्तकें, १५ निबंध, १११ समीक्षायें एवं गणितेतर ३० पुस्तकें तथा १४ अन्य संक्षिप्त लेख (कुल २७१ ) रचनायें प्रकाशित कीं । इस भौतिकवादी जगत में अधिकांश जन चार्वाक दर्शन –
“यावद्जीवेत् सुखम् जीवेत, ऋणं कृत्वा, घृतम् पिवेत ।
भष्मी-भूतस्य देहस्य, पुनरागमनम् कुतः ॥”
में विश्वास करते हैं, किंतु कतिपय सुहृदजन –
“तरुवर फल नहिं खात हैं, सरवर पियहि न पान ।
कहि रहीम पर काज हित, संपति संचहि सुजान ॥”
अथवा,
तरुवर फल नहिं खात हैं, सरिता पिये न नीर ।
परमारथ के कारने, साधुन धरा शरीर ॥
का अनुसरण कर परमार्थ हेतु जीते हैं ।
धर्म के ठेकेदारों ने ईश्वर के स्वरूप का ऐसा विकृत रूप प्रस्तुत किया है कि मानव अपनों से विमुख होकर अन्य वांछित कर्तव्यों को भुलाकर या तो ईश्वर – साधना का ढोंग करता है, अथवा सत्ताधारियों एवं मठाधीशों की चरण-रज पाने हेतु व्याकुल रह्ता है । जीवन भर नाना प्रकार के प्रलोभनों में लिप्त रहकर, मर्यादित एवं अमर्यादित आचरण करते हुए अपनी शक्ति, विवेक, एवं क्रिया-शीलता खो देता है । किंतु लेखक इन सभी व्यर्थ के झंझावातों से उबर कर अपनी ऊर्जा को इस पुनीत लेखन-कार्य में अर्पित कर रहा है । लेखक ने अब तक अनेकों प्रकार के ऋण चुकाने के प्रयास किये हैं – पितृ ऋण मुक्ति हेतु वर्ष २०१५ में प्रायः ८ मासों के अथक प्रयास से पिताश्री (हरद्वारी लाल) का जीवन-वृत्त पूर्ण किया [सन्दर्भ १३१)] । तदुपरांत, अपनी जन्म-स्थली (सेमरई) के समस्त प्राणियों (मनुज, पशु-पक्षी, सांस्कृतिक धरोहरों, कूप-तड़ाग, ऐतिहासिक पूजा-स्थलों, वृक्षों आदि) का स्मरण करते हुए २०४ पृष्ठों के एक विषद-ग्रन्थ की रचना पूर्ण की [ सन्दर्भ १४ ] । प्रायः ४० वर्षों (१९६३ – २००२) के प्रयाग-वास में अनेक विद्वत-जनों के सम्पर्क में आकर खट्ठे-मीठे अनुभव पाये थे । वर्ष २०१७ उन्हीं सुधीजनों के स्मरण करने में व्यतीत हुआ । सर्वप्रथम्, २९ अप्रैल, २०१७ को पूर्व सहकर्मी प्रो. डॉ. हनुमान प्रसाद दीक्षित के असामयिक निधन पर शोक-संवेदना लिखी । तदुपरांत, प्रयाग स्थित गणित विषय के सभी अध्यापकों का स्मरण कर उन्हें अपने श्रद्धा-सुमन अर्पित किये [ सन्दर्भ १५ ] । साधनारत होकर ४ मासों से भी अधिक का समय लेकर वैदिक काल से प्रारम्भ कर समकालीन युग तक प्रयाग से सम्बद्ध समस्त विप्र-जनों एवं कतिपय अन्य विद्वानों का स्मरण कर २४३ पृष्ठों के एक दुर्लभ ग्रन्थ की रचना पूर्णकर उसे २१ जनवरी २०१८ को इन्टरनेट पर पोस्ट किया [ सन्दर्भ १९ ], जो कि समस्त विश्व में एक कौतूहल का विषय बन चुका है । अपने सभी पारिवारिक सम्बंधी-जनों के भी संस्मरण संजोने हेतु एक पुस्तक की रचना पूर्ण की [सन्दर्भ २०] ।
साथ ही, अपने समस्त गुरुजनों का स्मरण करते हुए “माई टीचर्स” के नाम से एक विस्तृत लेख लिखा [ सन्दर्भ २२ ] । इसी मध्य प्रयागराज से सम्बद्ध समस्त जीवित कुलपतियों का स्मरण करते हुए उन्हें अपने श्रद्धा-सुमन अर्पित किये [ सन्दर्भ २१ ] । यद्यपि ‘हितोपदेश’ के अनुसार –
“शैले – शैले न माणिक्यम् , मौक्तिकं न गजे – गजे ।
साधवो नहिं सर्वत्र, चन्दनं न वने – वने ।।”
किन्तु लेखक की मान्यता है कि माँ पृथ्वी के प्रत्येक भू-खण्ड में रत्न छिपे हुए हैं । जब किसी रत्न का भाग्योदय होता है तब उसे कतिपय हाथ सुलभ हो जाते हैं जो उसके ऊपर की धूल हटा कर उसे प्रकट कर देते हैं । कांति तो रत्न में स्वयं निहित होती है, जो उसे बृह्मांड में ध्रुव – तारा की भांति स्थापित कर देती है । ठीक वही कार्य इस लेखक ने सम्पन्न करने का प्रयास किया है । विश्व के प्रत्येक भू-भाग पर सर्वदा विलक्षण विभूतियाँ अवतरित होती रहीं हैं । उन्नाव की माटी ने भी अनेकों विलक्षण प्रतिभाओं को जन्म दिया; जिन्हें लेखक ने अपनी पुस्तक “उन्नाव की उर्वरा माटी से उपजे अनमोल रत्न” में समाहित किया [ सन्दर्भ २९ ] । प्रयाग लेखक की भी दीर्घकाल तक कर्म - स्थली रही है । प्रयाग की पावन भूमि, मां गंगा की निर्मल धारा एवं ऋषि भरद्वाज जी की तपोभूमि ने ही लेखक को कुंद से कंचन बनने में अभूतपूर्व योगदान किया है । अतएव, लेखक प्रयाग का आजीवन ऋणी रहेगा । लेखक ने अनेकों प्रकार से इस ऋण से मुक्ति पाने का प्रयास किया है [ सन्दर्भ ७, १६, १७, ३८ ] । यों तो लेखक ने अपनी अनेक पुस्तकों में गुरुवर पद्मश्री प्रो. डॉ. रत्न शंकर जी मिश्र, कुलपति, कानपुर एवं लखनऊ विश्वविद्यालय को श्रद्धासुमन अर्पित करते हुए उन्हें स्मरण किया है; किंतु उन पर पृथक रूप से एक ग्रंथ वर्ष २०२१ में ही रच पाया [ सन्दर्भ ३६] । वर्ष २००४ से अनवरत गति से क्रियाशील रहकर लेखक ने गणित एवं गणितेतर अनेक ग्रंथों की रचनायें पूर्ण की – १६ पुस्तकें जर्मनी में, १३ पुस्तकें आस्ट्रेलिया में तथा ९ पुस्तकें स्वयं व्यय-भार वहन करते हुए प्रकाशित कीं । शेष अनेकों पुस्तकें इंटरनेट पर पोस्ट की जा चुकी हैं ।
मेरी अद्भुत क्रियाशीलता अब मेरे परिजनों को भी अखरने लगी है । पता नहीं, उनकी आपति उनका भय इंगित करती है कि कहीं मैं लेखन करते – करते ही न चल बसूं ; अथवा, उन पर मैं कोई भार तो नहीं बढा रहा हूँ ? अपने पूर्वजों द्वारा रचित एक भी शब्द पाने से मैं वंचित रहा किंतु, मैं इतना स्वरचित साहित्य छोड़कर जाऊंगा जो युगों – युगों तक परिजनों का मार्ग – दर्शन करता रहेगा । कतिपय वर्षों से मेरी अर्धांगिनी प्राय: यह आरोप लगाती रहीं हैं कि मैंने अपने को दिवंगत हो चुके व्यक्तियों से आत्मसात कर लिया है । अतएव, वर्ष २०२० तथा २०२१ में मैंने अपनी आत्म–कथा भी लिखकर पूर्ण की । प्रथमत:, यह दोनों (सामान्य तथा शैक्षणिक) प्रकार की गति-विधियों को समाहित करते हुए रची गयी किंतु इसके वृहद आकार को दृष्टिगत करते हुए इसे दो पृथक भागों में इंटरनेट पर पोस्ट किया गया [ संदर्भ ३२ – ३४ ] ।
वर्तमान ग्रंथ उसी आत्म–कथा की संक्षिप्त प्रस्तुति है । इसमें अधिकांशत: चित्रों का समावेश किया गया है जो कि लेखक एवं उसकी अर्धांगिनी के विविध क्रिया-कलापों को दर्शाते हैं । सम्पूर्ण क्रिया-कलापों को दो भागों में प्रस्तुत किया गया है । प्रथम भाग में अध्याय १ – ५ समाहित हैं जिनमें प्रथम अध्याय हमारे सभी निकटस्थ परिजनों को दर्शाता है । यह एक प्रामाणिक दस्तावेज़ (आलेख) सिद्ध हो सकता है । अध्याय २ में जीवन के सामान्य क्रिया-कलाप चित्रों के माध्यम से दर्शायें गये हैं । अध्याय ३ में लेखक तथा अर्धांगिनी (रेखा) के ८० वर्ष पूर्ण करने पर सेमरई में २३.१०.२०२१ को आयोजित सम्मिलित समारोह की झांकी चित्रों के माध्यम से प्रस्तुत की गयी है । लेखक द्वारा गणितेतर विरचित साहित्य की सूची अध्याय ४ में प्रस्तुत की गयी है । अध्याय ५ लेखक द्वारा विरचित गणितेतर पुस्तकों के आवरण पृष्ठों की झांकी प्रस्तुत करता है । द्वित्तीय भाग में तीन अध्याय समाहित हैं । अध्याय ६ लेखक के विविध शैक्षणिक आयामों की झांकी प्रस्तुत करता है । अध्याय ७ में लेखक द्वारा विरचित समग्र गणितीय साहित्य उद्धृत किया गया है जबकि अंतिम अध्याय में प्रकाशित गणितीय पुस्तकों के आवरण पृष्ठों की झांकी प्रस्तुत की गयी है ।
ग्रंथ की पांडुलिपि सुधारने में लेखक के एक पूर्व छात्र (श्री ओंकार नाथ पाठक, अवकाश प्राप्त आयकर आयुक्त) द्वारा कृत सहयोग स्मरणीय रहेगा । यद्यपि शुद्धता संजोये रखने का हर सम्भव प्रयास किया गया है, तथापि किसी प्रकार की अशुद्धि रह जाने का उत्तरदायित्व लेखक का होगा । प्रकाशक श्री रोहित मिश्र (जोकि लेखक के अंतिम पुत्र तथा बौद्धिक उत्तराधिकारी भी हैं) एवं उनके परिजनों के विविध प्रकार के अमूल्य सहयोग को भुला पाना कदापि सम्भव न होगा । मेरी सभी ऐसी शैक्षणिक उपलब्धियों में रोहित का अभूतपूर्व योगदान रहा है ।
लखनऊ (भारत):
९ नवम्बर, २०२१ (कार्तिक शुक्ल पक्ष पंचमी, वि.सं. २०७८) राम बिलास मिश्र
१) देंखे अध्याय ४
The book mainly deals about the saga of few brave hearts of the above regions (cf. Chapters 2 - 8) and also depicts the contributions of the author towards academia and society (Chapters 9-11). The author, as a non-professional historian, simply wants to convey a message to the youths to know more about their seniors who took birth for some mission. It is not merely reportage like easy-going newspapers or magazines. Instead, the serious scholars, researchers and advanced learners may enjoy the intricacies of concise information presented with minimal description. Instead of “beating around the bush”, “Gāgar mein Sāgar” (compact and compendious), approach is adopted. Author’s long academic expertise with research background of more than five decades earned globally has helped for the presentation. The author neither intends to commercialize his labour nor wishes to mesmerize the mediocre readers but if the bright and advanced learners make use of it as a reference book his labour will be adequately rewarded.
It consists of 13 chapters of which the first one is introductory describing the author’s philosophy and Hinḑī characters. Next four chapters dwell upon the Avaḑh Region. Beginning with ‘Bureaucrats’ and covering up to the ‘Martyrs’ become the subject matter of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 dwells upon the ‘Mathematicians’ up to ‘Sportsmen’ in above region. The author had been greatly inspired by his research supervisor (Paḑmàshrī Prof. Dr. Raţnà Shankar Mishrà) – a high profile mathematician with global recognition, embellished with all the honours and coveted positions available in the country right up to the General President of Indian Science Congress and a prestigious Member of the Editorial Board of ‘Tensor’ Society of Japan representing several continents (outside Japan). His vast attainments are detailed in Chapter 4; while the next chapter presents few more dignitaries of Avaḑh region. I have been hearing the daring acts of Rājā Faţéh Shāh of Khutār and my own great grandfather, Pţ. Gaņéshī Lāl, right from the childhood. Their courageous acts are reported herein. I wonder if my reportage on the great heroes of the famous Kānyàkubjà Brahmin family sprouting from Bhagwanţ Nagar, establishing two Colleges: KKC and KKV in the very heart (Lucknow) of Avaḑh Region and giving birth to their talented academician, Dr. D.N. Misrà, may catch an eye of his leftover family to realize the importance of their ancestors? I was introduced to my wife’s close relative (Prof. Amréshwar Avasţhī) much later (in 1992). I was thrilled to know from a colleague at Asmara (Eritrea), hailing from Mahārāshtrà in 2000, that Prof. Avasţhī is regarded as the father of Public Administration in Indiā. It is sad that the mediocre and ‘good-for-nothing’ breed of humans are more highlighted by the media in the country on the cost of such intellectuals. He too finds his profile in my narration.
Chapter 6 covers the great heroes of all walks of life in Kāshī region. It is most deplorable to note the continued struggles in the life of a celebrity Munshī Prém Chanḑ, whose works could have won any laurel, had he been exposed to the Western countries. The unfortunate writer, born in Kāshī region, died in silence in the city of Nawābs only. Having penned down a story of 2 worthless Nawābs in his satire, Shaţranj-ké-Khilādī (cf. Sub-section 1.4 in the chapter), he himself got victimized. It is also painful to note the aristocratic attitude of writer’s own kith and kin deriving no lesson from their father’s impoverished life. Chapters 7 and 8 cover the great heroes of Prayāg region. The author gets impressed only by the creators of new inventions benefitting the masses, or great souls having led a pathetic life, or have done any personal obligation upon him or his family. As such, the author is impressed by a few people in the long list therein: Shrī B.N. Pāndéy, Pţ. S.N. Misrà, Professors N.R. Ḑhar, P.L. Bhatnāgar, U.N. Singh, R.S. Shuklà and Shrī Chanḑrà Shékhar are few such great souls.
Author’s general articles and books are presented in Chapter 9, and Chapter 10 details his mathematical works. Chapter 11 enlists his other literary works and some Véḑic Manţràs. From time to time great saints, Riṣhīs and divine people appeared on the Earth to enlighten the society. Born in a Vaishņav family, the author has enriched his knowledge through interactions with many saints and has achieved considerably by regular chanting of these Manţràs for long. An appendix is added vide Chapter 12 including a write-up on Lord Srī Kriṣhņà and Shrī Chanḑrà Bhūshaņ Ţrivéḑī aka Ramaī Kākā. The last chapter details the abbreviations used in the book that ends with References. Baring few exceptions for italic English words, the words of non-English languages are italicized. To pronounce the Hinḑī words correctly, especially by the non-Hinḑī readers, a scheme is elaborated in Chapter 1, § 3.
The author is thankful to all those providing valued information: particularly, Shrī Umā Shankar Bājpāī, retd. I-G Police; ex-student, Shrī Ōnkār Nāţh Pāthak, retd. Additional Commissioner, Income Tax Dept., GoI; Shrī R.S. Shuklà s/o my ex-teacher Prof. Dr. K.S. Shuklà of Lucknow Univ., Shrī Yashō Varḑhan grandson of Āchāryà Narénḑrà Ḑév, etc. Shrī Pāthak also assisted me in reading galley proofs of the manuscript and made valuable suggestions. Author feels lucky to be cared by his family members: wife (Rékhā), 3rd son (Rōhiţ), his wife (Keerţi) and their kids (Ākarshaņ and Samriḑḑhi). Even the little ones served me for my energy needs facilitating the task. They too richly deserve my sincere thanks. The entire composition of the book is accomplished by the author single handed. Though every care is taken to maintain the accuracy yet, if any discrepancy is seen, the author alone shall be responsible for the same.
Lucknow (Indiā): September 06, 2021 Rām Bilās Misrà
Both Indian as well as European systems of astrology consider 12 zodiac signs given below. The following table gives their serial order and their Swamis (ruling planets). ..
Essence properties including optimal value of characterizing scalars, bias and minimum mean
squared errors (MMSE) of the proposed estimators will be derived to strengthen the usefulness and acceptability aspect of the proposed estimators. By way of comparative performance analysis of proposed estimators, it will be shown theoretically and empirically that the investigated estimators are improved and more efficient than the existing one. The variation trends of
percentage relative efficiencies of the proposed modified estimators for varying key decision
variables will be examined along with their corresponding graphs through Matlab and other
software. Finally, based on theoretical and empirical results some significant conclusive observations will be drawn to focus the usefulness of our novel results for analysts, decision makers and researchers in their future research work.
“भैया उठो, भैया जा रहे हैं ।”
हे पुत्र ! उठो, बेचारा शिशु दिवँगत हो रहा है । पहले तो मैं समझ ही न सका, किन्तु सचेत होने पर इस हृदय-विदारक सँवाद की पीड़ा का आभास कर सका था । ]
जब विदेश में एकाकी जीवन बिताता था तो ‘रामचरित मानस’ का पाठ करते समय अनेक प्रसंग रुला देते थे । “बिछडे सभी बारी - बारी” [ संदर्भ 12 ] में चित्र संकलित करते समय प्राय : भाव विह्वल होना पडा । वर्तमान पुस्तक की रचना एक लम्बे अंतराल से प्रतीक्षित थी । कोई न कोई रचना प्राथमिकता पाती गई किंतु अभागी बीटू के जीवन की भांति ही उस पर ये उद्गार व्यक्त करने में एक युग बीत गया । आगामी 1 जून को बीटू को गये 29 वर्ष पूर्ण हो जायेंगे - यह सोंचकर अब अधिक विलम्ब असहनीय लगने लगा । अत: मैंने अब इसे पूर्ण करने का संकल्प लिया ।
वर्ष 1965 का वह क्षण कितना मनहूस था जब मैं अपने क्रोध पर काबू न पा सका था । [ संदर्भ 12, अध्याय 12 से उद्धृत - एक दूरस्थ सम्बन्धी (श्री रामराखन लाल पाण्डेय), जोकि उत्तर रेलवे प्राथमिक पाठशाला, उत्तर मलाका, इलाहाबाद में एक शिक्षक थे, ने उसे भ्रमित किया, कि वह बी.टी.सी. प्रशिक्षण केंद्र में प्रवेश लेकर प्राथमिक विद्यालय में एक अध्यापिका बन सकती है । मेरी अनुपस्थिति में ही एवं मेरी सहमति के बिना वह आर.आर. पाण्डेय के साथ उक्त प्रशिक्षण हेतु आवेदन फार्म जमा करने चली गयी, जिसका मैंने बुरा माना । आवेश में आकर मैंने उसे एक थप्पड़ मार दिया । दुर्भाग्य से उसकी नाक से रक्त आ गया । उसके एवं अँततोगत्वा पूरे परिवार का दुर्भाग्य इन्हीं दु:खद क्षणों से प्रारम्भ हो गया था । मैं उस समय २३ वर्षों से भी कम आयु का था, जबकि बहन मुझ से ७ वर्ष छोटी थी । मुझे अपने अपरिपक्व निर्णय पर जीवन भर पश्चाताप रहेगा । मैंने पिता को तत्काल प्रयाग बुलाकर बहन को उनके साथ सेमरई वापस भेज दिया, जोकि वह चाहते ही थे, ताकि उसका विवाह कर सकें । मेरे सभी श्रमसाध्य कार्य - यथा, साइकिल से उसे विद्यालय ले जाना, इलाहाबाद विश्वविद्यालय से वापसी पर पुनः उसे विद्यालय से घर लाना निरर्थक सिद्ध हुए । मैंने भरसक प्रयास किया, कि उसका विवाह नगर क्षेत्र में निवास कर रहे किसी शिक्षित परिवार में सम्पन्न हो सके । किन्तु उसकी अवयस्क आयु एवं अल्प शिक्षा एक बड़ी बाधा बनी रही । ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में व्याही गयी अनेक दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण कन्याओं की दुर्दशा मैंने देखी थी, जो वे अपने विवाहित जीवन में भोग रही थीं । अतएव, मैं अपनी बहन को उस दर्दनाक जीवन में ढकलने हेतु कभी नहीं सहमत था । पिता, पति एवं ससुराल के मध्य प्रायः घटित होने वाले अप्रिय संवादों ने सरोजिनी की बलि ले ली । वर्ष १९६५ में अध्ययन में व्यवधान डालते हुए उसे प्रयाग से सेमरई वापस भेजने वाला लेखक का (प्रथम दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण) निर्णय २१ वर्ष की अपरिपक्व मनःस्थिति का था, किन्तु जुलाई १९८० में शारीरिक रूप से अतिशय शिथिल हो चुकी, गर्भवती बहन को ससुराल में रहने देना (वयस्क बन चुके) लेखक की दूसरी गंभीर भूल सिद्ध हुई । काश ! उसे प्रयाग ले आता तो उसका जीवन बचाया जा सकता था । ]
जीवन की तीसरी बड़ी भूल ने राजन को ही खो दिया । उसने आगाह किया था कि वह मात्र दस हजार रुपये प्रति माह की नियमित आय पाकर भी अपने को धन्य समझेगा किंतु मैं उसके अवांछित आचरण से दुखी होकर उसकी यह इछा भी पूरी न कर सका । उसने अपने अनावश्यक खर्चों एवं महात्वाकांक्षाओं को इतना फैला रखा था कि अपनी सीमित आय का विचार ही त्याग दिया था ।
पुस्तक में ८ सोपान सम्मिलित किये गए हैं - प्रथम अध्याय बीटू का संक्षिप्त विवरण प्रस्तुत करता है । अध्याय २ में उसकी शैक्षिक उपलब्धियां दर्शायीं गयी हैं । अध्याय ३ में उसके तथा परिजनों के मध्य कृत पत्राचार को दर्शाया गया है । ध्यातव्य है कि इस अध्याय में मात्र कुछ ही पत्र सम्मिलित किये जा सके हैं अन्यथा पुस्तक पूर्ण करने में पुन: विलम्ब होता । अध्याय ४ में बीटू से सम्बंध लेखक की अन्य रचनाओं से कतिपय स्फुट वाक्यांश उद्धृत किये गये हैं । अध्याय ५ लेखक के निकटस्थ (जीवित) परिजनों की जानकारी प्रस्तुत करता है जबकि अध्याय ६ बीटू से सम्बंधित कतिपय चित्रों को प्रस्तुत करता है । ग्रन्थ में प्रयोगित क्लिष्ट शब्दों की सरल शब्दावली अध्याय ७ एवं शब्दों के संक्षिप्त रूप अंतिम अध्याय में पूर्ण रूप में विस्तृत किये गये हैं । पुस्तक के अंत में संदर्भित ग्रंथों की सूची संलग्न की गयी है, जिनका लेखक ने निरंतर उपयोग किया है ।
जीवन का अस्तित्व ही सार्वभौमिक यथार्थ है । कवि अब्दुर्रहीम खानखाना लिखते हैं –
“रहिमन पानी राखिये, बिन पानी सब सून । पानी गए न ऊबरै मोती, मानुस, चून ।।”
जीवन समाप्ति के उपरान्त सभी कुछ अर्थहीन हो जाता है । जीवन विधाता की विलक्षण देन है, उसका संरक्षण एवं संवर्धन सभी जीवित प्राणियों का उतना ही पुनीत कर्तव्य है, जितना कि जीवन-दाता की उपासना । मेरा यह सद्प्रयास पृष्ठ ४ पर उद्धृत सभी परिजन कन्याओं को समर्पित है ।
लेखक उन समस्त सुधी-जनों के प्रति अनुगृहीत है, जिन्होंने इस संकलन को पूर्ण करने में किसी भी प्रकार का सहयोग किया है । सह-धर्मिणी (रेखा) एवं पुत्र-वधू (कीर्ति) भी धन्यवाद की सुपात्र हैं, क्योंकि जहाँ रेखा ने पुस्तक से इतर नित्यप्रति के अन्य आवश्यक कार्यों की ओर लेखक का निरंतर ध्यान कराकर अपना धर्म निभाया, वहीं कीर्ति लेखक को जीवित रहने हेतु सभी आवश्यक सेवायें उपलब्ध कराती रही । ग्रन्थ की रचना का सम्पूर्ण कार्य स्वयं लेखक द्वारा संपन्न किया गया है एवं सभी भाँति इसकी शुद्धता संजोये रखने का हर संभव प्रयास किया गया है । किन्तु, फिर भी यदि किसी प्रकार की कोई अशुद्धि शेष रह गयी हो तो उसका उत्तरदायित्व लेखक का होगा ।
लखनऊ (भारत): ११ मई, २०२३ /
ज्येष्ठ कृष्णपक्ष पंचमी, वि.सँ. २०८० राम बिलास मिश्र
The book mainly deals about the saga of few brave hearts of the above regions (cf. Chapters 2 - 8) and also depicts the contributions of the author towards academia and society (Chapters 9-11). The author, as a non-professional historian, simply wants to convey a message to the youths to know more about their seniors who took birth for some mission. It is not merely reportage like easy-going newspapers or magazines. Instead, the serious scholars, researchers and advanced learners may enjoy the intricacies of concise information presented with minimal description. Instead of “beating around the bush”, “Gāgar mein Sāgar” (compact and compendious), approach is adopted. Author’s long academic expertise with research background of more than five decades earned globally has helped for the presentation. The author neither intends to commercialize his labour nor wishes to mesmerize the mediocre readers but if the bright and advanced learners make use of it as a reference book his labour will be adequately rewarded.
It consists of 13 chapters of which the first one is introductory describing the author’s philosophy and Hinḑī characters. Next four chapters dwell upon the Avaḑh Region. Beginning with ‘Bureaucrats’ and covering up to the ‘Martyrs’ become the subject matter of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 dwells upon the ‘Mathematicians’ up to ‘Sportsmen’ in above region. The author had been greatly inspired by his research supervisor (Paḑmàshrī Prof. Dr. Raţnà Shankar Mishrà) – a high profile mathema- tician with global recognition, embellished with all the honours and coveted positions available in the country right up to the General President of Indian Science Congress and a prestigious Member of the Editorial Board of ‘Tensor’ Society of Japan representing several continents (outside Japan). His vast attainments are detailed in Chapter 4; while the next chapter presents few more dignitaries of Avaḑh region. I have been hearing the daring acts of Rājā Faţéh Shāh of Khutār and my own great grandfather, Pţ. Gaņéshī Lāl, right from the childhood. Their courageous acts are reported herein. I wonder if my reportage on the great heroes of the famous Kānyàkubjà Brahmin family sprouting from Bhagwanţ Nagar, establishing two Colleges: KKC and KKV in the very heart (Lucknow) of Avaḑh Region and giving birth to their talented academician, Dr. D.N. Misrà, may catch an eye of his leftover family to realize the importance of their ancestors? I was introduced to my wife’s close relative (Prof. Amréshwar Avasţhī) much later (in 1992). I was thrilled to know from a colleague at Asmara (Eritrea), hailing from Mahārāshtrà in 2000, that Prof. Avasţhī is regarded as the father of Public Administration in Indiā. It is sad that the mediocre and ‘good-for-nothing’ breed of humans are more highlighted by the media in the country on the cost of such intellectuals. He too finds his profile in my narration. Chapter 6 covers the great heroes of all walks of life in Kāshī region. It is most deplorable to note the continued struggles in the life of a celebrity Munshī Prém Chanḑ, whose works could have won any laurel, had he been exposed to the Western countries. The unfortunate writer, born in Kāshī region, died in silence in the city of Nawābs only. Having penned down a story of 2 worthless Nawābs in his satire, Shaţranj-ké-Khilādī (cf. Sub-section 1.4 in the chapter), he himself got victimized. It is also painful to note the aristocratic attitude of writer’s own kith and kin deriving no lesson from their father’s impoverished life. Chapters 7 and 8 cover the great heroes of Prayāg region. The author gets impressed only by the creators of new inventions benefitting the masses, or great souls having led a pathetic life, or have done any personal obligation upon him or his family. As such, the author is impressed by a few people in the long list therein: Shrī B.N. Pāndéy, Pţ. S.N. Misrà, Professors N.R. Ḑhar, P.L. Bhatnāgar, U.N. Singh, R.S. Shuklà and Shrī Chanḑrà Shékhar are few such great souls.
Author’s general articles and books are presented in Chapter 9, and Chapter 10 details his mathematical works. Chapter 11 enlists his other literary works and some Véḑic Manţràs. From time to time great saints, Riṣhīs and divine people appeared on the Earth to enlighten the society. Born in a Vaishņav family, the author has enriched his knowledge through interactions with many saints and has achieved considerably by regular chanting of these Manţràs for long. An appendix is added vide Chapter 12 including a write-up on Lord Srī Kriṣhņà and Shrī Chanḑrà Bhūshaņ Ţrivéḑī aka Ramaī Kākā. The last chapter details the abbreviations used in the book that ends with References. Baring few exceptions for italic English words, the words of non-English languages are italicized. To pronounce the Hinḑī words correctly, especially by the non-Hinḑī readers, a scheme is elaborated in Chapter 1, § 3.
The author is thankful to all those providing valued information: particularly, Shrī Umā Shankar Bājpāī, retd. I-G Police; ex-student, Shrī Ōnkār Nāţh Pāthak, retd. Additional Commissioner, Income Tax Dept., GoI; Shrī R.S. Shuklà s/o my ex-teacher Prof. Dr. K.S. Shuklà of Lucknow Univ., Shrī Yashō Varḑhan grandson of Āchāryà Narénḑrà Ḑév, etc. Shrī Pāthak also assisted me in reading galley proofs of the manuscript and made valuable suggestions. Author feels lucky to be cared by his family members: wife (Rékhā), 3rd son (Rōhiţ), his wife (Keerţi) and their kids (Ākarshaņ and Samriḑḑhi). Even the little ones served me for my energy needs facilitating the task. They too richly deserve my sincere thanks. The entire composition of the book is accomplished by the author single handed. Though every care is taken to maintain the accuracy yet, if any discrepancy is seen, the author alone shall be responsible for the same.
Lucknow (Indiā): September 06, 2021 Rām Bilās Misrà
“रहिमन वे नर मरि चुके जे कहुं मांगन जाहिं ।
उनते पहिले वई मरे जिन मुख निकसत नाहिं ।।”
I too witnessed it repeatedly in my life. The first setback I received in January 1980, when I contested the Parliamentary Election, for the first time, from Shahabad Constituency in U.P. The constituency was composed of three Assembly Segments of Hardoi district: Bawan, Pihani and Shahabad, and two Assembly constituencies of adjoining Lakhimpur-Kheri district: Mohammadi and Haiderabad. The last one included villages immediate to that of mine (Semrai) and Gola Gokarannath Town. I had studied there for seven years (class 6 - 12) during 1951-58. Many small traders and shopkeepers were regular debtors of my father. I also had many close relatives living there including my own real maternal uncle and his family. Even the maternal village (Deokali) of my mother was included in the constituency. So was the case of the maternal villages of my father and both grandmothers. In spite of all such bondages, I could hardly poll 118 votes from the entire town of Gola Gokarannath and 18 surrounding villages. Even the real maternal cousins of my father and others did not vote for me. Although my father trusted his cousin (Pt. Chhotey Lal Shukla - a Freedom Fighter) to the extent that he kept a large drum full of petrol for our vehicles at his house and deposited a considerable sum with his trusted jeweler (Sri Ram Gupta who was known as a staunch Congressman). Alas! no considerations worked in my favour.
On contrary, I could visit a distantly located Shahabad Town just twice during my election campaign only; but polled 147 votes, where I had no relatives and no any personal contacts. I cannot forget the loving words uttered by an elderly Muslim medical doctor who rushed to me during my electioneering. He confessed to have heard a lot about my knowledge, persona and candidature that he made it a point to visit me. He also claimed to be a “London Returned”. Those days it used to be an additional feather to one’s cap to have made a trip to London or abroad. Presumably, I might have succeeded in getting his blessings. Similar was the solitary instance demonstrated by my ex-teacher: Shri Brij Mohan Sharma, who had taught me English in 12th class at Public Intermediate College, Gola Gokarannath in 1957-58. He openly declared that he had cast his vote in favour of his student, i.e. me.
Being the only candidate hailing from the two Assembly constituencies of Lakhimpur-Kheri district amongst 10, I was very much optimistic to attract voters especially from this region. Anyway, it was the first debacle in my life. Later on, at many occasions I had to taste a bitter toast in my diverse and hectic activities ranging from academics to administration and a bit of political involvement. It may be added that I had again contested a Parliamentary Election second time (and that was the last so far) in 1991 - this time from Lakhimpur-Kheri constituency itself, where my own village was included. Again, it proved to be a setback. Out of 16 contestants, I alone was a Brahmin face, but nothing worked in my favour in spite of having made painstaking and strenuous campaigning.
I always carried an impression that my students love me maximum as I had never exploited them, never accepted anything from them in terms of material gains for my most dedicated service while imparting the knowledge to them. At times, I used to conduct my class even upto extended hours, say 4-5 hours, at A.P.S. University, Rewa (M.P.). In addition to my administrative liability as the Head of the Department and Dean, Faculty of Science, I used to devote completely to fulfill my academic obligations to the maximum extent possibly more than any teacher in the University. The only asset of my hard labour had been to find alumni of that small place right upto a level that one of my students (Dr. Sanjay Pant) is now an Associate Professor at a prestigious College of Delhi University. Two years back when I made an appeal to donate generously for the leftover family of my nephew (late) Mr. Arun Kumar Misra, not even a single student from Rewa came forward to my call. Going out of the way, I questioned a student (Mr. Santosh Kumar Mishra), who was gifted a soft copy of my own text-book on Tensors, published by us only, free. He took an alibi of caring his own ailing father. Neither any contribution came from Avadh University, Ayodhya, where I administered as a VC during 1989-92. Even my own research students: Prof. Paras Nath Pandey, then working as the VC of Nehru Gram Bharti University, Prayagraj, Prof. Chayan Kumar Mishra (appointed by me only at Avadh University), and Dr. Mahendra Pratap Singh (appointed by me at Avadh University and, later, on my recommendation at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi) donated nothing. The people can be so ungrateful that even the incumbents like Prof. Ajay Pratap Singh (appointed during my regime only) at Avadh University and others never thought of even showing their lip sympathy.
The indifferent nature of such ungrateful persons discouraged me much and I was reluctant to issue another appeal for similar help for the devastated family of my second nephew (Rajan) who died on 31st December, 2022. Instead, I requested my associates to get any job to the widow of Rajan. A favourable response was exhibited by a retired IAS cadre officer (Shri Dinesh Singh) of Prayagraj who, without my request for any monetary help, remitted Rs. 5,000 to the beneficiary (Mrs. Kanan Bala Mishra). Another retired IAS Officer of Panjab cadre (Engr. Dr. Narinder Wadhavan) encouraged me to issue another appeal to generate some funds for Rajan’s family. Of late, I could muster enough courage to circulate another appeal for donation to the bereaved family of dear Rajan on 15.3.2023, and donated Rs. 2,50,000 from my own sources. On my call, our eldest son (Shri Rakesh Mishra, Advocate, Allahabad High Court) also came forward managing Rs. 500,000 for my mission. The amount was remitted to Kanan Bala’s Bank A/c on 10.4.2023. Some of my trusted friends, colleagues, students also joined me for this pious mission. I was moved by unconditional love that I received from them, notably Prof. S.N. Pandey of Gorakhpur (contributing Rs. 31,000), Shri R.K. Saxena, Director, Amity University, Lucknow (Rs. 10,000), Shri Santosh Awasthi, Lecturer, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalay, Trivediganj, Dist. Barabanki (Rs. 10,000), Prof. Pramod Kumar Singh, HoD, Mathematics, University of Allahabad (Rs. 7,500), and of late our relative Smt. Poonam Trivedi, Sr. Bank Manager, S.B.I., Mumbai (Rs. 20,000), etc. [Cf. Chapter 6 for full list of donors].
I wished to raise the amount at least up to Rs. 1,000,000 (Rupees Ten Lakhs) distributing it amongst the three beneficiaries in the Rajan’s family:
(i) Rs. 2,50,000 earmarked for M.B.A. studies of his son (Rohan aka
Priyanshu);
(ii) Rs. 2,50,000 earmarked for further studies of his daughter (Ms
Arpita); and
(iii) Making a reserve of Rs. 500,000 for his wife (Smt. Kanan Bala) for any
emergency.
In addition to Rs. 2,50,000 of mine and Rs. 500,00 of our son a sum of Rs. 1,30,000 only could also be received from others. As such, the planned amount was short of Rs. 1,20,000. I continued requesting for possible supplemental funds to my many associates. This had tremendous impact on an ex-student of mine (Shri Dharmagaj Prasad) who had already contributed Rs. 5,000 earlier. He decided to contribute the entire short amount (Rs. 1,20,000) and provided me much relief. His generosity and magnanimity inspired me to make all this narrative and I decided to pen it down so that it lasts forever.
What a pity! I got few flashes much earlier. As says the proverb: ‘Coming events cast shadow ahead’ I wrote the following couplet hardly a month before Rajan’s death:
'रमना' यह संसार है, अपना कोउ न जान । जिनको तू अपना कहे, वे भी नोचै प्रान ॥
जिनके तू काज सरे, वे सब भए महान । तेरी सुध ना काहु को, किनमें भरमे प्रान ॥
धीरे - धीरे सब चले कायर, चतुर, महान । ना तू कुछ करि सक्यो, देखत रह्यो सुजान ॥
जो थोड़े बाकी बचे, उनके भी अटके प्रान । क्या जाने अब कौन चले - क्यों सोंचे नादान ॥
My reportage consists of Two Parts: the first one devoted to dear Arun while the latter one details relevant saga about dear Rajan. Both parts have altogether seven chapters: three in the first one, and four in the latter. The last chapter includes information of miscellaneous nature concerning Rajan: some of his literary taste, social and professional life exhibited through pictures. He was very particular to fulfill his social commitments. The last one was his participation (along with his son) in the marriage of my own eldest granddaughter (Aparna) on 2nd December, 2022 solemnized at Prayagraj - the auspicious occasion boycotted by me on certain issues. In our last meeting he commented that I should have attended her marriage. My response was that you are not privileged to say so; instead if I abstain from your own son’s marriage you would have it so to complain. Alas! now if such hypothetical lapse on my part actually happen Rajan would not be there to complain. The saga ends with a list of few of my previous literature whose contents could be reproduced here.
Needless to add the author shall ever remain indebted to the kind hearted thoughtful donors who richly deserve our gratitude. On behalf of our grief stricken daughter-in-law and her children, I offer my humble thanks to them for their humane considerations. God shall always shower His divine blessings upon these noble brethren. My thanks are also due to my own eldest grandson (Mr. Rahul Mis...
“सुहृद वृन्द, सज्जन पुरुष, क्षल प्रपंच से दूर ! मन ह्वै जात अजौ वहीं वा संगम के तीर !!”
I have already paid my homage to all the Brahmins at Prayāgrāj in my earlier book [Ref. 7]. The present one (partly extracted from [7]) narrates the saga of the Kānyàkubjà community at large. Naturally, it is extensively supplemented and almost all KKBs of prominence have been included. The information is presented here in 11 chapters. The first one offers a Summary and includes the origin of KKB community, whereas the next one reveals the background of the author shaping his ideas and belief. Chapter 3 (forming the main backbone of the saga) accounts all pioneer KKBs in different walks of life. Arranged in alphabetical order, it includes academicians, administrators, ambassadors, artists, astrologers, chief ministers, recipients of national awards, defence personnel, educationists, freedom fighters, governors, jurists, (Honourable Chief) Justices and Judges of Allāhābāḑ High Court and elsewhere, littera- teurs, martyrs, mayors, medicos, politicians (including ministers at both state and central levels), (solitary) Prime Minister, religious & spiritual leaders, rulers, scientists, student leaders, Vice-Chancellors, (solitary) Vice President from the community etc. and ends with writers mainly in Hindi literature. The next two chapters offer detailed biographical sketches of my two teachers: mentor & Ph.D. supervisor: Paḑmàshrī Prof. Dr. R.S. Mishrà and Prof. D.N. Misrà for his extraordinary roles respectively. Chapter 6 enlists the prominent Brahmin Kings & Rulers all over the world. Great Revolutionaries, social reformers and the record–setters in different spheres are included in the 7th Chapter. Few more brave hearts of Avaḑh Region are included in the Chapter 8, whereas the next chapter (Appendix) includes few brave hearts of my native place and my visionary father. Chapter 10 includes 326 abbreviations used in the text for brevity. Since the internet is freely consulted so gratitude is offered to their authors. However, few additional References also find their mention at the end.
Every effort is made to present the factual statements and utmost care is taken yet many entries could not be confirmed. Writing history of the community, that provided excellent leadership to the society, both in ancient and modern times, is now given discredit by biased governments and other agencies. Many historians, especially the colonizers and invaders, did not do justice with our community and presented its distorted image. At times, readers may find more relevant spellings of many (Indian) words wrongly spelt by foreigners and blindly adopted by us. I have purposely replaced the ending ‘a’ by ‘à’ giving soft sound in the names of deities: ‘Rāmà’, ‘Krishņà’, ‘Shivà’, etc. and in religious epics: ‘Rāmāyaņà’. Similarly, the letter ‘c’ used for the sound of ‘ch’ in the old literature is dropped. The sound of Hindi letter च (cha) is given by ‘ch’. The spelling ‘Vijnan’ used by the colonizers is deliberately replaced by more appropriate one as ‘Vigyān’ that it actually means to. It has become customary to suffix the letter ‘a’ to many Hindi words written in English, such as my own surname (Misrà) while the correct pronunciation is without stressing the ending ‘a’. To distinguish the soft sound of the ending an accented letter ‘à’ is used replacing ‘a’ in such words. However, as per Hindi grammar, the ending ‘a’ in the same female surname has to be stressed; so, it is retained as ‘Misrà’. Non-English words / phrases and few English phrases as well, for distinction, are italicized. At times, readers may get puzzled to note my presentation in mathematical way. Foot-notes are used for brevity, e.g.1 for prefixes “Prof. Dr.” and 2 for prefix ‘Honourable’ before Judges. References to entries in Chapter 3 are mentioned elsewhere in the text as “cf. Entry…” while “cf. Chapt…” refers to the entries in rest of the chapters. Though repetitions are avoided but birth details, educational qualifications, life span of persons covered in the text may be exception, when enlisted elsewhere.
Any suggestions for improvement of the text and healthy criticism shall be highly welcomed. My sincere thanks are due to my ex-student (Shrī Onkar Nāţh Pāthak, retd. Addl. Commissioner of Income Tax) and my senior at Lucknow University, turned a close relative (Shrī Uma Shankar Bājpāī ji, retd. I.G. Police, U.P.) for checking the proofs and offering valuable comments.
[What a telepathy – today is the 28th death anniversary of my niece (Reenā aka Beetoo) and I had totally forgotten about the sad event. Her soul flashed at 5:15 a.m. when my wife shouted if there is someone trying to enter our bedroom. I am yet to complete a book on her.]
Lucknow (India): 1st June, 2022 / 12:27 p.m.
Jyéshth Shuklà Pakshà 2, V.S. 2079 Rām Bilās Misrà
“दुनिया ऐसी बावरी, कि पाथर पूजन जाय । घर की चाकी कोइ ना पूजे, जेहिका पीसा खाय ।।”
देश एवं समाज के दोनों ही वर्गों (शिक्षित एवं अशिक्षित) को अन्य सभी का साहित्य पढ़ने में रुचिकर लगता है, पूजा-पाठ उनके जीवन का अभिन्न अंग बन जाता है, धर्म-शास्त्र एवं धार्मिक – ग्रंथों को गला फाड़-फाड़ कर चिल्लाना सुखद प्रतीत होता है; किन्तु अपनों के बारे में वर्ष में मात्र एक बार श्राद्ध-तर्पण कर इतिश्री समझना ही उनकी दिनचर्या बन गई है । जो भी लेखन-कार्य मैं सम्पन्न कर रहा हूँ, इसे कोई भी शिक्षित जन पूर्ण कर सकता था, किन्तु उसे यह कभी रास न आया। फलतः, ८ वें दशक के उत्तरार्ध में आकर इस लेखक ने यह संकल्प किया कि अपने पूर्वजों एवं कुटुम्बी-जनों को भी अमरत्व प्रदान करने का साहस जुटायेगा । वर्ष २०१५ में लेखक ने प्रायः ८ मासों के अथक प्रयास से अपने पिताश्री (हरद्वारी लाल) का जीवन-वृत्त पूर्ण किया [ देखें सन्दर्भ १३ ] । तदुपरांत, अपनी जन्म-स्थली (सेमरई) के समस्त प्राणियों (मनुज, पशु-पक्षी, सांस्कृतिक धरोहरों, कूप-तड़ाग, ऐतिहासिक पूजा-स्थलों, वृक्षों आदि) का स्मरण करते हुए २०४ पृष्ठों के एक विषद-ग्रन्थ की रचना पूर्ण की [ सन्दर्भ १४ ] । प्रायः ४० वर्षों (१९६३ – २००२) के प्रयाग-वास में अनेक विद्वत-जनों के सम्पर्क में आकर खट्ठे-मीठे अनुभव पाये थे । वर्ष २०१७ उन्हीं सुधीजनों के स्मरण करने में व्यतीत हुआ । सर्वप्रथम्, २९ अप्रैल, २०१७ को पूर्व सहकर्मी प्रो. डॉ. हनुमान प्रसाद दीक्षित के असामयिक निधन पर शोक-संवेदना लिखी । तदुपरांत, प्रयाग स्थित गणित विषय के सभी अध्यापकों का स्मरण कर उन्हें अपने श्रद्धा-सुमन अर्पित किये [ संदर्भ १५ ] । सितम्बर २०१७ से ही साधनारत होकर ४ मासों से भी अधिक का समय लेकर प्रयाग के समस्त विप्र-जनों / विद्वानों का स्मरण कर २४३ पृष्ठों के एक दुर्लभ ग्रन्थ [ संदर्भ १९ ] की रचना पूर्ण कर उसे २१ जनवरी को इन्टरनेट पर पोस्ट किया ।
सोंचा कि कतिपय दिवस विश्राम कर अगली पुस्तक की रचना प्रारम्भ की जाय, किन्तु यह भी सोंच आया कि कहीं ऐसा न हो जाय कि अगला क्षण इस जीवन में आये ही न । अतएव, उद्भट विद्वान् रावण की परामर्शानुसार, शुभष्य-शीघ्रम का अवलंब लेकर इसी जीवन में अपने सभी पारिवारिक सम्बंधी-जनों के संस्मरण संजोने हेतु एक ग्रंथ की रचना पूर्ण की [ संदर्भ २० ] । यह अकिंचन से लगाकर अद्भुत एवं विलक्षण प्रतिभा संपन्न संबंधियों : श्रीयुत उमाशंकर बाजपेयी (आई.पी.एस.), चन्द्र प्रकाश त्रिपाठी (आई.ए.एस.), पूर्व आयुक्त, सहारनपुर मंडल एवं डॉ. ऋषि केशव पाण्डेय (आई.ए.एस.) से भी परिचय कराता है । पृष्ठ १९ पर उद्धृत चित्र श्री बाजपेयी जी की राष्ट्र के प्रथम नागरिक से हुई भेंट भी दर्शाता है । स्वयं लेखक अनेक विश्व-स्तरीय विभूतियों यथा श्रीमती इंदिरा गाँधी, राष्ट्रपति डॉ. शंकर दयाल शर्मा, डॉ. ए.पी.जे. कलाम एवं नोबेल पुरस्कार प्राप्त वैज्ञानिक प्रो. डॉ. अब्दुस सलाम जी के निकट संपर्क में आ सका । यों तो अपनी एक मात्र जीवित बची हुई अनुजा (सरोजिनी) पर विषद लेख सन्दर्भ १३ के अध्याय १२ में प्रस्तुत किया गया था (जिसे अभी तक इन्टरनेट पर नहीं पोस्ट किया जा सका है); अतएव, उसे उक्त पुस्तक के अध्याय ११ में भी समाहित करते हुए सरोजिनी पर कतिपय अन्य जानकारी भी प्रस्तुत की गई है । उसे अपने ही निकटतम परिजनों से मिली दु:खद यातनाओं की पीड़ा ने मेरे मन को जीवन-पर्यन्त अत्यधिक व्यथित किया है । २४ जून, १९६९ से १० जनवरी, १९७९ तक लिखे गए उसके पत्रों को मैंने अब तक अपने पास संजोकर रखा था, किन्तु अब जीवन के “दिवस का अवसान समीप ” सोंचकर इन पत्रों की छाया-प्रतियाँ भी इसी अध्याय में प्रस्तुत की गई हैं, ताकि समस्त जन-मानस इससे कोई सीख ले सके । एक अत्याचारी निरंकुश शासक (कंश) ने सार्वजनिक रूप से “मामा – भांजे ” के पवित्र सम्बन्ध को कलंकित किया था, सत्ता-लोलुप सम्राट (औरंगजेब) ने अपने पिता को ही जेल में डाला था, किन्तु सरोजिनी की असहनीय पीड़ा उसके अपने क्रूर पिताश्री से प्रारम्भ होती है । पिता, पति एवं ससुराल के मध्य प्रायः घटित होने वाले अप्रिय संवादों ने सरोजिनी की बलि ले ली । वर्ष १९६५ में अध्ययन में व्यवधान डालते हुए उसे प्रयाग से सेमरई वापस भेजने वाला लेखक का (प्रथम) दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण निर्णय २१ वर्ष की अपरिपक्व मनःस्थिति का था, किन्तु जुलाई १९८० में शारीरिक रूप से अतिशय शिथिल हो चुकी, गर्भवती बहन को ससुराल में रहने देना (वयस्क बन चुके) लेखक की दूसरी गंभीर भूल सिद्ध हुई । काश ! उसे प्रयाग ले गया होता तो उसका जीवन बचाया जा सकता था ।
जीवन का अस्तित्व ही सार्वभौमिक यथार्थ है । कवि अब्दुर्रहीम खानखाना लिखते हैं –
“रहिमन पानी राखिये, बिन पानी सब सून । पानी गए न ऊबरै मोती, मानुस, चून ।।”
जीवन समाप्ति के उपरान्त सभी कुछ अर्थहीन हो जाता है । जीवन विधाता की विलक्षण देन है उसे संरक्षित रखना सभी जीवित प्राणियों का उतना ही पुनीत कर्तव्य है, जितना कि जीवन-दाता की उपासना ।
वर्ष २०१८ से अब तक साधनारत होकर लेखक ने अपने सभी गुरुजनों [ संदर्भ २२ ], गोला गोकर्णनाथ (जहाँ कि लेखक ने ६ वर्षों तक अध्यन किया था) एवं समीपस्थ क्षेत्र के सम्भ्रांत जनों [ संदर्भ २७ ], पूज्य गुरुवर की पवित्र भूमि (उन्नाव) के कतिपय विद्वानों [ संदर्भ २९ ], दो निकटस्थ सम्बंधियों के विछोह [ संदर्भ ३०, ३५ ] पर संस्मरण, गुरुजनों (प्रो. रत्न शंकर मिश्र एवं प्रो. देवेंद्र नाथ मिश्र) के जीवन-वृत्त [ संदर्भ ३६, ३७ ]; अवध, काशी एवं प्रयाग का इतिहास तथा अपना जीवन-वृत्त भी २ खंडों में पूर्ण किया [ संदर्भ ३३, ३४ ] । स्वयं तथा अर्धांगिनी के ८१वें जन्म-दिवस के उपलक्ष्य में आयोजित समारोह [ संदर्भ ३९ ] तथा अपने जीवन-वृत्त का वर्षानुक्रम में प्रस्तुतीकरण पूर्ण कर ही रहा था कि अचानक रमेश चंद्र का भी विछोह सहन करना पड़ा ।
यह दैवी संयोग है कि शेरपुर जैसे अकिंचन एवं अज्ञात गांव में जन्मा बालक एक परम सिद्धि को प्राप्त कर सका । लेखक का मत है कि उनके पूर्व जन्मों के सद्कर्मों के फलस्वरूप, इस जीवन में वह किसी महान विभूति की आत्मा को जी रहे थे । ४१ वर्ष में विधुर बने रमेश ने अपने पारिवारिक बहु-विवाह की परम्परा का परित्याग कर २७ वर्षों तक जीवन पाया । इस मध्य, उसने अपने समस्त उत्तरदायित्यों का निर्वहन किया । उप्लब्ध संसाधनों का यथा शक्ति उपयोग कर अपने दोनों पुत्रों को समुचित शिक्षा दिलवाई । तीनों पुत्रियों के विवाह भी सम्पन्न कराये । अनेकों उच्च शिक्षित जन तथा प्रतिष्ठित संत भी नारी के मोहपाश में लिप्त हो जाते हैं किंतु विधुर बने रमेश के जीवन में किसी नारी का समावेश कभी नहीं प्रतिबिम्बित हुआ । उसके आचरण पर कभी कोई आक्षेप नहीं लगा । उसकी सतत साधना ही इस सोंच को दर्शाती है कि वह एक असधारण मानव थे जो बीत-राग के ऊपर थे । सम्भवत:, यही कारण था कि उनकी शव-यात्रा के समय वैश्विक आपदा के होते हुए भी इतना विशाल जन-मानस उमड़ पड़ा । लेखक के संज्ञान में वर्ष १९८० में दिवंगत हुए श्री बाल गोविंद वर्मा (जोकि सरल एवं मृदुभाषी होने के साथ ही केंद्रीय मंत्री पद को भी सुशोभित कर चुके थे) शव-यात्रा के समान रमेश को भी ग्रामीण एवं नगरीय समस्त जन-मानस ने वैसा ही सम्मान दिया । उनकी रिक्तता की क्षतिपूर्ति करना निश्चय ही एक दुरूह कार्य होगा । ईश्वर ने उस पुण्यात्मा को मानवता की सेवा हेतु मात्र इतना ही समय सुनिश्चित किया था । सम्भव है कि त्रिकाल-दर्शी को उनकी सेवाओं की कहीं अन्यत्र आवश्यकता रही हो ?
८ जनवरी २०२२ को लेखक ने सोंचा न था कि उसकी श्रद्धांजलि एक पुस्तक का रूप ले लेगी जिसमें अब तक ६ अध्याय समाहित हो चुके हैं । प्रथम अध्याय उनकी पारिवारिक पृष्ठभूमि का परिचय कराता है, जब कि अध्याय २ में लेखक द्वारा अर्पित श्रद्धांजलि प्रस्तुत की गयी है । अगले अध्याय में उनके निकटस्थ पारिवारिक सम्बंधियों को दर्शाता है । अध्याय ४ में लेखक की कतिपय पद्य रचनायें एवं मन्त्र प्रस्तुत किये गये हैं । अध्याय ५ उनसे सम्बंधित कतिपय निकटतम व्यक्तियों का चित्रावलोकन कराता है । अंतिम अध्याय लेखक द्वारा विरचित समस्त गणितेतर साहित्य की सूची प्रस्तुत करता है; जिसका अभिप्राय है कि लेखक जिस साधन विहीन ग्रामीण अंचल से निकल कर जीवन में जो भी ऊंचाइयां स्पर्श की हैं, वे किसी अन्य को भी इसी प्रकार उत्साहित कर सकें एवं प्रेरणा दायक बन सके । लेखक की रचना (जीवन-वृत्त - खंड २) उसके गणितीय साहित्य का बोध कराता है ।
लेखक उन समस्त सुधी-जनों के प्रति अनुगृहीत है, जिन्होंने अपने चित्र इन्टरनेट पर पोस्ट कर रखे हैं, जिनमें से कतिपय यहाँ प्रस्तुत किये गये हैं । साथ ही, लेखक रमेश के अग्रज (श्री रमाकांत मिश्र) तथा भतीजे (राजन) के प्रति भी धन्यवाद ज्ञापित करता है, जिन्होंने अपनी पारिवारिक जानकारी उपलब्ध करायी । अर्धांगिनी (रेखा), एवं पुत्र-वधू (कीर्ति) भी धन्यवाद की सुपात्र हैं - रेखा ने पुस्तक से इतर नित्यप्रति के अन्य आवश्यक कार्यों की ओर लेखक का निरंतर ध्यान कराकर अपना धर्म निभाया, वहीं कीर्ति लेखक को जीवित रहने हेतु सभी आवश्यक सेवायें उपलब्ध कराती रही ।
ग्रन्थ की रचना का सम्पूर्ण कार्य लेखक ने अल्पतम समय में स्वयं संपन्न किया है एवं सभी भाँति इसकी शुद्धता संजोये रखने का हर संभव प्रयास किया है । फिर भी यदि किसी प्रकार की कोई अशुद्धि शेष रह गयी हो तो उसका उत्तरदायित्व लेखक का होगा । लेखक की मनःस्थिति पं. माखन लाल चतुर्वेदी जी की बहुमूल्य रचना ‘एक फूल की अभिलाषा’ से प्रभावित है –
“ चाह नहीं, मैं सुरबाला के गहनों में गूँथा जाऊँ ।
चाह नहीं, प्रेमी-माला में बिंध प्यारी को ललचाऊँ ।।
चाह नहीं, सम्राटों के शव पर हे हरि, डाला जाऊँ ।
चाह नहीं, देवों के सिर चढ़ भाग्य पर इठलाऊँ ।।
मुझे तोड़ लेना ‘वनमाली’, उस पथ पर देना तुम फेंक ।
मातृभूमि पर शीश चढ़ाने, जिस पथ जायें वीर अनेक ।।”
लखनऊ (भारत): १४ जनवरी, २०२२ (मकर संक्रांति) राम बिलास मिश्र
(i) homage to the teacher (Prof. Dr. Ḑévénḑrà Nāţh Misrà) who could be counted as the second or third senior most doctoral degree holder in his discipline (Topology) in the entire Indian sub-continent;
(ii) exposing his real talent and some rare virtues to this world, which is often dominated by the Western culture and traditions;
(iii) Informing his own kith and kin who might have undermined the worth of their intellectual guardian.
Professor Misrà showed his brilliance right from his beginning. His score of marks (149 out of 150) in mathematics at his B.Sc. (Final) examination of Lucknow University held in 1949 remained unbeaten for long. After passing his Masters in Mathematics from the same University, in 1953 he proceeded on study leave from his alma mater to France and pursued his studies for the doctoral degree at the University of Paris. He was awarded Dr. ès Sc. Degree in 1957 for his doctoral dissertation in a most advanced and modern subject known as Topology – a branch in Pure Mathematics not yet fully comprehensible to many scholars in Indiā and abroad.
The author (with rural base and hailing from a conservative Brahmin family of highest cadre amongst Kānyàkubjà Brahmins) could never appreciate the smoking habit of such a capable scholar. Dr. Misrà developed a chain smoking habit and was fond of ultra-modern life style: wearing a long necktie sometimes even with bathroom slippers – so called Hawāī chappals introduced in Indiā around 1960. Honestly speaking his smoking habit caused a repelling impact on the adolescent mind of the author and I never thought of joining research under his supervision. Now at the fag-end of life I must do justice with the highly academic brilliance of the scholar; and, in spite of his some shortcomings, he richly deserves for my narration – especially when he is gone for his heavenly abode. He might have never taken me so seriously that I shall endeavour to make his reminiscences forever.
It consists of 10 chapters of which the first one is introductory describing the Hinḑī characters and the author’s philosophy. The Indian proper names are generally italicized and written in accented (Roman) letters in order to give the original sounds. Efforts have been made to incorporate all the information related to my Gurū jī (Prof. Dr. Ḑévénḑrà Nāţh Misrà): his origin, education, academic pursuits, published works, rare photographs, his close relatives, etc. in the Chapters 2 and 3 of the book. Homage paid by the author to all his Gurūs, Teachers and Mentors and charities made are detailed in Chapter 4. Next chapter presents a tableau of some unforgettable moments in the academic life of the author. The Chapter 6 presents author’s general articles / books, while the Chapter 7 details his mathematical works. Chapter 8 enlists author’s other literary works and some Véḑic Manţràs. It is an established fact that from time to time many great saints, Rishīs and other sages and divine people appeared on the Earth and guided the society in one way or the other for the benefit of the mankind, for providing stability to the restless mind and for the purification of the soul. Born in a Vaishņavà family, the author has enriched his knowledge through interactions with many sages and has achieved considerably by regular chanting all the Manţràs presented in this chapter for a long time. Readers may benefit themselves from these Manţràs as per their own choice. Chapter 9 presents some of the ‘Surviving elders in my subject (Mathematics)’ and the last chapter details the abbreviations used in the narration. The book ends with References to the existing literature.
The author has derived much of personal information, provided in the book, from the youngest brother (Shrī V.N. Misrà) of Gurū jī. The information given in the web sites of Mr. Suḑhīr Misrà (the elder son of Gurū jī), Kānyà Kubjà College, Lucknow and others have also been utilized. Hence, they all deserve my sincere thanks and gratitude. The author feels lucky to be cared by the immediate members of his family: wife (Rékhā), the third son (Rōhiţ), his wife (Keerţi) and their kids (Ākarshaņ and Samriḑḑhi). Even the little ones cooperated in serving me for my energy needs facilitating my task easier. Hence, they too richly deserve my sincere thanks. The entire composition of the book has been accomplished by the author single handed. Although every effort has been made to preserve the accuracy even if any discrepancy is found for which the author alone shall be responsible.
What a happy coincidence that many centuries back the ancestors of the author also migrated from ‘Ganj Morāḑābāḑ’ situated in the East of the ancestral district (Harḑōī) of Pt. Jai Nārāiņ Misrà aka Kakkā jī – the maternal grandfather of Prof. D.N. Misrà jī to Sīţāpur and Lakhīmpur-Khérī districts of U.P. Possibly, the Lord saved my life many a times just for the sake of performing such noble tasks. As per the eternal belief, the debt of above mentioned holy soil of my ancestors could be repaid only after coming to this life. As such, the composition of this biography was pre-determined to be completed by me only.
In the last phase of life, the author is influenced by the valuable work of Indiā’s Hinḑī Poet (Paḑmà Bhūshaņ Pt. Mākhan Lāl Chaţurvéḑī) – ‘The desire of a flower’.
“ चाह नहीं, मैं सुरबाला के गहनों में गूँथा जाऊँ ।
चाह नहीं, प्रेमी-माला में बिंध प्यारी को ललचाऊँ ।।
चाह नहीं, सम्राटों के शव पर हे हरि, डाला जाऊँ ।
चाह नहीं, देवों के सिर चढ़ भाग्य पर इठलाऊँ ।।
मुझे तोड़ लेना ‘वनमाली’, उस पथ पर देना तुम फेंक ।
मातृ-भूमि पर शीश चढ़ाने, जिस पथ जायें वीर अनेक ।।”
[ Have no desire to be entwined in fairy’s jewels.
Have no lust to dress up a garland entice a fiancée.
Neither any wish to be adored in the funeral of the emperors,
Nor an ambition to be offered to a deity, and flaunt the fate.
Pluck me O Gardener ! and throw me on the path,
Where march the martyrs of the motherland. ]
Lucknow (India): August 14, 2021 Ram Bilas Misrà
“दुनिया ऐसी बावरी, कि पाथर पूजन जाय । घर की चाकी कोइ ना पूजे, जेहिका पीसा खाय ।।”
देश एवं समाज के दोनों ही (शिक्षित एवं अशिक्षित) वर्गों को अन्य सभी का साहित्य पढ़ने में रुचिकर लगता है, पूजा-पाठ उनके जीवन का अभिन्न अंग बन जाता है, धर्म-शास्त्र एवं धार्मिक–ग्रंथों को गला फाड़-फाड़ कर चिल्लाना सुखद प्रतीत होता है; किन्तु अपनों के बारे में वर्ष में मात्र एक बार श्राद्ध-तर्पण कर इतिश्री समझना ही उनका स्वभाव हो गया है । मुझे अपने पूर्वजों के क्रिया-कलापों का कोई भी लिखित विवरण न प्राप्त हो सका । मेरे पूज्य पिताश्री की विलक्षण स्मरण शक्ति प्रशंसनीय है कि उन्होंने मात्र ‘‘श्रुति” के माध्यम से पीढ़ी-दर-पीढ़ी प्राप्त पारिवारिक जानकारी मुझ तक पहुँचाई ।
माँ सरस्वती की आराधना में संलिप्त होकर देश-विदेश में पठन-पाठन करते हुए वर्ष १९६३ से २००० तक गणितीय शोध-लेखों की रचना में संलिप्त रहा । तदुपरांत, पाठ्य–पुस्तकों एवं अन्य पुस्तकों की रचना प्रारम्भ की । अवध विश्वविद्यालय में सम्पन्न क्रिया-कलापों को लिपिबद्ध कर, वर्ष २००० में, प्रथम पुस्तक प्रकाशित की । तब से अब तक गणित विषय के ६७ शोध-पत्र, ३४ पुस्तकें, १५ निबंध, १११ समीक्षायें एवं गणितेतर ३० पुस्तकें तथा १४ अन्य संक्षिप्त लेख (कुल २७१ ) रचनायें प्रकाशित कीं । इस भौतिकवादी जगत में अधिकांश जन चार्वाक दर्शन –
“यावद्जीवेत् सुखम् जीवेत, ऋणं कृत्वा, घृतम् पिवेत ।
भष्मी-भूतस्य देहस्य, पुनरागमनम् कुतः ॥”
में विश्वास करते हैं, किंतु कतिपय सुहृदजन –
“तरुवर फल नहिं खात हैं, सरवर पियहि न पान ।
कहि रहीम पर काज हित, संपति संचहि सुजान ॥”
अथवा,
तरुवर फल नहिं खात हैं, सरिता पिये न नीर ।
परमारथ के कारने, साधुन धरा शरीर ॥
का अनुसरण कर परमार्थ हेतु जीते हैं ।
धर्म के ठेकेदारों ने ईश्वर के स्वरूप का ऐसा विकृत रूप प्रस्तुत किया है कि मानव अपनों से विमुख होकर अन्य वांछित कर्तव्यों को भुलाकर या तो ईश्वर – साधना का ढोंग करता है, अथवा सत्ताधारियों एवं मठाधीशों की चरण-रज पाने हेतु व्याकुल रह्ता है । जीवन भर नाना प्रकार के प्रलोभनों में लिप्त रहकर, मर्यादित एवं अमर्यादित आचरण करते हुए अपनी शक्ति, विवेक, एवं क्रिया-शीलता खो देता है । किंतु लेखक इन सभी व्यर्थ के झंझावातों से उबर कर अपनी ऊर्जा को इस पुनीत लेखन-कार्य में अर्पित कर रहा है । लेखक ने अब तक अनेकों प्रकार के ऋण चुकाने के प्रयास किये हैं – पितृ ऋण मुक्ति हेतु वर्ष २०१५ में प्रायः ८ मासों के अथक प्रयास से पिताश्री (हरद्वारी लाल) का जीवन-वृत्त पूर्ण किया [सन्दर्भ १३१)] । तदुपरांत, अपनी जन्म-स्थली (सेमरई) के समस्त प्राणियों (मनुज, पशु-पक्षी, सांस्कृतिक धरोहरों, कूप-तड़ाग, ऐतिहासिक पूजा-स्थलों, वृक्षों आदि) का स्मरण करते हुए २०४ पृष्ठों के एक विषद-ग्रन्थ की रचना पूर्ण की [ सन्दर्भ १४ ] । प्रायः ४० वर्षों (१९६३ – २००२) के प्रयाग-वास में अनेक विद्वत-जनों के सम्पर्क में आकर खट्ठे-मीठे अनुभव पाये थे । वर्ष २०१७ उन्हीं सुधीजनों के स्मरण करने में व्यतीत हुआ । सर्वप्रथम्, २९ अप्रैल, २०१७ को पूर्व सहकर्मी प्रो. डॉ. हनुमान प्रसाद दीक्षित के असामयिक निधन पर शोक-संवेदना लिखी । तदुपरांत, प्रयाग स्थित गणित विषय के सभी अध्यापकों का स्मरण कर उन्हें अपने श्रद्धा-सुमन अर्पित किये [ सन्दर्भ १५ ] । साधनारत होकर ४ मासों से भी अधिक का समय लेकर वैदिक काल से प्रारम्भ कर समकालीन युग तक प्रयाग से सम्बद्ध समस्त विप्र-जनों एवं कतिपय अन्य विद्वानों का स्मरण कर २४३ पृष्ठों के एक दुर्लभ ग्रन्थ की रचना पूर्णकर उसे २१ जनवरी २०१८ को इन्टरनेट पर पोस्ट किया [ सन्दर्भ १९ ], जो कि समस्त विश्व में एक कौतूहल का विषय बन चुका है । अपने सभी पारिवारिक सम्बंधी-जनों के भी संस्मरण संजोने हेतु एक पुस्तक की रचना पूर्ण की [सन्दर्भ २०] ।
साथ ही, अपने समस्त गुरुजनों का स्मरण करते हुए “माई टीचर्स” के नाम से एक विस्तृत लेख लिखा [ सन्दर्भ २२ ] । इसी मध्य प्रयागराज से सम्बद्ध समस्त जीवित कुलपतियों का स्मरण करते हुए उन्हें अपने श्रद्धा-सुमन अर्पित किये [ सन्दर्भ २१ ] । यद्यपि ‘हितोपदेश’ के अनुसार –
“शैले – शैले न माणिक्यम् , मौक्तिकं न गजे – गजे ।
साधवो नहिं सर्वत्र, चन्दनं न वने – वने ।।”
किन्तु लेखक की मान्यता है कि माँ पृथ्वी के प्रत्येक भू-खण्ड में रत्न छिपे हुए हैं । जब किसी रत्न का भाग्योदय होता है तब उसे कतिपय हाथ सुलभ हो जाते हैं जो उसके ऊपर की धूल हटा कर उसे प्रकट कर देते हैं । कांति तो रत्न में स्वयं निहित होती है, जो उसे बृह्मांड में ध्रुव – तारा की भांति स्थापित कर देती है । ठीक वही कार्य इस लेखक ने सम्पन्न करने का प्रयास किया है । विश्व के प्रत्येक भू-भाग पर सर्वदा विलक्षण विभूतियाँ अवतरित होती रहीं हैं । उन्नाव की माटी ने भी अनेकों विलक्षण प्रतिभाओं को जन्म दिया; जिन्हें लेखक ने अपनी पुस्तक “उन्नाव की उर्वरा माटी से उपजे अनमोल रत्न” में समाहित किया [ सन्दर्भ २९ ] । प्रयाग लेखक की भी दीर्घकाल तक कर्म - स्थली रही है । प्रयाग की पावन भूमि, मां गंगा की निर्मल धारा एवं ऋषि भरद्वाज जी की तपोभूमि ने ही लेखक को कुंद से कंचन बनने में अभूतपूर्व योगदान किया है । अतएव, लेखक प्रयाग का आजीवन ऋणी रहेगा । लेखक ने अनेकों प्रकार से इस ऋण से मुक्ति पाने का प्रयास किया है [ सन्दर्भ ७, १६, १७, ३८ ] । यों तो लेखक ने अपनी अनेक पुस्तकों में गुरुवर पद्मश्री प्रो. डॉ. रत्न शंकर जी मिश्र, कुलपति, कानपुर एवं लखनऊ विश्वविद्यालय को श्रद्धासुमन अर्पित करते हुए उन्हें स्मरण किया है; किंतु उन पर पृथक रूप से एक ग्रंथ वर्ष २०२१ में ही रच पाया [ सन्दर्भ ३६] । वर्ष २००४ से अनवरत गति से क्रियाशील रहकर लेखक ने गणित एवं गणितेतर अनेक ग्रंथों की रचनायें पूर्ण की – १६ पुस्तकें जर्मनी में, १३ पुस्तकें आस्ट्रेलिया में तथा ९ पुस्तकें स्वयं व्यय-भार वहन करते हुए प्रकाशित कीं । शेष अनेकों पुस्तकें इंटरनेट पर पोस्ट की जा चुकी हैं ।
मेरी अद्भुत क्रियाशीलता अब मेरे परिजनों को भी अखरने लगी है । पता नहीं, उनकी आपति उनका भय इंगित करती है कि कहीं मैं लेखन करते – करते ही न चल बसूं ; अथवा, उन पर मैं कोई भार तो नहीं बढा रहा हूँ ? अपने पूर्वजों द्वारा रचित एक भी शब्द पाने से मैं वंचित रहा किंतु, मैं इतना स्वरचित साहित्य छोड़कर जाऊंगा जो युगों – युगों तक परिजनों का मार्ग – दर्शन करता रहेगा । कतिपय वर्षों से मेरी अर्धांगिनी प्राय: यह आरोप लगाती रहीं हैं कि मैंने अपने को दिवंगत हो चुके व्यक्तियों से आत्मसात कर लिया है । अतएव, वर्ष २०२० तथा २०२१ में मैंने अपनी आत्म–कथा भी लिखकर पूर्ण की । प्रथमत:, यह दोनों (सामान्य तथा शैक्षणिक) प्रकार की गति-विधियों को समाहित करते हुए रची गयी किंतु इसके वृहद आकार को दृष्टिगत करते हुए इसे दो पृथक भागों में इंटरनेट पर पोस्ट किया गया [ संदर्भ ३२ – ३४ ] ।
वर्तमान ग्रंथ उसी आत्म–कथा की संक्षिप्त प्रस्तुति है । इसमें अधिकांशत: चित्रों का समावेश किया गया है जो कि लेखक एवं उसकी अर्धांगिनी के विविध क्रिया-कलापों को दर्शाते हैं । सम्पूर्ण क्रिया-कलापों को दो भागों में प्रस्तुत किया गया है । प्रथम भाग में अध्याय १ – ५ समाहित हैं जिनमें प्रथम अध्याय हमारे सभी निकटस्थ परिजनों को दर्शाता है । यह एक प्रामाणिक दस्तावेज़ (आलेख) सिद्ध हो सकता है । अध्याय २ में जीवन के सामान्य क्रिया-कलाप चित्रों के माध्यम से दर्शायें गये हैं । अध्याय ३ में लेखक तथा अर्धांगिनी (रेखा) के ८० वर्ष पूर्ण करने पर सेमरई में २३.१०.२०२१ को आयोजित सम्मिलित समारोह की झांकी चित्रों के माध्यम से प्रस्तुत की गयी है । लेखक द्वारा गणितेतर विरचित साहित्य की सूची अध्याय ४ में प्रस्तुत की गयी है । अध्याय ५ लेखक द्वारा विरचित गणितेतर पुस्तकों के आवरण पृष्ठों की झांकी प्रस्तुत करता है । द्वित्तीय भाग में तीन अध्याय समाहित हैं । अध्याय ६ लेखक के विविध शैक्षणिक आयामों की झांकी प्रस्तुत करता है । अध्याय ७ में लेखक द्वारा विरचित समग्र गणितीय साहित्य उद्धृत किया गया है जबकि अंतिम अध्याय में प्रकाशित गणितीय पुस्तकों के आवरण पृष्ठों की झांकी प्रस्तुत की गयी है ।
ग्रंथ की पांडुलिपि सुधारने में लेखक के एक पूर्व छात्र (श्री ओंकार नाथ पाठक, अवकाश प्राप्त आयकर आयुक्त) द्वारा कृत सहयोग स्मरणीय रहेगा । यद्यपि शुद्धता संजोये रखने का हर सम्भव प्रयास किया गया है, तथापि किसी प्रकार की अशुद्धि रह जाने का उत्तरदायित्व लेखक का होगा । प्रकाशक श्री रोहित मिश्र (जोकि लेखक के अंतिम पुत्र तथा बौद्धिक उत्तराधिकारी भी हैं) एवं उनके परिजनों के विविध प्रकार के अमूल्य सहयोग को भुला पाना कदापि सम्भव न होगा । मेरी सभी ऐसी शैक्षणिक उपलब्धियों में रोहित का अभूतपूर्व योगदान रहा है ।
लखनऊ (भारत):
९ नवम्बर, २०२१ (कार्तिक शुक्ल पक्ष पंचमी, वि.सं. २०७८) राम बिलास मिश्र
१) देंखे अध्याय ४
The book mainly deals about the saga of few brave hearts of the above regions (cf. Chapters 2 - 8) and also depicts the contributions of the author towards academia and society (Chapters 9-11). The author, as a non-professional historian, simply wants to convey a message to the youths to know more about their seniors who took birth for some mission. It is not merely reportage like easy-going newspapers or magazines. Instead, the serious scholars, researchers and advanced learners may enjoy the intricacies of concise information presented with minimal description. Instead of “beating around the bush”, “Gāgar mein Sāgar” (compact and compendious), approach is adopted. Author’s long academic expertise with research background of more than five decades earned globally has helped for the presentation. The author neither intends to commercialize his labour nor wishes to mesmerize the mediocre readers but if the bright and advanced learners make use of it as a reference book his labour will be adequately rewarded.
It consists of 13 chapters of which the first one is introductory describing the author’s philosophy and Hinḑī characters. Next four chapters dwell upon the Avaḑh Region. Beginning with ‘Bureaucrats’ and covering up to the ‘Martyrs’ become the subject matter of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 dwells upon the ‘Mathematicians’ up to ‘Sportsmen’ in above region. The author had been greatly inspired by his research supervisor (Paḑmàshrī Prof. Dr. Raţnà Shankar Mishrà) – a high profile mathematician with global recognition, embellished with all the honours and coveted positions available in the country right up to the General President of Indian Science Congress and a prestigious Member of the Editorial Board of ‘Tensor’ Society of Japan representing several continents (outside Japan). His vast attainments are detailed in Chapter 4; while the next chapter presents few more dignitaries of Avaḑh region. I have been hearing the daring acts of Rājā Faţéh Shāh of Khutār and my own great grandfather, Pţ. Gaņéshī Lāl, right from the childhood. Their courageous acts are reported herein. I wonder if my reportage on the great heroes of the famous Kānyàkubjà Brahmin family sprouting from Bhagwanţ Nagar, establishing two Colleges: KKC and KKV in the very heart (Lucknow) of Avaḑh Region and giving birth to their talented academician, Dr. D.N. Misrà, may catch an eye of his leftover family to realize the importance of their ancestors? I was introduced to my wife’s close relative (Prof. Amréshwar Avasţhī) much later (in 1992). I was thrilled to know from a colleague at Asmara (Eritrea), hailing from Mahārāshtrà in 2000, that Prof. Avasţhī is regarded as the father of Public Administration in Indiā. It is sad that the mediocre and ‘good-for-nothing’ breed of humans are more highlighted by the media in the country on the cost of such intellectuals. He too finds his profile in my narration.
Chapter 6 covers the great heroes of all walks of life in Kāshī region. It is most deplorable to note the continued struggles in the life of a celebrity Munshī Prém Chanḑ, whose works could have won any laurel, had he been exposed to the Western countries. The unfortunate writer, born in Kāshī region, died in silence in the city of Nawābs only. Having penned down a story of 2 worthless Nawābs in his satire, Shaţranj-ké-Khilādī (cf. Sub-section 1.4 in the chapter), he himself got victimized. It is also painful to note the aristocratic attitude of writer’s own kith and kin deriving no lesson from their father’s impoverished life. Chapters 7 and 8 cover the great heroes of Prayāg region. The author gets impressed only by the creators of new inventions benefitting the masses, or great souls having led a pathetic life, or have done any personal obligation upon him or his family. As such, the author is impressed by a few people in the long list therein: Shrī B.N. Pāndéy, Pţ. S.N. Misrà, Professors N.R. Ḑhar, P.L. Bhatnāgar, U.N. Singh, R.S. Shuklà and Shrī Chanḑrà Shékhar are few such great souls.
Author’s general articles and books are presented in Chapter 9, and Chapter 10 details his mathematical works. Chapter 11 enlists his other literary works and some Véḑic Manţràs. From time to time great saints, Riṣhīs and divine people appeared on the Earth to enlighten the society. Born in a Vaishņav family, the author has enriched his knowledge through interactions with many saints and has achieved considerably by regular chanting of these Manţràs for long. An appendix is added vide Chapter 12 including a write-up on Lord Srī Kriṣhņà and Shrī Chanḑrà Bhūshaņ Ţrivéḑī aka Ramaī Kākā. The last chapter details the abbreviations used in the book that ends with References. Baring few exceptions for italic English words, the words of non-English languages are italicized. To pronounce the Hinḑī words correctly, especially by the non-Hinḑī readers, a scheme is elaborated in Chapter 1, § 3.
The author is thankful to all those providing valued information: particularly, Shrī Umā Shankar Bājpāī, retd. I-G Police; ex-student, Shrī Ōnkār Nāţh Pāthak, retd. Additional Commissioner, Income Tax Dept., GoI; Shrī R.S. Shuklà s/o my ex-teacher Prof. Dr. K.S. Shuklà of Lucknow Univ., Shrī Yashō Varḑhan grandson of Āchāryà Narénḑrà Ḑév, etc. Shrī Pāthak also assisted me in reading galley proofs of the manuscript and made valuable suggestions. Author feels lucky to be cared by his family members: wife (Rékhā), 3rd son (Rōhiţ), his wife (Keerţi) and their kids (Ākarshaņ and Samriḑḑhi). Even the little ones served me for my energy needs facilitating the task. They too richly deserve my sincere thanks. The entire composition of the book is accomplished by the author single handed. Though every care is taken to maintain the accuracy yet, if any discrepancy is seen, the author alone shall be responsible for the same.
Lucknow (Indiā): September 06, 2021 Rām Bilās Misrà
Both Indian as well as European systems of astrology consider 12 zodiac signs given below. The following table gives their serial order and their Swamis (ruling planets). ..
Essence properties including optimal value of characterizing scalars, bias and minimum mean
squared errors (MMSE) of the proposed estimators will be derived to strengthen the usefulness and acceptability aspect of the proposed estimators. By way of comparative performance analysis of proposed estimators, it will be shown theoretically and empirically that the investigated estimators are improved and more efficient than the existing one. The variation trends of
percentage relative efficiencies of the proposed modified estimators for varying key decision
variables will be examined along with their corresponding graphs through Matlab and other
software. Finally, based on theoretical and empirical results some significant conclusive observations will be drawn to focus the usefulness of our novel results for analysts, decision makers and researchers in their future research work.
“मात-पिता-गुरु आज्ञा माने, अपना भला इसी में जाने ।
संतोषी हों, रहे सुखारी – जगदीश्वर यह विनय हमारी ॥”
Māţ-piţā-Guru āgyā māné, apnā bhalā isee mén jāné ।
Sanţōshi hōn, rahén sukhāri – jagdeeshwar yah vinay hamāri ॥
(O Lord ! we pray Thee to make us obedient to our mother, father and the teacher.
Bless us to be contented and happy.”
ॐ गुरुर्ब्रह्मा ग्रुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः । गुरुः साक्षात् परम् ब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ॥
Ōm gurur Brahmā, gurur Vishņō, gurur dévō Mahéshwarah ।
Guruh sākshāţ param Brahma, ţasmae shree guruvé namah ॥
(Guru is Brahmā - the creator God, Vishņu - the protector God and Mahéshwar - the annihilator God Shiva. Guru is the absolute Brahma, hence I bow to him.)
And, according to great Hindi poet-cum-saint Kabir:
"गुरु गोबिंद दोऊ खड़े, काके लागूं पांय । गुरु बलिहारी आपनी, जिन गोबिंद दियो दिखाय ॥”
Guru, Gōvind dōu khadé, kāké lāgoon pāny ।
Guru balihāree āpnee, jin Gōvind diyō dikhāy ॥
(Both the Guru and the God appear before me simultaneously.
Whom should I bow down first? Ō Guru ! I am grateful to you for showing God to me.)
I am also reminded that even in Islam there is mention in holy Qur’an:
“Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.”
Author is also impressed by Dr. Allama Iqbal’s verse:
“Khudi ko kar buland itna, ki har taqdir se pahle ।
Khuda bande se yeh poonchhe, Bata teri raza kya hai ?”
(Elevate yourself so much, that before writing your destiny, God himself asks for your opinion) and frames one’s own philosophy - ‘go on hitting to make the iron hot’ against the prevailing proverb ‘hit when iron is hot’.)
With such bent of mind, I offer my tributes to all my teachers / mentors, guides and well-
wishers who moulded me in scaling the heights in my career and life. There are many such instances when I was moved by many of the dignitaries mentioned in my narration. Few exemplary narrations have been also mentioned in the biography of my father [ Ref. 5: He asked me to report to him at the earliest available opportunity even if I commit anything wrong which was not in his notice. He added that if I fail in doing so and by the time he gets information through a third source, it may be too late to save me. He often emphasized that he does not expect any material thing or favour from me, as he could not do so to his own father due to his early departure. He only expected two things from me: never to speak a lie and attaining the greatest height in my career. He reiterated that he does not know anything that may help me in my career, but he ever wished that I should stand second to none. ] Finding two works of my teacher (Dr. Kripa Shankar Shukla of Lucknow University in the personal library of Nobel Laureate Prof. Abdus Salam, Founder Director of his research institute (ICTP) in Trieste (Italy) in 1981 definitely impressed me. Similar were occasions to meet a medical doctor (from Sudan) in Asmara (Eritrea) and a stranger in market of Adama (Ethiopia) with the same name (Abdul Lateef) did remind me about my own beloved teacher who taught me in Primary School, Semrai as well as in Junior High School, Gola Gokarannath.
Incidentally, it is the centenary year of my two teachers (Prof. Dr. Ratna Shankar Mishra, my Ph.D. supervisor and Prof. Dr. Kripa Shankar Shukla) hence they amply deserve for dedication of this article. Recently, a valuable elder (Italian) colleague: Prof. Dr. Franco Fava, who invited me to visit his Department for over a dozen times, breathed his last at the ripe age of 98 so a page in Memoriam is assigned to him. Thereafter, the contents are divided into six sections, the first of these detail all the teachers who taught me academics during school to University stage as well as language courses and in Workshops. The next section includes two persons who introduced Gāytri mantra and Indian astrology to me. The third section, finally details all those, who out of their shear modesty and magnanimity ever granted their patronage, blessings and kindly helped me to rise in my career. References to few of them are also given for details. The author could never compensate for their invaluable help except exhibiting his unfading gratitude and loyalty towards them. The kindness and generosity of author’s two elder and senior colleagues at the University of Allahabad: Professor Hira Lal Nigam and Dr. Shree Ram Sinha are noteworthy who provided an academic uplift to the author which he had been seeking from his own community. It is interesting to note that the author could hardly derive any benefit from his own community due to malefic tendency of Jupiter planet in his horoscope. On the other hand, the exalted Venus always provided the desired opportunities through the benevolence of others even with different religious faiths. The author also believes that the associations of past lives might have brought him in contact with people from distant lands especially Professor Franco Fava, Nobel Laureate Prof. Abdus Salam and Prof. A.R. Kidwai. I pray to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to all such departed noble souls. What a divine gift to have recently discovered my second teacher (Shri Raj Kumar Misrà) who still enjoys a sound health at 92. Incidentally, the first teacher (Shri Avadh Bihari Misrà) of author’s wife is also alive. Both of them hailed from the same village (Ratasia) in Lakhimpur-Kheri district. Not many but 23 people (marked with a red asterisk sign *) in this narration are still believed to be alive. Long cherished life is prayed for them. The last three sections deal with the abbreviations, references and photographs of people directly or indirectly connected to my narration.
Sum of squares of two mutually perpen-dicular sides in a right triangle equals the square of the hypotenuse, i.e.
b2 + p2 = h2,
where b, p, h are the lengths of base, perpendicular and hypotenuse of the triangle. Recently, the authors extended above result by considering the left hand expression as the sum of squares of 3 integers becoming the square of the fourth integer. Geometrically speaking, that paper dealt with quadrilaterals ABCD composed of two right triangles ABC and ACD with right angles at their vertices B and C. In other words, we explored solutions of the quadratic equation
a2 + b2 + c2 = d 2, (1.1)
in the set of integers. Currently, we extend above result further for pentagons ABCDE with side-lengths a, b, c, d, e and having right angles at vertices B, C, D.
(i) “सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामया ! सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु,
मा कश्चिद दुःख-भाग भवेत् !!”
(O Lord ! In Thee, may all be happy, may all be free from misery. May all realize goodness and may no one suffer from pain.)
(ii) “सम शीतल नहिं त्यागहिं नीती ! सरल सुभाउ, सबहिं संग प्रीती !!”
(Behave uniformly and coolly without setting aside morality. Maintaining simplicity, extend your affection to all.)
(iii) "बड़े भये तो क्या भये, जैसे पेड़ खजूर ! पंक्षी को छाया नहीं, फल लागैं अति दूर !!"
(Attaining heights like a palm tree becomes meaningless as the latter provides no shelter even to a bird and bears the fruits not in easy reach.)
(iv) “रहिमन देखि बड़ेन को लघु न दीजिये डारि !
जहाँ काम आवै सुई काह करै तरवारि !!”
[Do not underestimate the contributions of insignificant people while admiring achievements of their counterparts. A (mighty) sword cannot be a substitute of a (tiny) needle.]
could still be dominant, and the instructions received from my visionary father (though without alphabets due to his poor economic conditions after having lost his father at a tender age of 9) to respect everyone especially elder and of his social status, the roots of real socialism and fraternity were installed in me quite early. I have described such philosophy of these village folks in detail in the biography of my father [9]1. I detailed almost all the mathematics brethren, whom I met or heard about them, during my long service of 22 years put up at the Department of Mathematics, University of Allahabad, Allahabad in my another article “Mathematics and Mathematicians at Prayag (Allahabad)”, Lambert Academic Publishers, Saarbrücken (Germany), 2011, ISBN 978-3-8443-0102-1, also available on the internet [10], in the form of a saga. In the following, I endeavour mentioning all the faculty members who taught mathematics at UoA2, its constituent Colleges including present day’s MNNIT (earlier MLN Regional Engg. College), SHUATS (erstwhile Allahabad Agricultural Institute), HRI (earlier Mehta Research Institute) and teachers of V.S. Mehta P-G College, Bharwari, staying in Allahabad city. The list starts with the first Indian mathematician (Prof. Dr. Ganesh Prasad), who could be termed as the first mathematics researcher at least in North India [4], and ends up to the faculty members appointed till my stay at UoA (1985). The main contents are presented in four sections: first offering tributes to already gone noble souls, followed by untraceable ones, superannuated ones and, thereafter few those who are still in active service. In addition, the last three sections deal with the miscellaneous information, list of abbreviations used, references and the photo gallery. The brief information about their educational merit, the highest rank achieved (either at Allahabad or elsewhere, in case of migration), dates of joining / leaving the institution or the date / location of passing away or the present place of living etc. are given.
1. Enrolment of Students
2. MCS Staff Members
3. Service Teaching
4. Staff Development
5. In-House Staff Enhancement
6. Research Publications
7. Community Service
8. Invitations for International Conferences
9. Additional Activities
10. Future Plans
11. Challenges
1.1. At Calcutta University, Kolkata: by Professor R.N. Sen;
1.2. At Delhi University, Delhi: by Professor Ram Behari;
1.3. At Karnataka University, Dharwad: by Professor C.N. Srinivasaiyengar.
In the current article more focus is made on the Delhi School of Geometry. However, few pioneer workers in the field at other Schools are also listed.
The topic under caption is self contradictory as the scientific subjects are not defined to have frontiers based on any regional considerations. The domain of Mathematics is universal and so is the case with the other half of the heading.
However, the main focus of my presentation is based on the following points:
1. Need for standard curricula in all three levels of education: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary.
2. Need for competent teachers: Not only at tertiary level but also in primary and secondary levels. This is paramount for the development of analytical brain – a key to the development of human resources – which a nation shall feel proud of.
3. Dependence on expatriate staff need to be curtailed: Which is possible only when the national skilled manpower is properly developed.
4. PNG’s main resources of income: PNG’s current GDP’s major share (approximately 65%) comes from minerals only which are not ever lasting. In due course of time this percentage shall dwindle and the country’s survival shall depend on how it develops its human resource.
5. Inadequate thrust in Mathematics and Computer Science education: It is bound to be reflected in lack-lustre industrial growth in the long run.
6. Importance of Computer Science development of hardware and software. Mathematics has contributed to the revolution of Information Technology. Computer Science has played a vital role in the development of:
Work in operations research and management science may be characterized as one of three categories:
(i) Fundamental or foundational work takes place in three mathematical disciplines: Probability, Optimization, and Dynamical systems theory.
(ii) Modeling work is concerned with the construction of models, analyzing them mathematically, implementing them on computers, solving them using software tools, and assessing their effectiveness with data. This work is instrumental, and driven mainly by statistics and econometrics.
(iii) Application work in O.R., like other engineering and economics disciplines, uses models to make a practical impact on real-world problems.
The main focus of my presentation is on the following points:
(i) Need for proper curricula in all three levels of education: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary.
(ii) Need for competent teachers not only at tertiary level but also in primary and secondary levels. This is paramount for the development of analytical brain – a key to the development of human resources – which a nation shall feel proud of. Dependence on expatriate staff need to be curtailed; which is possible only when the national skilled manpower is properly developed.
Mineral resources are finite. A country cannot survive indefinitely on the basis of raw minerals only. It may be noted that PNG’s current GDP’s major share (approximately 65%) comes from minerals only but in due course of time this percentage shall dwindle and the country’s survival shall depend on how it develops its human resource.
(iii) Inadequate thrust in Mathematics and Computer Science education is bound to be reflected in lack-lustre industrial growth. The country can only continue to export merely the raw minerals and not the finished goods.
(iv) The Government needs to allocate proper outlay towards basic science and engineering education in order to join the club of “Developed Nations” in a defined time frame. This is only possible through adequate allocation of resources towards Mathematics & Computer Science education at all levels of study.
(v) Importance of Computer Science development of hardware and software. Both Mathematics and Applied Mathematics have contributed to the revolution of Information Technology. Computer Science has played a vital role in the development of:
I.T. industry, Manufacturing industry, Satellites, E-Banking, E-Commerce, Revolution in the field of Communication, Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information System, Remote Sensing etc.
To achieve these goals certain remedies are suggested as follows.
It may be interesting to briefly touch upon some historical aspects of the core subject: especially Mathematics.
1.1. At Calcutta University, Kolkata: by Professor R.N. Sen;
1.2. At Delhi University, Delhi: by Professor Ram Behari;
1.3. At Karnataka University, Dharwad: by Professor C.N. Srinivasaiyengar.
In the current article more focus is made on the Delhi School of Geometry. However, few pioneer workers in the field at other Schools are also listed:
Calcutta School: A.K. Raychaudhary 1), D. Kamilya, M.C. Chaki, Bandana Gupta (Barua), N. Guha, U.C. De,
Karnataka School: B. Ravi, C.S. Bagewadi, D.J. Shetty, E.G. Kumar, H.G. Nagaraj, K.S. Amur, Muppia Nagraj, Mrs. Pushpa Desai, S.K. Narasimhamurthy, S.S. Pujar, T. Venkatesh, V.S. Prasada.
Mathematics has contributed to the revolution of Information Technology. Computer Science has played a vital role in the development of:
I.T. industry, Manufacturing industry, Satellites, E-Banking, E-Commerce, Revolution in the field of Communication, Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information System, Remote Sensing etc.
2. Proper outlay towards basic science and engineering education
No nation has flourished without providing adequate financial support towards the education of its younger generation. In order to get included amongst “Developed Nations” in a defined time frame it is essential to meet this demand. Adequate allocation of resources towards Mathematics and Computer Science education at all levels of study is indispensable.
To achieve these goals certain remedies are suggested as follows. It may be interesting to briefly touch upon some historical aspects of the core subject: especially Mathematics.
No untoward incident was reported, at least from the students’ side. As regards teaching staff is concerned, the services of Mr. Jimmy Keake, Senior Technical Instructor 1 in Mathematics, were terminated by the University. The Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Evelyn resigned and the semi-skilled worker, Mr. J.L. Rouga, retired after having served the Department for a long time since the very inception of the University. Mr. Sipa Benny, Technical Instructor in Computer Science also resigned. However, he continued to assist the Department as a Part-time Tutor. All of them were given a farewell on 15.04.2008.
The teacher – student relations have been fair and no serious complaint has ever been made against any staff except strict marking / evaluation by some of the staff especially Mr. John Shadlow (Sr. Technical Instructor II in Maths.), Mr. John Wamil (Lecturer 1 in Maths.) and Dr. S.N. Pandey (Visiting Associate Professor in Maths.) on some occasions.
The new building constructed for the Department was handed over by the contractors in February 2008, but it is still not furnished. It is not usable because of lack of telephone and computer installations. Control of air-conditioners has not been transferred to the Department. As a result, the Departmental Office is still continuing on the First Floor of the old block of Electrical Engineering building. This accommodation is quite inadequate to accommodate all the teaching faculty, Office and other staff. The ceiling of this old building has been leaking throughout and the toilets were in awful condition. Of late, renovation of the building is being done and the toilets are also under repair.
It is a unique privilege for all of us to be here at the eve of First Convocation of the University. It is also my proud privilege to welcome all of you here in the portals of the august institution very appropriately named after a great visionary and social reformer of the past era in this part of the world: Teerthankar Mahaveer Maharaj. I quote a phrase form Sanskrit
“Mahajano yen gatah, sa panthah!”,
i.e. there is a way traversed / explored by the great people. The great enlightened scholar Mahaveer showed the way of life to the masses. Such visionary people come to this world of and on and from time to time for the welfare of the mankind. So preaches the lord Krishna in Srimad Bhagwad Gita:
Yada yadahi dharmasya glanirbhawati Bhartah!
Abhuthanam dharmasya tadatmanam srijamyaham!!
“Vidya-Dan” – the transition of knowledge has ever been the greatest charity. Even in the ancient times the scholars and Rishis on this land, so-called “Aryavarta” used to establish the schools in their Ashrams. Rishi Bhardwaj at the Teerthraj Prayag (now called Allahabad) was one of them who founded a school in his Ashram imparting the knowledge to more than ten thousand disciples even in those ancient days.
1. Role of VC: It is never smooth sailing for an administrator at least in a democracy. The job of the Head of an educational institution is to appease students, teachers and the University authorities of which the first one is most vulnerable. My experience confirms that the youth can be motivated by means of a dialogue, transparency in deliberations, efficiency, prudent and prompt decisions of the administrator. The colleagues can be tackled by establishing a genuine feeling of superiority over them. Colleagues must realize that their Head is the master of, at least, his own discipline and jack of all.
The topic under caption is self contradictory as the scientific subjects are not defined to have frontiers based on any regional considerations. The domain of Mathematics is universal and so is the case with the remaining title.
GURUJAN
(SH. BABU RAM SHUKLA EVAM SH. MADAN MANOHAR LAL MISRA JI) SAMMAN SAMAROH
CANE GROWERS NEHRU SNATAKOTTAR MAHAVIDYALAY
GOLA GOKARANNATH (JANPAD LAKHIMPUR-KHERI), U.P.
20 OCTOBER, 2013
Shraddheya guruvar Shri Babu Ram Shukla evam Shri Madan Manohar Lal Misra ji,
Adarneeya Dr. Mool Chand Misra, Mahavidyalaya ke Pracharya Dr. Amol Kumar Singh evam anya Pradhyapak gan, Samast priya sahpathi-gan evam anya sabhi upasthit Mahanubhav !
Is pavan bhumi par aaj ham sabhi ka ek lambe antral ke paschat punermilan sambhav ho pa raha hai. Yeh ishwar ke kripa he hai evam hamara saubhagya hai ki ham abhi tak is pavan vela ko avalokit kar pa rahe hain. Na jane kitne hee hamare – apke aneko priya jan, sahpathee-gan eavm gurujan ab tak kaal ke ateet mein sama chuke hain. Upasthit jan-samooh mein katipay aise bhi sajjanvrind ho sakte hain jinase panch dashako se bhee lambe antraal ke paschat punermilan sambah ho pa raha ho.
Gola Gokarannath, Dist. Lakhimpur-Kheri, U.P.
(Born on 30.6.1958 at Gola – died on 6.9.2022 at Ataria, Dist. Sitapur)
OBITUARY NOTE
A sitting BJP M.L.A. (Mr. Arvind Giri), from Gola Gokarannath, Dist. Lakhimpur-Kheri, U.P. met the fatal 3rd heart attack on the way from Gola Gokarannath to Lucknow on 6.9.2025. He was just 65 and was escorted by his driver and a security man only. During his short life span, he could do many commendable jobs: establishing a chain of educational institutions in the area including a CBSE Intermediate College (named after his teacher-father: Shri Rajendra Giri) in the vicinity of Gola town at a historical and spiritual site ‘Lakshman Yati’ (famous for the invasion of the brutal army of the most cruel Muslim ruler Aurangzeb).
His father (late Shri Rajendra Giri) had taught the author .....
Regards and very best wishes for your sound health and sane mind enlightening the aspirants of knowledge from your accomplishments and expertise.
Name / Subject / University served as VC / Date of Joining / Period served. ...
(Obituary)
Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering,
Graphic Era University, Dehradun, U.K. (India) (19.9.2015 – 5.2.2018);
Res. (Permanent): B-901, Udyog Vihar CGHS, Plot 12, Dwarka, Sector 22,
New Delhi – 110077 (India);
Tel.: 011-4352-8105; Cell: + 91-9718-626-581
(जन्म: २१.१०.१९६६ / कार्तिक शुक्ल पक्ष ७, विक्रमी सम्वत् २०२३ / शनिवार;
महाप्रयाण: ७.९.२०२० / आश्विन कृष्ण पक्ष ५, विक्रमी सम्वत् २०७७ / सोमवार)
पुत्र श्री बालक राम मिश्र, पूर्व शिक्षक, निवासी सेमरई, निकट गोला गोकर्णनाथ,
जनपद लखीमपुर-खीरी |
(एक भावभीनी श्रद्धांजलि)
(10.08.1918 – 23.08.1999)
Posthumously remembered by his student
Prof. Dr. R. B. Misra,
Ex Vice-Chancellor, Dr. RML Avadh University, Faizabad/Ayodhya (India).
Director (designate), Maths. Unit, School of Sci. & Engg., Univ. of Kurdistan
Hewler, Erbil, KRD (Iraq).
1. Family and education:
Professor Ratna Shanker Mishra was born on 26th September, 1919 A.D. on the auspicious day of Vijayadashmi. He was raised in the rich cultural heritage of a vaishnavite family. His parents (Pt. Kali Charan and Smt. Phoolmati Mishra) lived in the village Ajgain, District Unnao (on Lucknow – Kanpur sector of U.P., India). However, his date of birth was wrongly recorded by the school as August 10, 1918. Prof. Mishra could not get patronage of his father for long and was brought up by his widow mother only. As revealed by his mother to the author, Prof. Mishra was the only issue born to her.
In conformity of the saying-"Honhar birvan ke hot cheekane paat"-Prof. Mishra demonstrated his brilliance right from his childhood when he scored a first division and distinction marks in Mathematics at his High School examination passed from Government High School, Unnao in 1937. Thereafter, he moved to Kanyakubja Intermediate College, Lucknow for his secondary education. He not only maintained his previous level of brilliance but improved it further by scoring first division with distinction marks in Physics in addition to Mathematics at the Intermediate examination in 1939. He graduated from Lucknow University in 1942-again scoring a first division at the (3-years) B.Sc. (Honours) course. Having narrowly missed his first division at the M.Sc. (Mathematics) examination of Lucknow University in 1943, he opted to go for a Teaching Certificate course (L.T.) at the Government Training College, Allahabad. Soon after that he decided for his teaching career and joined Ramjas Higher Secondary School, Delhi in 1944. Being there, he pursued his research work under the able supervision of the then Head, Dept. of Mathematics, Delhi University: Prof. Ram Behari and earned his Ph.D. degree in 1947. When the country was rejoicing its long-awaited independence Delhi University too had a distinguished honour to award its first ever doctorate to Prof. Mishra. ....
इस पावन भूमि पर आज हम सभी का एक लम्बे अंतराल के पश्चात पुनर्मिलन संभव हो पा रहा है । यह ईश्वर की कृपा ही है एवं हमारा सौभाग्य है कि हम अभी तक इस पावन वेला को अवलोकित कर पा रहे हैं । न जाने कितने ही हमारे - आपके अनेक प्रियजन, सहपाठी-गण एवं गुरुजन अब तक काल के अतीत में समा चुके हैं । उपस्थित जन-समूह में कतिपय ऐसे भी सज्जनवृन्द हो सकते हैं जिनसे पांच दशको से भी लम्बे अन्तराल के पश्चात पुनर्मिलन संभव हो पा रहा है ।
...........
The topic under caption is self contradictory as the scientific subjects are not defined to have frontiers based on any regional considerations. The domain of Mathematics is universal and so is the case with the remaining title. However, the main focus of my presentation is based on the following points:
1. Need for standard curricula in all three levels of education: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary.
2. Need for competent teachers: Not only at tertiary level but also in primary and secondary levels. This is paramount for the development of analytical brain – a key to the development of human resources – which any nation shall feel proud of.
--------
With extreme grief, I may bring to your kind notice a recently occurred tragic incident swallowing the life of (49 years old) only nephew (the only son to my deceased younger sister, who died long back on 1.8.1980) of mine (Mr. Yogesh Chandra Misra aka Rajan) on 31.12.2022 at his residence at Lakhimpur. He was practicing as a Lawyer at Lakhimpur-Kheri, U.P.
Under acute depression he met a fatal injury from his licensed weapon and ended his precious life leaving behind his young wife (Mrs. Kanan Bala Mishra, 49 yrs. old), a young son (23) completing B.Com. Final Semester at Lucknow University and a daughter (16) studying in class XI.
Rajan has returned from his Uttarakhand tour a day earlier and was alone at his residence. On some commotion he took an extreme step putting all of us in acute and unbearable apathy. His father (Shri Rama Kant Mishra, also an Advocate is now old enough). At 75, he is punished so severely. We are at the loss of our beloved member who was brought up by my mother since 1980 and lived with us for 42 years. The vacuum created by his irreparable loss can never be healed up.
I wish to help the devastated family and appeal to my all associates to come forward to help the aggrieved family in any manner either in finding a job to his widow or contributing any monetary help. The details of his wife’s Bank a/c are given below:
Smt. Kanan Bala Mishra,
S/B Acct. at,
Central Bank of India, Lakhimpur-Kheri, U.P. (India);
IFSC Code: CBIN 0283409, Swift: CBININBBPAR
Looking forward to your generosity and kindness,
Lucknow (India): March 15, 2023 Prof. Dr. Ram Bilas Misra,
Ex-Vice Chancellor, Avadh University, Ayodhya, U.P. (India);
Residence: c/o Mr. Rohit Misra (son), Director (Projects), Amity University, Lucknow; 380 A, Gomti Nagar Extn. Sector 1, Lucknow – 226010, U.P. (India); Tel. (M.) +91-9454-544-926; rambilas.misra@gmail.com, misrarb1@rediffmail.com
सहानुभूति
अत्यंत व्यथित मन से, विगत दिनों हुई एक दुखद घटना के बारे में, सूचित कर रहा हूं । मेरी दिवंगत छोटी बहन का इकलौता पुत्र एवं हमारा एकमात्र भांजा (श्री योगेश चंद्र मिश्र उर्फ राजन) 31.12.2022 को एक दर्द्नाक हादसे का शिकार हो गया । वह लखीमपुर-खीरी, उ.प्र. में एक वकील के रूप में कार्यरत था । लखीमपुर स्थित अपने आवास पर वह अपने लाइसेंसी शस्त्र के साथ मृत पाया गया । गृहिणी पत्नी (श्रीमती कानन बाला मिश्रा, 49 वर्ष), लखनऊ विश्वविद्यालय में बी.कॉम. अंतिम वर्ष में अध्यनरत 23 वर्षीय युवा पुत्र (रोहन उर्फ प्रियांशु) तथा 11वीं कक्षा में अध्यनरत पुत्री (अर्पिता) को पीछे छोड़कर राजन ने इस संसार से विदा ले ली ।
एक दिन पूर्व ही वह अपनी उत्तराखंड यात्रा से वापस आया था । किसी प्रकार के मानसिक तनाव पर उसने हम सभी को इन असहनीय परिस्थितियों में डाल दिया । उसके पिता (श्री रमाकांत मिश्र), जो स्वयं एक वकील रहे हैं, ने 75 वर्ष की आयु में यह असहनीय कष्ट पाया है । राजन की मां (अर्थात मेरी अनुजा सरोजिनी) ने प्रसव पीड़ा पीड़ित होकर 6 वर्षीय पुत्र (राजन) तथा उसकी 2 कनिष्ठ बह्नों : रीना (4 वर्ष) एवं वीणा (2 वर्ष) को छोड़कर 1.8.1980 को हम सबसे विदा ली थी । इन सभी शिशुओं को मेरी मां ने पाल-पोस कर बड़ा किया था । कैसी विडम्बना रही कि रीना ने भी 1.6.1994 को अवसाद ग्रस्त होकर मृत्यु को गले लगा लिया था । 28 वर्षों बाद राजन ने भी सम्भवत: उसी प्रकार की घटना की पुनरावृत्ति की । वह 42 वर्ष तक हमारे साथ रहा था । उसकी इस अपूर्णीय क्षति से उत्पन्न रिक्तता की कभी पूर्ति नहीं हो सकती ।
सभी सुह्रदय महानुभावों से मेरी अपील है कि इस पीड़ित परिवार की यथा-सम्भव सहायता कर अपनी उदारता का परिचय देने की महती कृपा करें । राजन की विधवा (श्रीमती कानन बाला) को किसी प्रकार के जीवन-यापन सम्बंधी कोई रोजगार उपलब्ध कराने अथवा किसी अन्य प्रकार का आर्थिक सहयोग प्रदान करें । कानन बाला के बैंक खाते का विवरण निम्नवत है ।
श्रीमती कनन बाला मिश्रा, सेंट्रल बैंक ऑफ इंडिया, लखीमपुर-खीरी, उ.प्र.;
IFSC कोड: CBIN 0283409, स्विफ्ट: CBININBBPAR
लखनऊ (भारत): 15 मार्च, 2023 प्रो. डॉ. राम बिलास मिश्र (निवेदक),
पूर्व कुलपति, अवध विश्वविद्यालय, अयोध्या, उ.प्र. (भारत);
निवास: द्वारा श्री रोहित मिश्र (पुत्र), निदेशक (परियोजनाएं), एमिटी विश्वविद्यालय, लखनऊ;
380 ए, गोमती नगर विस्तार, सेक्टर 1 (वरदान खंड), लखनऊ - 226010, उ.प्र. (भारत);
दूरभाष : +91-9454-544-926; rambilas.misra@gmail.com, misrarb1@rediffmail.com
Sherpur (Dist. Lakhimpur-Kheri, U.P., India) / 2.1.2023: Rajan’s mortal remains before cremation - his only son (Rohan aka Priyanshu) sitting by the side and waiting to perform the last rites.
Arun was working as a LIC Agent for the last few years and was doing his best to meet both the needs providing higher education to his three children and caring his own family and the elderly parents. To add the miseries, his octogenarian father has been ailing for the last two years and has been constantly bed-ridden due to his severe fistula causing dropping of continuous pus. In spite of his busy schedule, Arun used to dress up his father regularly to the best possible manner.
What a pity – the modern “Shravan Kumar” saved his father’s life but had been hit by another crazy “Dashrath” who is still at large. This time it was not the classical arrow but some discredited modern means of transport. The impact of the vehicle / object was so severe that the right portion of his face was badly smashed and pierced.
Finally, Arun’s corps was brought to Lakhimpur Mortuary in the forenoon of 7th September for the post-mortem and his body could be released from there by the late evening. He was cremated in his native village (Semrai) in the next morning (8th September). His last rites (Terahvi rituals) were performed on 19th September. Though Arun met his tragic and untimely end while on duty but no Government agencies shall ever extend any help to his bereaved family as he was not their direct employee.
To recall his sacrifice, a humble effort is made to get opened a Savings Bank Account at the Aryavart Bank, Branch – Bhalliya Bujurg (near Gola Gokarannath, Dist. Lakhimpur-Kheri, U.P.), IFSC Code: BKID0ARYAGB, Email: 1561BhalliaBujurg@aupgb.in in the name of his widow (Smt. Prem Lata) with an amount of Rs. 200,000 (Two Lakhs) donated by the author who himself is deprived of any pensionary benefits. Please note that Net Banking facility is not available at this Branch*.
APPEAL
An earnest appeal is, therefore, made to all sensitive and kind hearted brethren to come forward benevolently contributing anything towards this devastated family which has lost its only bread-earner and has no other means for their survival except some agricultural land. Your donations may be directly remitted to above Bank Account.
Contact numbers of his family are given below for reference, if any.
Looking forward to your generosity and kindness especially to my ex-students who may come forward to offer a Gurudakshina - should they feel that they have been never exploited by their teacher.
Lucknow (India):
September 27, 2020 Hon. Colonel (NCC) Prof. Dr. R.B. Misra,
Ex-Vice Chancellor, Avadh University, Faizabad / Ayodhya, U.P. (India);
Residence: c/o Mr. Rohit Misra (son), Director (Projects), Amity Univ., Lucknow;
380 A, Gomti Nagar Extn. Sector 1, Lucknow – 226010, U.P. (India);
Tel. (M.) +91-9454-544-926; rambilas.misra@gmail.com, misrarb1@rediffmail.com
Skype: Ram Bilas@skype.com, http://www.iaps.academia.edu/rambilas.misra
Family members of (late) Mr. Arun Kumar Misra:
(1) Mrs. Prem Lata – wife, Housewife;
(2) Miss Garima Misra – daughter, M.A. (English – stdt.), B.Ed., tel. (m.) +91-9170-812-735,
(3) Miss Upma Misra – daughter, LL.B. (stdt.), upmamishra191@gmail.com
(4) Mr. Ayush Misra – son, LL.B. (stdt.), tel. (m.) + 91-6392-483-782, ayushabhay77@gmail.com
(5) Mr. Balak Ram Misra – father,
(6) Mrs. Urmila Misra – mother, Housewife.
(जन्म: २१.१०.१९६६ / कार्तिक शुक्ल पक्ष ७, विक्रमी सम्वत् २०२३ / शनिवार;
महाप्रयाण: ७.९.२०२० / आश्विन कृष्ण पक्ष ५, विक्रमी सम्वत् २०७७ / सोमवार)
पुत्र श्री बालक राम मिश्र, पूर्व शिक्षक, निवासी सेमरई, निकट गोला गोकर्णनाथ,
जनपद लखीमपुर-खीरी
१. उद्गम :
महोली (जनपद सीतापुर) के उत्तर भीतरी क्षेत्र में स्थित ग्राम सूर्यकुण्ड में बसे किन्हीं पूर्वजों में दो बँधु (मन्नू एवं आदिनाथ) कभी १८ वीं शताब्दी के अँतिम दशक में चर्चित हुए थे । मेरे पिता ने मुझे इन बँधुओं से उपजे वँश-वृक्ष का ज्ञान कराया था । पिता के अनुसार, मन्नू मेरे पिता के पितामह (श्री गणेशीलाल) के पितामह थे, जो अनुमानतः १७९० ईस्वी के आसपास सूर्यकुण्ड में जन्में थे । उनके ३ पुत्र (बृजलाल, बिलासी एवं बोदल) पैदा हुए । बृजलाल का विवाह सेमरई में श्री गोवर्धन उर्फ़ गोबरे अवस्थी की पुत्री (हँसी) से सम्पन्न हुआ था । गोवर्धन वर्तमान समय के (सेमरई निवासी) श्री रामदास अवस्थी के पितामह के पितामह थे । बृजलाल एवं हँसी के छह पुत्रों (शँकरलाल, गणेशीलाल, जगनू, कालिका, मिश्रीलाल एवं मैकूलाल) में से चार सूर्यकुण्ड से सेमरई में स्थानाँतरित हुए थे, किन्तु शेष (जगनू एवं कालिका) अपने पिता के साथ सूर्यकुण्ड में ही बसे एवं वे निस्सन्तान रहे ।
बृजलाल के ज्येष्ठ पुत्र (शँकर लाल) देवकली रेलवे स्टेशन के पास सैदापुर के एक त्रिवेदी परिवार में व्याहे गये थे । उनके ३ पुत्र : लाल्ता प्रसाद, अयोध्या प्रसाद एवं कन्हैया लाल उर्फ़ हेटली (क्योंकि वह अपने सिर पर एक हैट (टोप) लगाते थे) जन्में । लेखक ने अँतिम दोनों महानुभावों को देखा है, जोकि असाधारण रूप से लम्बे थे । लाल्ता प्रसाद का प्रथम विवाह खम्भारखेड़ा में एवं दूसरा बछवल में श्री शिवसागर लाल शुक्ल की बहन के साथ सम्पन्न हुआ था । शिवसागर लाल सेमरई के पूर्व प्रधान (कौशल किशोर शुक्ल) के पितामह थे, एवं कुछ काल हेतु सेमरई में आकर बसे थे । द्वितीय पत्नी से लाल्ता प्रसाद को एक पुत्र (शिवगोविन्द प्रसाद) एवं ३ पुत्रियाँ (मट्ठो, कंचन एवं रुद्री) प्राप्त हुईं । उनकी ये पुत्रियाँ क्रमशः तुलापुर, फत्तेपुर (निकट मोहम्मदी) एवं ब्रह्मावली में व्याही गयीं थीं । शिवगोविन्द प्रसाद का व्याह टिकौला में श्रीयुत चँद्रभाल, प्यारे लाल एवं बालादीन अवस्थी की अग्रजा (यदुराई) के साथ सम्पन्न हुआ था । उनके २ पुत्र (बालकराम एवं रमाकान्त) तथा २ पुत्रियाँ (चन्दरि एवं कृष्ण कुमारी उर्फ़ बटुआ) जन्मीं । वरिष्ठतम सन्तान (चन्दरि) का विवाह वर्ष १९५१ के आस-पास पचपेड़वा निवासी श्रीपाल बाजपेयी के साथ सम्पन्न हुआ था । बालक राम का विवाह बेलवा (निकट घरथनिया) में श्री रामभजन अवस्थी की कनिष्ठ पुत्री (उर्मिला देवी) से वर्ष १९५५ में सम्पन्न हुआ था । रमाकान्त ने पीलीभीत के अवधेशकुमार बाजपेयी की दो बहनों से बारी-बारी से विवाह किया : प्रथमतः, वधू की नानी के घर बिलहरी (जनपद पीलीभीत) में अवधेश की द्वितीय बहन से एवं इस पत्नी से उन्हें २ पुत्र (सुभाष एवं प्रकाश चन्द्र उर्फ़ छोटल्ले) प्राप्त हुए । उस पत्नी के मृत्योपराँत, उन्होंने अवधेश की तृतीय बहन (विमलेश कुमारी) से भी पीलीभीत में विवाह किया । इस पत्नी से उन्हें एक पुत्री (आरती), जो कपरहा में विवाहित है, एवं एक पुत्र (विकास) प्राप्त हुए । सुभाष टिकौला में व्याहा है, एवं उसके २ पुत्रियाँ (प्रगति एवं प्रेरणा) तथा एक पुत्र सुयश है । प्रगति लखनऊ स्थित अमीनाबाद महाविद्यालय से बी.एस-सी. (बायोलॉजी) की उपाधि प्राप्त करने के उपरांत भीरा स्थित एक विद्यालय से बी.एड. की उपाधि प्राप्त कर चुकी है । प्रकाश चन्द्र भोगनीपुर मन्नी में व्याहा है, एवं उसे एक पुत्र (साकेत उर्फ़ अँशु) एवं एक पुत्री (अँशिका) प्राप्त हुईं । विकास ने लखनऊ स्थित एमिटी विश्वविद्यालय से बी.बी.ए. की उपाधि प्राप्त की, एवं वह ख़ुटार के पास ग्राम सबलापुर में व्याहा गया । रमाकान्त प्राथमिक विद्यालय के प्रधानाध्यापक के रूप में सेवा-निवृत्त हुए, जबकि उनकी (दूसरी) धर्म-पत्नी अभी भी सेमरई स्थित जुनियर विद्यालय में प्रधानाध्यापिका के रूप में कार्यरत हैं ।
कालांतर में (वर्ष १९७० के आस-पास) शिव गोविंद प्रसाद का असमय निधन हो गया था, जिससे उनकी कनिष्ठ पुत्री (बटुआ) के विवाह का उत्तरदायित्व अग्रज बालक राम को निभाना पड़ा था । बटुआ का विवाह वर्ष १९७४ में बछवल के प्रेमकुमार मिश्र के साथ सम्पन्न हुआ था ।
२. अरुण के सहोदर
बालक राम एवं उनकी अर्धांगिनी (उर्मिला देवी) को २ पुत्र (अरुण कुमार एवं महेन्द्र) तथा ३ पुत्रियाँ (बटन्ने, कल्पना एवं शैल कुमारी उर्फ पिंकी) प्राप्त हुईं, जो क्रमश: शेरपुर, रत्नापुर एवं मालपुर में व्याही गयीं । अरुण अजान के पास बगहा ग्राम निवासी श्री आशाराम अवस्थी की पुत्री (प्रेम लता) से विवाहित हुआ । कतिपय वर्षों तक उसने गोला गोकर्णनाथ में (लेखक के पूर्व सह्पाठी) डॉ. विश्वनाथ पुरवार के निजी चिकित्सालय में कम्पाउंडर के रूप में कार्यरत होकर चिकित्सा का प्रशिक्षण प्राप्त किया था । कालांतर में उसने गोला – लखीमपुर राष्ट्रीय मार्ग पर स्थित केशवापुर में एक स्वयं का एक चिकित्सा केंद्र स्थापित किया था । विगत अनेक वर्षों से वह भारतीय जीवन बीमा निगम के एक एजेंट के रूप में कार्यरत होकर संतोषजनक रूप से अच्छी प्रगति कर रहा था । अपनी संतानों को समुचित शिक्षा दिलाने हेतु वह सेमरई से गोला स्थानांतरित हो गया था । प्रारम्भ में वह अपने एक मात्र मामा (श्री राम बिलास अवस्थी) के ही साथ निवास किया था किंतु कालांतर में वह अर्जुन नगर स्थित एक किराये के भवन में निवासित रहा था । वृद्ध माता-पिता को भी उसने अपने सानिध्य में गोला में ही निवासित रखना उचित समझा था ।
अरुण को २ पुत्रियां (गरिमा तथा उपमा) एवं एक पुत्र (आयुष) प्राप्त हुए । अरुण अत्यंत परिश्रमी सिद्ध होकर अपनी संतानों को शिक्षा दिलाने में सफल हो रहा था । ज्येष्ठ पुत्री (गरिमा) ने गोला स्थित केन ग्रोवर्स नेहरू स्नात्कोत्तर महाविद्यालय से अंग्रेज़ी विषय के साथ एम.ए. (प्रीवियस) की परीक्षा उत्तीर्ण की तथा लखीमपुर स्थित एक महाविद्यालय से बी.एड. की भी उपाधि प्राप्त की । उसकी कनिष्ठ पुत्री (उपमा) लखीमपुर स्थित ‘मनु विधि महाविद्यालय’ में विधि कक्षा में अध्य्यनरत है । पुत्र (आयुष) भी वहीं विधि कक्षा का क्षात्र है । यद्यपि गरिमा को किसी विद्यालय में अध्यापन कार्य हेतु अनुशंशित किया गया था, किंतु सम्पूर्ण विश्व में व्याप्त ‘कोरोना’ महामारी की भयावह स्थितिवश नियुक्ति-पत्र पाना शेष रह गया था ।
महेन्द्र का विवाह बेहजम के पास करनपुर में सम्पन्न हुआ था । सम्प्रति, वह लखीमपुर स्थित न्यायालय में एक अधिवक्ता के रूप में कार्यरत है एवं उसने वहीं एक भवन का निर्माण कराया है । उसे एक पुत्री (अनामिका) तथा एक पुत्र (अभय) प्राप्त हुए । महेन्द्र की दोनों संतानें अध्य्यन में अत्यधिक रुचि लेती हैं । दोनों नें इसी वर्ष प्रथम श्रेणी में हाई स्कल की परीक्षा उत्तीर्ण की है ।
३. अरुण की अपूर्ण अभिलाषा
गोला में निवास हेतु अपना स्वयं का एक भवन निर्मित करवाने की उसकी अभिलाषा अपूर्ण रह गयी । विगत जनवरी में उसने इच्छा वयक्त की थी कि मैं गोला स्थित अपने एक्सिस बैंक वाले भवन की दूसरी मंजिल पर उसके लिये एक आवास निर्मित करा दूं । खेद है कि उसके जीते हुए मैं उसकी यह इच्छा पूर्ण नहीं कर सका ।
४. अश्रुपूरित श्रद्धांजलि
ईश्वर अरुण की आत्मा को चिर शांति प्रदान करे एवं उसके सभी परिजनों को इस भीषण त्रासदी को सहन करने की शक्ति दे । साथ ही, उसके अपूर्ण कार्यों को सकुशल सम्पन्न कराने की मह्ती कृपा करे ।
Having been brought up in a society with the prevailing norms:
“मात-पिता-गुरु आज्ञा माने, अपना भला इसी में जाने ।
संतोषी हों, रहे सुखारी – जगदीश्वर यह विनय हमारी ॥”
Māţ-piţā-Guru āgyā māné, apnā bhalā isee mén jāné ।
Sanţōshi hōn, rahén sukhāri – jagdeeshwar yah vinay hamāri ॥
(O Lord ! we pray to Thee to make us obedient to our mother,
father and the teacher. Bless us to be contented and happy.
ॐ गुरुर्ब्रह्मा ग्रुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः । गुरुः साक्षात् परम् ब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ॥
Ōm gurur Brahmā, gurur Vishņō, gurur dévō Mahéshwarah ।
Guruh sākshāţ param Brahma, ţasmae shree guruvé namah ॥
(Guru is Brahmā - the creator God, Vishņu - the protector God and
Mahéshwar - the annihilator God Shiva.
Guru is the absolute Brahma, hence I bow to Him.)
And, according to great Hindi poet-cum-saint Kabir:
“गुरु गोबिंद दोऊ खड़े, काके लागूं पांय ।
गुरु बलिहारी आपनी, जिन गोबिंद दियो दिखाय ॥”
Guru, Gōvind dōu khadé, kāké lāgoon pāny ।
Guru balihāree āpnee, jin Gōvind diyō dikhāy ॥
(Both the Guru and the God appear before me simultaneously.
Whom should I bow down first?
Ō Guru ! I am grateful to you for showing God to me.)
I am also reminded that even in Islam there is mention in holy Qur’an:
“Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.”
Author is also impressed by Dr. Allama Iqbal’s verse:
“Khudi ko kar buland itna, ki har taqdir se pahle ।
Khuda bande se yeh poonchhe, Bata teri raza kya hai ?”
(Elevate yourself so that before writing your destiny,
God himself asks for your opinion).
I formed my own philosophy - ‘Go on hitting to make the iron hot’ against the prevailing proverb ‘hit when iron is hot’. With such bent of mind, I offer my tributes to all my teachers / mentors, guides and well-wishers who moulded me in scaling the heights in my career and life. There are many such instances, when I was moved by many of the dignitaries mentioned in my narration. Few exemplary narrations have been also mentioned in the biography of my father [Ref. 5: He asked me to report to him at the earliest available opportunity even if I commit anything wrong which was not in his notice. He added that if I fail in doing so and by the time he gets information through a third source, it may be too late to save me. He often emphasized that he does not expect any material thing or favour from me, as he could not offer so to his own father due to his early departure. He only expected two things from me: never to speak a lie and attaining the greatest height in my career. He reiterated that he did not know anything that may help me in my career, but he ever wished me to stand second to none.] Finding two works of my teacher (Dr. Kripa Shankar Shukla of Lucknow University in the personal library of Nobel Laureate Prof. Abdus Salam, Founder Director of his research institute (ICTP) in Trieste (Italy) in 1981, impressed me. At another occasion, I met a medical doctor (from Sudan) in Asmara (Eritrea) and a stranger in Adama (Ethiopia) with the same name (Abdul Lateef) reminding me of my own beloved teacher who taught me at both: Primary School, Semrai and Junior High School, Gola Gokarannath.
It is the centenary year of my two teachers (Prof. Dr. Ratna Shankar Mishra, my Ph.D. supervisor and Prof. Dr. Kripa Shankar Shukla), who amply deserve for dedication of this book. Recently, a valuable elder (Italian) colleague: Prof. Dr. Franco Fava, who had invited me to visit his Department for over a dozen times in the past, breathed his last at the ripe age of 98, so a page in Memoriam is assigned to him. The contents are divided into six sections, the first of these detail all my academic teachers during school to University stage as well as language courses and in Workshops. The next section includes persons who introduced Gāytri mantra and Indian astrology to me. The third section, finally details all those, who out of their shear modesty and magnanimity ever granted their patronage, blessings and benevolence to me in my career. The author could never compensate for their invaluable help except exhibiting his unfading gratitude and loyalty towards them. The kindness and generosity of author’s two elder and senior colleagues at the University of Allahabad: Professor Hira Lal Nigam and Dr. Shree Ram Sinha are noteworthy, who provided an academic uplift to the author, which he had been seeking from his own community. It is interesting to note that the author could hardly derive any benefit from his own community due to malefic nature of Jupiter planet in his horoscope. On the other hand, the exalted Venus always provided the desired opportunities through the benevolence of others even of different religious faiths. The author also believes that the associations of past lives might have brought him in contact with people from distant lands, especially Professor Franco Fava, Nobel Laureate Prof. Abdus Salam and Prof. A.R. Kidwai. I pray to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to all such departed noble souls. What a divine gift to have recently discovered my second teacher (Shri Raj Kumar Misrà2) who still enjoys a sound health at 92. Incidentally, the first teacher (Shri Avadh Bihari Misrà) of author’s wife is also alive. Both of them hailed from the same village (Ratasia) in Lakhimpur-Kheri district. Not many but 23 people3 in this narration are still believed to be alive. I pray for their long cherished life. The last three sections deal with the abbreviations, references and photographs of people directly or indirectly connected in my narration.
The manuscript is revised with utmost care yet any discrepancy brought to the notice of the author, by the inquisitive readers(s), shall be thankfully acknowledged.
Lucknow (India): May 30, 2018 /
Revised on 29.7.2024 Ram Bilas Misrà
2) Died later on. 3) Alive / Believed to be alive.
Just out of curiosity - where do I stand amongst the senior surviving ex-Vice Chancellors of Indian Universities initiated the thought to compile this unique directory. My earlier work: ‘Ganga Teere Vidvat Bheere’ [12] - detailing the academicians associated with the city of Rishi Bhardwaj having held the coveted positions of Vice Chancellors / Chancellors also needed an update. The four senior most jewels of the crown: Profs. Adya Prasad Mishra (Acting VC, Univ. of Allahabad, 1979-80), Heera Lal Nigam (D.Sc., London, VC, A.P.S. Univ., Rewa, M.P., 1982 - 88), Rameshwar Prasad Misra (VC, Univ. of Allahabad, 1984-87), B.N. Asthana (VC, CSM Kanpur Univ., Kanpur, 1987-90) and others: Suresh Chandra Shrivastava (VC, Univ. of Allahabad, 1994-97), Om Prakash Yadav (VC, MJPR Univ., Bareilly, 2005-08), Profs. Satya Deo Tripathi (VC, APS Univ., Rewa, M.P., 1998 - 2001), and Paras Math Pandey - my own ex-students at Allahabad are also summoned to their heavenly abode. Thus, it was desirable to update my earlier work and extending its domain to national level [Ref. 20]. Moreover, my other work [18] detailing the mathematician brethren elevating their positions to Vice Chancellor / Chancellor / Chairman of any National or International level Organization / Fellows of Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi / holding gubernatorial, legislature, or parliamentarian positions, etc. also needed an up-date. I could not anticipate the exhaustiveness and time consumption of the task. I was well aware of the vast number of universities both in the government and private sectors; hence, I did not plan to include the sitting VCs especially playing their role for the first time, yet the list of surviving former VCs became very large. The task was not easy as I had to explore repeatedly on the internet about the authenticity of the data. Very often the learned colleagues did not provide the exact dates of their tenure(s). Though utmost care is taken in maintaining the highest degree of accuracy in extracting the information from the internet, still I apprehend there might remain some discrepancies and omissions. Therefore, my narration may not be taken as an authentic source of information rather it may be read as a literary peace.
The contents of the present article are extracted from my op. cited book [Ref. 20] for the scholars of mathematics background. The author also utilizes information from his previous works: Mathematics and Mathematicians at Prayag [7], Pillars of Mathematics sprouted / progressed / shrunk at Allāhābād (Indiā) [9], etc. Members / Chair Persons of highly acclaimed National / International Organizations of academic / administrative / research nature, or Diplomats / Governors / Legislatures / Parliamentarians / Recipients of Civilian awards, etc. are detailed in the first six sections. The last three sections deal with the abbreviations, references and photographs of some selected people.
It may be interesting to note that the eldest mathematician who adored the position of Vice Chancellor at his own alma mater (Panjab Univ., Chandigarh) is Padma Bhushan awardee Prof. Dr. Ram Prasad Bambah - soon becoming a centurion. He retired as a Professor & the second senior most Head of Mathematics Dept. from there only and became its VC in 1985. The next eldest member in the list may be Prof. Uday Pratap Singh (VC, VBS Purvanchal Univ., Jaunpur, 1991-94). However, the author was elevated earlier as the 4th senior most VC of erstwhile Avadh University, Ayodhya on 4.3.1989 at the actual age of 47 (but 48 years 9 months as per recorded age) and is now the senior most living ex-VC of the University. I may be also the fifth senior most living ex-VC in the country.
The author recently lost his only nephew: Mr. Yogesh Chandra Mishra aka Rajan in a tragic encounter and is yet to recover from such a big loss, so the book is dedicated to his pious memory, my parents and our present caretakers.
The author feels indebted to his teachers, many scholars, senior colleagues and others who shaped his career. I could never compensate for their invaluable help except exhibiting my unfading gratitude and loyalty towards them. The kindness and generosity of author’s two elder and senior colleagues at the University of Allahabad: Professor Hira Lal Nigam and Dr. Shree Ram Sinha are noteworthy. They provided an academic uplift to the author, which he had been seeking from his own community. It is interesting to note that the author could hardly derive any favour from his own community due to malefic tendency of Jupiter planet in his horoscope. On the other hand, the exalted Venus always provided the desired opportunities through the benevolence of others even with different religious faiths.
Lucknow (India): Up-dated: July 25, 2024 Ram Bilas Misrà
Except Communists the entire world believes in some religion. Most ancient of the religions is the Sanāţan Ḑharmà distorted as Hinḑuism. The word Hinḑū was coined by outsiders and not the disciples of Sanāţan Ḑharmà. No scriptures in the religion ever mentioned the word Hinḑū. The author has roots in a traditionally religious family. His father was a staunch devotee of the Sun God; while his mother worshipped all the deities of Sanāţan Ḑharmà. The author was impressed by the old traditions of the religion as early as in 1953, when his mother showed the author’s horoscope to a Hinḑū priest-cum-astrologer (Shrī Banshī Jōshī of Hargāon, Dist. Sīţāpur), who used to visit the authors’ village regularly (especially during Hōlī festival). Shrī Jōshi advised my mother to get the recitation of Mahāmriţunjay Manţrà for few lakh times by a more competent person in order to minimize the ill-effects of some celestial bodies affecting my life. This caused my parents a great agony as I was the only surviving male child out of 9 - 10 issues to my mother. They found a Pundiţ hailing from the adjoining district (Sīţāpur) visiting his relatives in nearby village (Shérpur). The gentleman conceded to my parents’ wish and recited the desired Manţrà for about three weeks in 1953. I very well recall that my parents compensated him reasonably for his obligations. I have no idea of cash amount offered to him but dry ration including all necessary cereals, cooking oil, pure ghee, jaggery, spices, long lasting vegetables (potatoes), etc. were gifted to him in such a huge quantity that a bullock cart transported the items to his relatives’ place. Few mishaps did happen with me especially in March 1956 turning my life in peril. Luckily, I survived. The chanting of Manţrà did work and Shrī Jōshī’s predictions had impressed me.
Many other reasons (detailed in my father’s biography) also strengthened my religious faith. Later, my parents revealed that I am a gifted child. It was September 1973, when I had returned from Germany, my father revealed that I was gifted to them by Riṣhī Bharaḑwāj, while my mother’s belief was a blessing from the goddess of Dakōliā on the banks of river Saryū in Bahrāich district. Their beliefs were confirmed as I had to proceed to Prayāgrāj for my doctoral studies, which was not planned earlier. Around 1980, during my return from Delhi to Prayāgrāj, I purchased Ḑurgā-sapţ-saţee book at Kānpur and started reading it regularly. In due course of time, I crammed five chapters of the book. I continued it regularly up to 1992. The miracle did happen and, in spite of my many shortcomings, I could uplift my academic career considerably. Even at 78, my memory is perfectly intact and the physique is free from any serious malady for which I feel indebted to the super natural powers.
This manuscript was, first completed during my stay at the University of Guyana, Georgetown (Guyana). I realized the need for such a book there only. The Hinḑū devotees there are deprived of their native language(s) but do have a strong conviction for their ancient (Indian) traditions. I was most impressed by (late) Rāmsaroop Rām-Kissoon of Virginia village, Cane Grove, East Coast of Demerara (Guyana), who introduced himself to me, in the market by reciting a line of Argalā Sţōţram (cf. Ref. 4, Chapter 3). Now it was my turn to strengthen his belief and I completed the Sanskriţ shlōka by reciting the next line. I did not check if he could read the Hinḑī characters but every morning he was chanting Hanumān Chālīsā verbally, while irrigating the plants in his garden. It was there when I worked hard to put several Indian prayers (both in Hinḑī and Sanskriţ) in Roman script and typed the manuscript. I did not have enough material with me and included prayers for few deities only. Some stanzas of Soorya Purāņ were in my memory that I had then put as an appendix. Now the manuscript is thoroughly revised and up-dated. The chapters are arranged serially as per names of the deities.
The subject matter is arranged in 12 groups: the first of these introduces Hinḑī characters. To distinguish soft and hard sounds of few Hinḑī characters a scheme is defined so that the non-natives may recite correctly. Also, deities are arranged in eight groups: Ḑévī Mā, Gaņésha, Hanumān, Krishņa, Rāma, Shivà, the Sun God, and Vishņu. English translation of Hanumān Chālīsā provided by the author’s ex-student (Shrī Chintā Rāmroop) is also edited in Chapter 13. Prayers concerning these deities are included in concerned groups. The Next (10th) group comprises of Miscellaneous Prayers, Prayer to God, Universal Prayers and Some Manţrās. The 11th group presents the brief discussion of Indian Astrology. Author’s other non-mathematical publications are listed in the 12th group for general reading. The humble task is concluded with a list of References given at the end.
Believably, my long academic expertise earned globally in the last more than five decades at various universities round the world and research activities have definitely helped for the careful presentation - dedicated to my spiritual mentors. Thanks are also due to various Universities all over the world where the author sharpened his ideas and intellect considerably and Shrī Umā Shankar Bājpai, IPS (retd.), Spiritual Leader, Shrī Rām Chandra Mission, Lucknow (Indiā). I also thank Paḑmashree Prof. Dr. Rājénḑrà Mishrà, ex-VC, Sampoorņānanḑ Sanskriţ University, Vārāņasī and Dr. Rām Milan Mishrà of Véḑāng Sansţhān, Prayāgrāj for their fruitful consultations.
Lucknow (Indiā): 2 July, 2020 Rām Bilās Misrà
(Extracted from previous edition)
The second part (Indian Astrology, Chapter 1) and some Mantras (Chapter 2) are extracted from the previous editions. The book is supplemented by additional two chapters detailing my works: Mathematical (Chapter 3) and General (Chapter 4). Relevant literature is listed under bibliography at the end. The manuscript is thoroughly revised again. Few minor typographical omissions are corrected. Author shall welcome the remarks from the inquisitive readers for improvement of the text.
It is most disheartening to record here about a grievous loss in our integrated family in the recent past. Hence, my humble task is dedicated to the memories of my parents and dear nephew Rajan. Thanks are also due to some inquisitive readers and scholars, especially Dr. (Acharya) Ram Milan Mishra of Prayagraj for their invaluable advices and comments. An additional Section on the Cycles of Yogini Dashas is also supplemented with due consultation of the internet. What a surprise the first draft of the book was completed on 10th July - the day when I had lost my father in 1996.
Lucknow (India): July 12, 2024 Rām Bilās Misrà
“ दुख ही जीवन की कथा रही । क्या कहूँ आज, जो नहीं कही ॥”
सारा जीवन रोते ही बीत गया । बचपन बीता अभावों में । जवानी कब आयी और कब चली गयी - पता ही नहीं चला । सुध न रही अध्ययन के सिवा कुछ संजोने में । जर्मन भाषा की पुस्तक में एक रचना पढ़ी थी, जिसके माध्यम से समग्र जीवन दो भागों में बांटा गया प्रथम भाग अभावों का है, जहां भौतिकवाद की कोई भी वस्तु उपलब्ध नहीं है । अगर कुछ है, तो मात्र समय है - जो कि प्रचुर मात्रा में उपलब्ध है । दूसरे भाग में कठिन परिश्रम करने के उपरान्त वह सभी कुछ प्राप्त हो जाता है, जिसका पहले अभाव था । अगर कुछ नहीं बचा तो अब समय का अभाव है । कवि चंद शब्दों में ही समग्र जीवन का दर्शन - बोध करा देता है । वर्ष 1972 में जर्मनी के इज़रलोन नगर स्थित गोएथे इंस्टीटय़ूट में यह कविता पढ़ी थी, जो आजीवन अपना प्रभाव छोड़ गयी । बचपन में एक कर्मठ एवं अत्यंत महात्वाकांक्षी बाप ने ऐसा तराशा कि न उन्होंने कोई सुख पाया और न ही किसी अन्य परिजन को कभी चैन लेने दी । माँ जीवन भर पूरी नींद कभी नहीं सो पायीं । उन्होंने चक्की - चूल्हे के ही उत्तरदायित्व का निर्वहन नहीं किया, अपितु झाड़ू से लगाकर, अनाज एवं घर में पिता की लायी गयी प्रत्येक वस्तु तथा प्रोनोट से लगाकर कृषि के दस्तावेज़ अथवा पिता के विविध प्रकार के व्यावसायों से संबंधित सभी आवश्यक दस्तावेज़ एवं रसीदों का समुचित संग्रह करना भी उन्हीं का उत्तरदायित्व था । आटा पीसना, धान कूटना, दाल छरना, पुरानी धोतियों को रंग कर पुराने दसनों (बिछौनों) पर चढ़ाकर सुई से सिलना, रज़ाई सिलने से लगाकर जाड़ों में ऊन से स्वेटर सिलना, हांथ से हवा करने हेतु दफ्ती अथवा अन्य वस्तु से पंखा बनाना, खजूर की पत्तियों से चटाई गूंधना, कांस तथा मूंज के बल्लों से डलवा, डलिया बीनना अथवा बैठका बनाना, प्रात: होने से पूर्व ही बैलों को चारा - पानी देना भी माँ के ही जिम्मे होता था ताकि भोर होते ही हलवाहा खेत में हल ले जा सके । ऐसे अवसर यदा - कदा ही आते थे जब माँ को चारा काटने की मशीन चलाकर चारा काटना पड़ता था । कभी - कभी मुझे आत्म ग्लानि भी होती थी कि मेरे घर पर उपस्थित होते हुए भी माँ बैलों को चारा पानी देती थीं । हाँ मैंने माँ को कुएं से पानी निकालते कभी नहीं देखा । यह कार्य घर की वृद्धा एवं विधवा बुआ (श्रीमती जुगुरा देवी) किया करती थीं, जब तक घर में चापाकल नहीं लग पाया था । एक लंबी आह के सिवा मेरे पास अब शब्द नहीं हैं कि अतीत में सभी परिजनों ने किस - किस प्रकार से कष्टप्रद जीवन जिया था । [ देंखे संदर्भ 4, अध्याय 13, 39 आदि ]
[ संदर्भ 22, प्रस्तावना ] इस भौतिकवादी जगत में अधिकांश जन चार्वाक दर्शन –
“यावद्जीवेत् सुखम् जीवेत, ऋणं कृत्वा, घृतम् पिवेत ।
भष्मी-भूतस्य देहस्य, पुनरागमनम् कुतः ॥”
में विश्वास करते हैं, किंतु कतिपय सुहृदजन परमार्थ हेतु जीते हैं –
“तरुवर फल नहिं खात हैं, सरिता पिये न नीर ।
परमारथ के कारने, साधुन धरा शरीर ॥”
धर्म के ठेकेदारों ने ईश्वर के स्वरूप का ऐसा विकृत रूप प्रस्तुत किया है कि मानव अपनों से विमुख होकर अन्य वांछित कर्तव्यों को भुलाकर या तो ईश्वर – साधना का ढोंग करता है, अथवा सत्ता- धारियों एवं मठाधीशों की चरण-रज पाने हेतु व्याकुल रह्ता है । जीवन भर नाना प्रकार के प्रलोभनों में लिप्त रहकर, मर्यादित एवं अमर्यादित आचरण करते हुए अपनी शक्ति, विवेक, एवं क्रिया-शीलता खो देता है । किंतु लेखक इन सभी व्यर्थ के झंझावातों से उबर कर अपनी ऊर्जा को इस पुनीत लेखन-कार्य में अर्पित कर रहा है । लेखक ने अब तक अनेकों प्रकार के ऋण चुकाने के प्रयास किये हैं – पितृ ऋण मुक्ति हेतु वर्ष 2015 में प्रायः 8 मासों के अथक प्रयास से पिताश्री (हरद्वारी लाल) का जीवन-वृत्त पूर्ण किया [सन्दर्भ 4] । तदुपरांत, अपनी जन्म-स्थली (सेमरई) के समस्त प्राणियों (मनुज, पशु-पक्षी, सांस्कृतिक धरोहरों, कूप-तड़ाग, ऐतिहासिक पूजा-स्थलों, वृक्षों आदि) का स्मरण करते हुए 204 पृष्ठों के एक विशद-ग्रन्थ की रचना पूर्ण की [सन्दर्भ 5] । प्रायः 40 वर्षों (1963 - 2002) के प्रयाग-वास में अनेक विद्वत-जनों के सम्पर्क में आकर खट्ठे-मीठे अनुभव पाये थे । वर्ष 2017 से क्रियाशील होकर प्रयाग स्थित गणित विषय के समस्त शिक्षकों का स्मरण कर उन्हें अपने श्रद्धा-सुमन अर्पित किये [सन्दर्भ 6] । वैदिक काल से प्रारम्भ कर समकालीन युग तक प्रयाग से सम्बद्ध समस्त विप्र जनों एवं कतिपय अन्य विद्वानों का स्मरण कर 243 पृष्ठों के एक दुर्लभ ग्रन्थ की रचना पूर्णकर उसे 21 जनवरी 2018 को इन्टरनेट पर पोस्ट किया [सन्दर्भ 7], जो कि समस्त विश्व में एक कौतूहल का विषय बन चुका है । अपने सभी पारिवारिक सम्बंधी-जनों के भी संस्मरण संजोने हेतु एक पुस्तक की रचना पूर्ण की [सन्दर्भ 8] । अपने समस्त गुरुजनों का स्मरण करते हुए “माई टीचर्स” के नाम से एक विस्तृत लेख लिखा [सन्दर्भ 10 ] । इसी मध्य, प्रयागराज से सम्बद्ध समस्त जीवित कुलपतियों का स्मरण करते हुए उन्हें अपने श्रद्धा-सुमन अर्पित किये [ सन्दर्भ 11 ], जिसे कालांतर में विकसित कर एक नये कलेवर में समस्त देश के गणित पृष्ठ भूमि वाले उच्च पदासीन विद्वत जनों एवं कुलपतियों के रूप में प्रस्तुत किया [संदर्भ 31] । यद्यपि, हितोपदेश के अनुसार -
“शैले – शैले न माणिक्यम् , मौक्तिकं न गजे – गजे ।
साधवो नहिं सर्वत्र, चन्दनं न वने – वने ॥”
किन्तु लेखक की मान्यता है कि माँ पृथ्वी के प्रत्येक भू-खण्ड में रत्न छिपे हुए हैं । जब किसी रत्न का भाग्योदय होता है, तब उसे कतिपय हाथ सुलभ हो जाते हैं, जो उसके ऊपर की धूल हटा कर उसे प्रकट कर देते हैं । कांति तो रत्न में स्वयं निहित होती है, जो उसे बृह्मांड में ध्रुव – तारा की भांति स्थापित कर देती है । ठीक वही कार्य इस लेखक ने सम्पन्न करने का प्रयास किया है । विश्व के प्रत्येक भू-भाग पर सर्वदा विलक्षण विभूतियाँ अवतरित होती रहीं हैं । उन्नाव की माटी ने भी अनेकों विलक्षण प्रतिभाओं को जन्म दिया; जिन्हें लेखक ने अपनी पुस्तक “उन्नाव की उर्वरा माटी से उपजे अनमोल रत्न” में समाहित किया [सन्दर्भ 13] । प्रयाग लेखक की भी दीर्घकाल तक कर्म - स्थली रही है । प्रयाग की पावन भूमि, मां गंगा की निर्मल धारा एवं ऋषि भरद्वाज जी की तपोभूमि ने ही लेखक को कुंद रूप से कंचन बनने में अभूतपूर्व योगदान किया है । अतएव, लेखक प्रयाग का आजीवन ऋणी रहेगा । लेखक ने अनेकों प्रकार से इस ऋण से मुक्ति पाने का प्रयास किया है [ सन्दर्भ 2, 21 ] । यों तो लेखक ने अपनी अनेक पुस्तकों में गुरुवर पद्मश्री प्रो. डॉ. रत्न शंकर जी मिश्र, कुलपति, कानपुर एवं लखनऊ विश्वविद्यालय को श्रद्धासुमन अर्पित करते हुए उन्हें स्मरण किया है; किंतु उन पर पृथक रूप से एक ग्रंथ वर्ष 2021 में ही रच पाया [ सन्दर्भ 19 ] । वर्ष 2004 से अनवरत गति से क्रियाशील रहकर लेखक ने गणित एवं गणितेतर अनेक ग्रंथों की रचनायें पूर्ण की – 16 पुस्तकें जर्मनी में, 13 पुस्तकें आस्ट्रेलिया में तथा 9 पुस्तकें स्वयं व्यय-भार वहन करते हुए प्रकाशित कीं । शेष अनेकों पुस्तकें इंटरनेट पर पोस्ट की जा चुकी हैं ।
अपने पूर्वजों द्वारा रचित एक भी शब्द पाने से मैं वंचित रहा किंतु, मैं इतना स्वरचित साहित्य छोड़कर जाऊंगा जो युगों – युगों तक परिजनों का मार्ग – दर्शन करता रहेगा । कतिपय वर्षों से मेरी अर्धांगिनी प्राय: यह आरोप लगाती रहीं हैं कि मैंने अपने को दिवंगत हो चुके व्यक्तियों से आत्मसात कर लिया है । अत: वर्ष 2020 तथा 2021 में मैंने अपनी आत्म–कथा भी लिखकर पूर्ण की । प्रथमत:, यह दोनों (सामान्य तथा शैक्षणिक) प्रकार की गतिविधियों को समाहित करते हुए रची गयी किंतु इसके वृहद स्वरूप वश इसे दो पृथक भागों में इंटरनेट पर पोस्ट किया गया [ संदर्भ 15 – 17 ] । तद्नंतर, लेखक तथा अर्धांगिनी (रेखा) के 80 वर्ष पूर्ण करने पर सेमरई में दिनांक 23.10.2021 को आयोजित सम्मिलित समारोह की झांकी चित्रों के माध्यम से प्रस्तुत की, जो कि उपरियुक्त आत्म–कथा की संक्षिप्त प्रस्तुति है । इसमें अधिकांशत: चित्रों का समावेश किया गया है जो कि लेखक एवं उसकी अर्धांगिनी के विविध क्रिया-कलापों को दर्शाते हैं [ संदर्भ 22 ] । प्राय: सभी कुछ सामान्य रूप से घटित हो रहा था एवं जीवन नाना प्रकार के झंझावातों को झेलते हुए भी प्रगति पथ पर अग्रसर था, किंतु निकट अतीत में कतिपय परिजन ऐसे खोये जिनके विछोह ने 83 वर्ष की आयु में असहनीय वेदना देकर जीवन की समस्त उमंगे उड़ा ले गया । इस पीड़ा को भुलाने हेतु मैंने अथक प्रयास किया, स्वयं को निरंतर व्यस्त रखा, बिना सोंचे ही रचना - धर्मिता का निर्वाह करता गया, साहित्य सृजित होता गया जिनमें से कतिपय ग्रंथ अंत में उल्लिखित किये गये हैं । जब सारा संसार अंतिम दिवस पर वर्ष 2022 को विदायी देने हेतु आतुर था, हम अपने परिवार के एक अत्यधिक प्रिय “लाल" को खो बैठे । मेरे एक मात्र भांजे श्री योगेश चन्द्र मिश्र उर्फ राजन ने 31 दिसंबर, 2022 की संध्या वेला में लगभग 7:30 बजे अपनी इहलीला ही समाप्त कर ली । 17 मास व्यतीत होने को आ रहे हैं, किंतु राजन का विछोह नित्यप्रति कष्टकारी होता जा रहा है । जब तक प्राण नहीं छूटते जीवन तो जीना ही है । लेखक ने उसकी स्मृतियां संजोनें हेतु “बिछड़े सभी बारी - बारी”, [ संदर्भ 28 ], “नानक दुखिया सब संसार” [ संदर्भ 29 ], आदि अनेकों ग्रंथ पूर्ण किये ।
माता - पिता की आत्माओं की शांति हेतु प्रयाग तथा बृह्म कपाली तीर्थ (निकट बद्रीनाथ धाम, उत्तराखंड) में पिंड-दान क्रमश: वर्ष 2003 तथा 2019 में सम्पन्न किया । वर्ष 2015 में पिता की जन्म-शताब्दी का भी आयोजन किया । द्वितीय पुत्र (डॉ. राजीव मिश्र) ने जयपुर में मेरे मां - बाप की मूर्तियां निर्मित करायी थीं । उसी मध्य भांजे राजन ने भी मृत्यु का वरण कर लिया । अतएव, अप्रत्याशित रूप से उसकी भी मूर्ति स्थापित करवाना निश्चित किया । सभी तीनों मूर्तियां विगत 7 मासों से स्थापन हेतु प्रतीक्षा में थीं । इसी मध्य 28 अक्तूबर, 2023 को राजीव की कैंसर की घातक बीमारी का पता चला अत: सारा ध्यान उसके उपचार पर लगाना पड़ा । समय तेजी के साथ बीतता गया, न जाने कब जीवन की सांझ आ जाय; अतएव ज्योतिष विचार की भी अवहेलना कर मैंने स्वत: अक्षय तृतीया का पर्व चुनकर 10 मई, 2024 को मूर्तियां स्थापित कराने का निश्चय किया । संयोग वश, एक पुर्तगाली प्रोफेसर डॉ. जे.सी.बी. तियागो दे ओलीवेरा भी भारत पधार रहे थे । उनका साथ देने हेतु मैंने उत्तर प्रदेश के उच्च शिक्षा निदेशक (डॉ. अमित भारद्वाज) जी से भी निवेदन किया । समय की व्यस्तता के बावजूद भी दोनों महानुभावों ने मेरा निवेदन स्वीकार कर महती कृपा की एवं पधार कर कार्यक्रम की शोभा-वृद्धि की । चित्रों को संजोने हेतु तथा घटनाक्रम को जीवंत बनाने हेतु इस पुस्तक की रचना करना श्रेयष्कर समझा ।
ग्रंथ में 9 अध्याय समाहित किये गये हैं - प्रथम अध्याय में मां के त्याग तथा तीन प्रकार के ऋणों की चर्चा की गयी है । अध्याय 2 में आमंत्रण तथा सम्मानित अतिथि गणों की सूची प्रस्तुत की गयी है । अध्याय 3 एक अद्भुत एवं अलौकिक आम के वृक्ष “अम्बरीष बाबा” की झांकी प्रस्तुत करता है । अध्याय 4 में हिंदी तथा अंग्रेज़ी दोनों भाषाओं में मेरा उद्बोधन तथा अध्याय 5 में चित्रों को समाहित किया गया है । अध्याय 6 लखीमपुर न्यायालय परिसर में प्रस्तावित “राजन स्मारक अधिवक्ता संघ पुस्तकालय” के भवन निर्माण हेतु कृत भूमि - पूजन की झांकी प्रस्तुत करता है । अध्याय 7 विविध कार्यक्रमों यथा प्रो. जे.सी.बी. तियागो दे ओलीवेरा को डी.एस-सी. की मानद उपाधि, (प्रस्तावित) “तियागो - राजन स्नातकोत्तर अध्ययन...
Purpose of writing this (87th) book lies in the pious relationship between the “Teacher and Taught”. The “Guru - Shishya” traditions all over the world, especially in the oriental culture enriched with the norms of reverence shown to the teacher is exhibited by me in my earlier books too (Ref. [30]). Extracting the thoughts expressed therein as:
“मात - पिता - गुरु आज्ञा माने, अपना भला इसी में जाने ।
संतोषी हों - रहें सुखारी, जगदीश्वर यह विनय हमारी ॥”
(O Lord ! we pray to Thee to make us obedient to our mother,
father and the teacher. Bless us to be contented and happy.”
“ॐ गुरुर्ब्रह्मा ग्रुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः । गुरुः साक्षात् परम् ब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ॥”
Ōm gurur Brahmā, gurur Vishņō, gurur dévō Mahéshwarah ।
Guruh sākshāţ param Brahma, ţasmae shree guruvé namah ॥
(Guru is Brahmā - the creator, Vishņu - the protector and Mahéshwar - the annihilator God Shiva. Guru is the absolute Brahma, hence I bow to him.)
Further, according to great Hindi poet-cum-saint Kabir:
गुरु - गोबिंद दोऊ खड़े काके लांगू पांय। गुरु बलिहारी आपनी, जिन गोबिंद दियो दिखाय॥
Guru, Gōvind dōu khadé, kāké lāgoon pāny ।
Guru balihāree āpnee, jin Gōvind diyō dikhāy ॥
(Both the Guru and the God appear before me simultaneously.
Whom should I bow down first? Ō Guru !
I am grateful to you for showing God to me.)
Author also feels impressed by Dr. Allama Iqbal’s verse:
“Khudi ko kar buland itna, ki har taqdir se pahle ।
Khuda bande se yeh poonchhe, Bata teri raza kya hai ?”
(Elevate yourself so much, that before writing your destiny,
God himself asks for your opinion).
I coined my own mantra for achieving success: ‘go on hitting to make the iron hot’ against the prevailing proverb ‘hit when iron is hot’ - followed by less capable ones. Hindi poet Saint Tulsidas describes in “Sunder Kand” (the last chapter) of his epic “Ram - Charit Manas” how Lakshmana reacts to Lord Rama on the latter’s appeal to the Ocean to get dried paving a way to cross over:
“दैव - दैव आलसी पुकारा” = The lazy people recall God !
The contents are divided into fifteen chapters, the first of these is introduction detailing my relationships with my students and the valuable service rendered to me from time to time. In my long teaching career spanning over more than five decades at 24 universities around the world. All my teachers from Primary School to University level, language courses, expert speakers in Workshops, and the religious persons having inducted Gāyāţrī mantra and Indian astrology to me are detailed in the next chapter. Chapter 3 includes my students and NCC Cadets spread all over the world, which are believed to be alive. The unfortunate ones who left this world before their teacher are listed in the Chapter 4. What a pathetic scene occurred on 30.4.2021, I was fruitlessly calling my dear student (Dr. Satgur Prasad Khare), while his phone was lying by the side of his corps. His wife (also infected with Covid-19 pandemic) did not pick-up my call. Later, she admitted to have noticed the most pathetic scene. Chapter 5 presents a comprehensive list of my classmates in Junior High School, High School and Intermediate classes at Gola Gokarannath, Dist. Lakhimpur-Kheri. Although I tried to recall many of them but due to lack of any available records, the list may not be complete. The next two chapters present the author’s detailed academic CV and a list of publications respectively. The opinion of fellow colleagues and the views of my few referees are also worth seen in Chapter 8 and the net one depicts my academic degrees acquired. The cover pages of books published by me both on mathematics and on general topics ranging from arts, biographies (of my father, residents of my native village Semrai, relatives, teachers, and others), culture, history, languages, literature, syllabi, etc. are included in the next chapter. The further two chapters dwell upon my academic recognition and invitations from different institutions. Some more academic and selected family pictures are included in Chapters 13 - 14. Abbreviations of the words used in the text are expanded in the last chapter while the book ends with the previous works referred to earlier.
The author shall ever remain grateful towards all those who ever helped him in academic matters or in the struggles of life. In particular, the author owes a lot to his Ph.D. supervisor (Padmashree Prof. Dr. R.S. Mishra, ex VC, Kanpur and Lucknow Universities), author’s two elder and senior colleagues (Prof. Dr. Hira Lal Nigam and Dr. Shree Ram Sinha) at the University of Allahabad. They provided him the long sought academic uplift which he was seeking from his own community. It is interesting to note that the author could not derive much benefit from his own community due to malefic tendency of Jupiter planet in his horoscope. On contrary, the exalted Venus always provided him the desired opportunities through the benevolence of others. The author believes that his good deeds in the past lives might have brought him in contact with people from distant lands especially Prof. Franco Fava, Nobel Laureate Prof. Abdus Salam and Prof. A.R. Kidwai. I pray to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to all such departed noble souls.
Proofs are read with utmost care yet any oversight or discrepancy brought to the notice of the author by the inquisitive readers(s) shall be thankfully acknowledged.
Lucknow (India): April 20, 2024/Up-dated 19.6.2024 Ram Bilas Misra
तरुवर फल नहिं खात हैं, सरिता पिये न नीर । परमारथ के कारने, साधुन धरा शरीर ॥
(Trees never consume their fruits, neither rivers swallow their water.
The Angels appear for the welfare of the mankind.)
(Trees bear fruits for the charity only, and so flow the rivers.
Cows provide milk for others and this body appeared for others.)
With my background of the agrarian society, I inherited nothing in written form from my ancestors except various documents of agricultural lands purchased by my father, his involvement in litigations in the courts arising out of the sale deeds, or a bunch of Pro-Notes of money lent by him. In spite of his limitations, my visionary father influenced me for the higher education and acquisition of knowledge. Undoubtedly, he was a highly intelligent man who had to abandon his schooling after having lost his father becoming a bread earner at the tender age of 9 for the survival of his leftover family comprising of his mother and an unmarried (possibly elder) sister - whom the author had never seen to. My father indicted such genes in me that nothing is impossible for constantly striving brave hearts. Deriving inspiration from him, and few other scholars such as my own research supervisor (Padma- shree Prof. Dr. R.S. Mishra), Prof. Elié Cartan (of France), Padmashree Prof. Dr. Adya Prasad Mishra (ex VC, University of Allahabad) etc., I never rested on my ores and continuously worked hard to create more and more literature both in my discipline (mathematics) and in general. The score hits now 305 of my 71 research papers, 111 reviews on published research papers in mathematics for Mathematical Reviews (USA), and Zentralblatt für Mathematik (Germany), 41 expository articles, many other academic reports including two voluminous compilations of detailed course outlines for a newly coming up Melanesian Virtual University in Bougainville near Australia, 37 mathematical texts including 6 research monographs and Mathematics Dictionary in 5 volumes, 45 books on topics of general interest ranging from Arts, Biographies, Culture, History, Languages, Literature. General Studies, etc. Fifty seven of these books (25 dwelling upon mathematics, and 32 on general topics) have been dedicated to people of different walks of life, who ever helped me through their various deeds or inspired me globally helping me to accomplish multi-tasks in my most hectic life full of all sorts of adventures - whether successful or otherwise. Many of them have been my teachers, mentors, even my own students, relatives, and family members.
Recently, I was looking for a reference of one of my past senior colleague (Prof. Dr. Ghebrebrhan Ogubazghi) to find out the book(s) of mine dedicated to him. The task proved challenging as to trace a needle in the ocean. The exercise dragged me to accomplish this amazing work that is of unique nature. With a sane prolific mind and proven expertise both as a researcher and an academician, I have tried to present the information in such an elegant manner that the readers may enjoy this historic document. I am under impression (others may brand it my false pride) that there may not be many scholars in the entire world who may be equally well-versed in so many vivid topics of Mathematics, in particular, and with the academic depth of the topics of diverse characteristics in the literature created by me in general.
The manuscript is divided in two parts: Dedicatees of my mathematics books, and the other of my general books. Each part comprises of detailed information about the dedicatees and the books concerned. While the Chapter 1 presents a list of dedicatees of my mathematics books, the next one provides the publication details of the books. Their Contents etc. are presented in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 (in Part 2) offers Summary of the General Books. Their Contents are presented in Chapter 5 while the next one displays photographs of some of the dedicatees. A list of my remaining 29 books, not dedicated to anybody, is also annexed in the last chapter.
[ Cf. pp. 170 & 176 ] Long live the legacy of dedication in building such an institution to serve the quest of knowledge for the mankind, I must confess that I inherited it at the 4th oldest University of the Indian sub-continent (University of Allahabad), where I was academically trained for long. The emblem of the University “Quot Rami tot Arbores”, i.e. (let the) branches of banyan tree blossom into roots (by themselves) still prevails there. With the academic training, received both at home and abroad for long, the rural background and having received rigorous Naval training for my NCC Commission all helped and shaped me to struggle for the perfection in every walk of life. As such, utmost care is taken to present the material here in most lucid and flawless manner, yet some discrepancies might remain therein. The whole task of type-setting and proof-reading is done single handed by myself. So, any omission or misrepresentation of the facts shall be entire responsibility of mine.
Any suggestions for improvement of the text and healthy criticism shall be highly welcomed. I owe my sincere thanks to my ex-student (Shrī Ōnkār Nāţh Pāthak, retd. Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Govt. of India) and my family, who helplessly support me for my all endeavours. Their criticism (especially from my better-half) is alternate way to demonstrate their concern for my exhaustive labour undertaken.
Lucknow (India): February 28, 2024 Ram Bilas Misra
Added on 29.2.2024: Having worked hard for prolong hours for more than a week, I could complete the manuscript at the wee hours of the leap year’s day. It was 00:30 a.m., when I could just prepare its pdf. It runs in 470 A4 size pages. The book offers a long list of dedicatees comprising of my family members, relatives, citizens of my native village & around, teachers, students, well-wishers, guides & mentors, etc., who ever obliged me in various endeavours and saved my life and career. It covers 25 of my Mathematics books and 32 general books covering biographies of my father, family, relatives, teachers, students, well-wishers, history, culture, languages, literature etc. It is a work of unique nature. I derive pleasure and pride of being blessed with the knowledgeable of so many vivid concepts, topics, theories, vocabulary, basic doctrines of all sorts of subjects ranging from Arts to Zoology. I am yet to meet a person with such huge wealth of wisdom and vast exposure. Feel grateful to the Almighty for keeping me healthy with a sane mind and sound physique even at this advanced age soon turning 83.
I appealed to some of my students and the teachers of the Universities served by me diligently for long, viz. Univ. of Allahabad, APS University, Rewa (M.P.) and Avadh (now called Dr. RML Avadh) Univ., Ayodhya (U.P.) to organize such ceremony. I proposed to them inviting especially the superannuated faculty contemporary with me providing a rare opportunity to meet and greet them at the very fag end of my career. I and my children might have meet the expenses involved therein. They could have officially organized the memorable event for their teacher of getting honoured with an Honoris Causa D.Sc. degree by the Cypress International Institute University, Garden Ville, Texas (USA) on 4th November, 2023. To my knowledge, it was only Prof. Neel Ratan Dhar, at least in North India, who was honoured with a foreign honorary degree. It is an honour to the University, our alma mater, that had trained me and founded my firm base to erect a long going intellectual structure. It is sad that no University has paid any heed to my appeal so far. However, some of my students and colleagues at Avadh University came forward to accept the challenge. They arranged a grand felicitation to me at the Hindustani Academy, Prayagraj (India) on 23rd December, 2023. One of the senior most academicians living in the city: Prof. Dr. Hanuman Prasad Tiwari, ex Acting VC, Univ. of Allahabad presided over the celebrations. Other dignitaries were Shri Rajendra Tripathi, ex Home Minister, U.P. Govt.; Prof. Matibar Prasad Dube, ex VC, U.P. Rajarshi Purushottam Das Tandon Open Univ.; Prof. Raja Ram Yadav, ex VC, VBS Purvanchal Univ., Jaunpur, U.P.; Dr. Krishnavatar Pandey, ex Director of Education, U.P. Govt.; Shri Uma Shankar Bajpai, IPS, retired Inspector General of Police & Secretary of Shri Ram Chandra Spiritual Mission (International).
The programme began with lighting the lamps and offering floral tribute to the pictures of goddess Saraswati, the parents and research supervisor (Padmashree Prof. Dr. R.S. Mishra, ex VC, Kanpur & Lucknow Universities) of mine. A team of Sanskrit scholars, led by Dr. Ram Milan Mishra, Director of Vedang Sansthan, Daraganj (Prayagraj) gave their performance by offering “Svasti Vachan” (Prayers in Sanskrit), followed by prayers to Goddess Saraswati by Dr. Mrs. Rashmi Shukla and the students of the family of my ex-student (Shri Ashok Kumar Singh Yadav). Mrs. Shukla also sang a song welcoming the guests. After introduction of the guests (on the dais) they were presented shawls and offered floral tributes. The entire programme lasting upto 5 p.m. was conducted by Dr. Lalji Tripathi, retd. Principal, Mandiyahoon Post-graduate College, Mandiyahoo (Jaunpur). Other members of his team were my ex-students: Prof. Chayan Kumar Mishra, ex Head, Maths. & Statistics, Dr. R.M.L. Avadh Univ., Ayodhya; Shri A.K.S. Yadav a retired Bank Officer, Shri Rakesh Mishra (author’s eldest son), Advocate, Allahabad High Court, Shri Robin Dixit s/o (late) Shri Santosh Kumar Dixit (who had been an ex-student of Prof. R.B. Misra) and Associate Professor Smt. Amita Mishra w/o Shri Rakesh Mishra, Head, Department of Zoology, MD P-G College, Pratapgarh (U.P.). Prof. R.R. Yadav highlighted few rare virtues and human nature of his teacher (i.e. me) and presented the multifaceted picture of his Guru ranging from academics to administration and research attainments both within the country and abroad. I added many of my other accomplishments in the field of education - having published more than 300 articles comprising of research papers in mathematics, text-books, research monographs, reviews, mathematics dictionary in 5 volumes, and expository articles both in mathematics and in general fields.
A PowerPoint presentation was made of my large number of books. The literary activities of mine were also highlighted. Besides being a high-profile researcher in various disciplines of mathematics, I also worked as the senior most part-time Naval NCC Officer in the University of Allahabad for 16 years, and had taught German language at the University of Allahabad. Shri Rajendra Tripathi ji, and an elderly neighbour Shri R.N. Tiwari “Pindivasa” narrated their long association with me since 1966. Other notable speakers highlighting different aspects of my life were Shri Uma Shankar Bajpai, my colleagues: Prof. H.P. Tiwari, Prof. Amar Nath Dwivedi, retd. Prof. of English, University of Allahabad; Dr. Ram Hit Tripathi (retd. Principal), Dr. Lalji Tripathi, and my other students. A large number of students of mine also joined the celebrations from distant places like Rewa, Pratapgarh, and Ayodhya. Smt. Shanti Devi w/o Shri Ashok Kumar Singh Yadav, and my students also honoured my spouse (Mrs. Rekha Misra). The whole programme was conducted online and it was watched internationally. Prof. Jose Carlos Brandão Tiago de Oliveira of the University of Evora, Evora (Portugal), Prof. Brij Bhooshan Tewari of the University of Guyana, Georgetown (Guyana), Latin America; Prof. K.P. Mishra, ex VC, Nehru Gram Bharti University, Jamunipur-Kotwa-Dubawal (Dist. Prayagraj) from Mumbai reported to have watched the entire programme on line.
The reportage consists of 11 chapters followed by Appendix of greetings and comments from international scholars, who watched the event online. Chapter 1 presents planning made for the event, while the next one details invitees. Sanskrit / Hindi prayers offered by different teams of scholars led by Dr. Ram Milan Mishra and Dr. Mrs. Rashmi Shukla are reproduced in Chapter 3. Next two chapters present my addresses both in English and Hindi. Chapter 6 details my publications: both mathematical and general. Selected photographs depicting the past memories are reproduced in Chapter 7, while the next one offers the pictures of this event. The cover pages of my mathematics and general books are displayed in next two chapters. The last chapter indicates some significant achievements of mine.
Thanks are due to the organizers, silent workers (cf. Chapt. 1), especially our youngest son (Mr. Rohit Misra) and his team of dedicated colleagues, my students and the family without their help this mega event could not have been possible. M/S A.K.S Yadav and Robin Dixit s/o my (late) student Shri Santosh Kumar Dixit deserve a special mention for their valued cooperation. Robin printed the invitation cards with gratis while other expenses incurred therein were borne by our sons: Rakesh and Rohit. Shri Onkar Nath Pathak, retd. Addl. Commr. of Income Tax, Govt. of India also deserves gratitude for reading the proofs and offering his valuable comments.
The recent death of our only nephew (Shri Yogesh Chandra Mishra aka ‘Rajan’) on the last day of the year 2022 has completely shaken us and has changed the entire philosophy of life. The pain is so severe from which we are yet to recover. I have dedicated many of my books in his memory in the past yet the present one is also dedicated to him and my parents.
Utmost care is taken in making this endeavour yet if any discrepancy is found by inquisitive readers I shall alone be held accountable for the same. If omissions brought to my notice, shall be thankfully acknowledged.
Lucknow (India): January 15, 2024 /
Makar Sankranti, VS 2080 Ram Bilas Misra
I appealed to some of my students and the teachers of the Universities served by me diligently for long, viz. Univ. of Allahabad, APS University, Rewa (M.P.) and Avadh (now called Dr. RML Avadh) Univ., Ayodhya (U.P.) to organize such ceremony. I proposed to them inviting especially the superannuated faculty contemporary with me providing a rare opportunity to meet and greet them at the very fag end of my career. I and my children might have meet the expenses involved therein. They could have officially organized the memorable event for their teacher of getting honoured with an Honoris Causa D.Sc. degree by the Cypress International Institute University, Garden Ville, Texas (USA) on 4th November, 2023. To my knowledge, it was only Prof. Neel Ratan Dhar, at least in North India, who was honoured with a foreign honorary degree. It is an honour to the University, our alma mater, that had trained me and founded my firm base to erect a long going intellectual structure. It is sad that no University has paid any heed to my appeal so far. However, some of my students and colleagues at Avadh University came forward to accept the challenge. They arranged a grand felicitation to me at the Hindustani Academy, Prayagraj (India) on 23rd December, 2023. One of the senior most academicians living in the city: Prof. Dr. Hanuman Prasad Tiwari, ex Acting VC, Univ. of Allahabad presided over the celebrations. Other dignitaries were Shri Rajendra Tripathi, ex Home Minister, U.P. Govt.; Prof. Matibar Prasad Dube, ex VC, U.P. Rajarshi Purushottam Das Tandon Open Univ.; Prof. Raja Ram Yadav, ex VC, VBS Purvanchal Univ., Jaunpur, U.P.; Dr. Krishnavatar Pandey, ex Director of Education, U.P. Govt.; Shri Uma Shankar Bajpai, IPS, retired Inspector General of Police & Secretary of Shri Ram Chandra Spiritual Mission (International).
The programme began with lighting the lamps and offering floral tribute to the pictures of goddess Saraswati, the parents and research supervisor (Padmashree Prof. Dr. R.S. Mishra, ex VC, Kanpur & Lucknow Universities) of mine. A team of Sanskrit scholars, led by Dr. Ram Milan Mishra, Director of Vedang Sansthan, Daraganj (Prayagraj) gave their performance by offering “Svasti Vachan” (Prayers in Sanskrit), followed by prayers to Goddess Saraswati by Dr. Mrs. Rashmi Shukla and the students of the family of my ex-student (Shri Ashok Kumar Singh Yadav). Mrs. Shukla also sang a song welcoming the guests. After introduction of the guests (on the dais) they were presented shawls and offered floral tributes. The entire programme lasting upto 5 p.m. was conducted by Dr. Lalji Tripathi, retd. Principal, Mandiyahoon Post-graduate College, Mandiyahoo (Jaunpur). Other members of his team were my ex-students: Prof. Chayan Kumar Mishra, ex Head, Maths. & Statistics, Dr. R.M.L. Avadh Univ., Ayodhya; Shri A.K.S. Yadav a retired Bank Officer, Shri Rakesh Mishra (author’s eldest son), Advocate, Allahabad High Court, Shri Robin Dixit s/o (late) Shri Santosh Kumar Dixit (who had been an ex-student of Prof. R.B. Misra) and Associate Professor Smt. Amita Mishra w/o Shri Rakesh Mishra, Head, Department of Zoology, MD P-G College, Pratapgarh (U.P.). Prof. R.R. Yadav highlighted few rare virtues and human nature of his teacher (i.e. me) and presented the multifaceted picture of his Guru ranging from academics to administration and research attainments both within the country and abroad. I added many of my other accomplish- ments in the field of education - having published more than 300 articles comprising of research papers in mathematics, text-books, research monographs, reviews, mathematics dictionary in 5 volumes, and expository articles both in mathematics and in general fields.
A PowerPoint presentation was made of my large number of books. The literary activities of mine were also highlighted. Besides being a high-profile researcher in various disciplines of mathematics, I also worked as the senior most part-time Naval NCC Officer in the University of Allahabad for 16 years, and had taught German language at the University of Allahabad. Shri Rajendra Tripathi ji, and an elderly neighbour Shri R.N. Tiwari “Pindivasa” narrated their long association with me since 1966. Other notable speakers highlighting different aspects of my life were Shri Uma Shankar Bajpai, my colleagues: Prof. H.P. Tiwari, Prof. Amar Nath Dwivedi, retd. Prof. of English, University of Allahabad; Dr. Ram Hit Tripathi (retd. Principal), Dr. Lalji Tripathi, and my other students. A large number of students of mine also joined the celebrations from distant places like Rewa, Pratapgarh, and Ayodhya. Smt. Shanti Devi w/o Shri Ashok Kumar Singh Yadav, and my students also honoured my spouse (Mrs. Rekha Misra). The whole programme was conducted online and it was watched internationally. Prof. Jose Carlos Brandão Tiago de Oliveira of the University of Evora, Evora (Portugal), Prof. Brij Bhooshan Tewari of the University of Guyana, Georgetown (Guyana), Latin America; Prof. K.P. Mishra, ex VC, Nehru Gram Bharti University, Jamunipur-Kotwa-Dubawal (Dist. Prayagraj) from Mumbai reported to have watched the entire programme on line.
The reportage consists of 11 chapters followed by Appendix of greetings and comments from international scholars, who watched the event online. Chapter 1 presents planning made for the event, while the next one details invitees. Sanskrit / Hindi prayers offered by different teams of scholars led by Dr. Ram Milan Mishra and Dr. Mrs. Rashmi Shukla are reproduced in Chapter 3. Next two chapters present my addresses both in English and Hindi. Chapter 6 details my publications: both mathematical and general. Selected photographs depicting the past memories are reproduced in Chapter 7, while the next one offers the pictures of this event. The cover pages of my mathematics and general books are displayed in next two chapters. The last chapter indicates some significant achievements of mine.
Thanks are due to the organizers, silent workers (cf. Chapt. 1), especially our youngest son (Mr. Rohit Misra) and his team of dedicated colleagues, my students and the family without their help this mega event could not have been possible. M/S A.K.S Yadav and Robin Dixit s/o my (late) student Shri Santosh Kumar Dixit deserve a special mention for their valued cooperation. Robin printed the invitation cards with gratis while other expenses incurred therein were borne by our sons: Rakesh and Rohit. Shri Onkar Nath Pathak, retd. Addl. Commr. of Income Tax, Govt. of India also deserves gratitude for reading the proofs and offering his valuable comments.
The recent death of our only nephew (Shri Yogesh Chandra Mishra aka ‘Rajan’) on the last day of the year 2022 has completely shaken us and has changed the entire philosophy of life. The pain is so severe from which we are yet to recover. I have dedicated many of my books in his memory in the past yet the present one is also dedicated to him and my parents.
Utmost care is taken in making this endeavour yet if any discrepancy is found by inquisitive readers I shall alone be held accountable for the same. If omissions brought to my notice, shall be thankfully acknowledged.
Lucknow (India): January 15, 2024 /
Makar Sankranti, VS 2080 Ram Bilas Misra
During my long (15.8.1976 – 30.9.1977) second stay at Turin lasting over a year it was 14th September, 1976 (Tuesday), when Prof. Fava took me to his residence for dinner. This day I met his family for the first time and it opened my regular visits to them almost every week-end. I enjoyed their hospitality not only in their Turin residence but also in their other houses at Cioccaro and Bordighera. Mrs. Fava used to feed us like a family member.
Prof. Fava gifted some of his text-books dwelling upon Calculus, Geometry and Vectors to me. The cover pages of the same are depicted in the Chapter 5. I could not trace much of his publications; whatever could be available on the internet are detailed in the same chapter. What an irony he had to write an obituary for his own student (Prof. Franco Tricerri) on the tragic death in a plane crash (cf. foot-note on pp. 100 - 101). Once I asked his another student Dr. Sergio Garbiero about welfare of Prof. Fava, I was stunned to get a harsh reply that he had not met him since long. I too had some bitter experiences with my own students in India, yet I could not appreciate the way Dr. Garbiero had commented. Another remarkable reminiscence about Favas is to have found them never in tension. The non-smoking and non-alcoholic habits of the entire family, at least never displayed before me, impressed me most. A funny instance on the dining table about my erroneous Italian is reported repeatedly by me (Ref. [8] and pp. 16 & 19 below).
My reportage consists of 7 chapters followed by ‘References’ detailing books and research papers of mine which have some kind of affinity with Italy, its language, etc. Chapter 1 presents a Historical Note and the condolence messages, while the next one presents exhaustive encounters of mine with everything concerning Italy ranging from academic activities to travel and miscellaneous events. Chapter 3 enlists my vivid assignments received in Italy. The recent D.Sc. degree conferred upon me is also depicted therein. The next one deals with my academic activities pursued over there including academic exchange programmes between the Indian Universities headed by me and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste (Italy). The Chapter 5 is exclusively devoted to Prof. Fava, his family, his students, and his publications. I have often paid my regards and tributes to him in many of my earlier works. These are reported below the cover pages of my books presented in Chapter 7 while the Chapter 6 displays some of my pictures especially the first one taken on the platform of Allahabad Jn. Railway Station while waiting for a train to proceed to Delhi on way to Italy on 11th August, 1976. Many elderly members and my student (Dr. P.N. Pandey) seen in the picture are gone by now. Most painful is to report the oral malignancy of our second son Rajiv (in garland) who is undergoing treatment for his oral cancer in the world-famous Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai (India), while the book is in progress.
My sincere thanks are due to dear Engr. Giampaolo Fava (the elder son of Favas), who took me in his confidence to inform me about the sad demise of his dear parents. His mom’s death was reported to me on 28th December, 2023 and I immediately sent my condolences to him. Later thought flashed in my mind to compile this reportage offering my more befitting tribute to the family, which offered me so much in the past. I am at loss that I could not reciprocate their love adequately. It was a sole instance when I could invite Prof. Fava as a U.G.C. Visiting Professor to my University in India. He stayed at A.P. Singh University, Rewa, M.P. (India) for 3 weeks. Before proceeding to Rewa, he was given a warm welcome by the Indian Science Congress in their 73rd Session held at Delhi during January 3 - 9, 1986. In Allahabad (now called Prayagraj) he stayed in the air-conditioned guest room of Pt. Shambhu Narain Mishra, ex M.P. and a leading Advocate of Allahabad High Court. Highly dignified Shri Mishra ji was generous to have offered the first Indian dishes to Prof. Fava in his own dining hall. Though it was a palatial mansion called “Mishra Bhawan” on a main road in Prayagraj but the noise of street dogs made Prof. Fava uncomfortable. Those days our “Tensor House” at Prayagraj did not have any Western style commode, so very reluctantly, I expressed it to him but he added that Indian style commodes are more hygienic. He could relieve over himself there. I drove him to Rewa by my newly imported Toyota Corolla car. On 27th January, 1986, when I was taking him to the Royal Palace of the erstwhile ruler (Maharaja Martand Singh Judev) of the Vindhya Estate in that car to enjoy the hospitality of His Highness, the onlookers in the streets were offering “Farshee” salute (leaning down). He could not make out that the public is under impression that their Maharaja only is moving in his brand new imported car. Maharaja has greeted us at the afternoon tea while his son (Maharaj Kumar) Shri Pushpa Raj Singh and Her Majesty the Maharani Praveen Kumari ji hosted a dinner in his honour possibly the next day. I was surprised to hear an Italian word “Cappuccino” uttered by the Prince that he offered to Prof. Fava in his Office at Yellow Palace, Rewa. Prof. Fava relished the local guavas which taste like ripe pears. He also enjoyed chewing fresh sugarcane during his sightseeing tour to Govindgarh on the outskirts of Rewa. In Royal Palace, he could watch the taxidermy model of the first white cub, captured and named as ‘Mohan’ by Maharaja Martand Singh in the forests of Bandhav-garh. Thanks are also due to one of my ex-students, Shri Onkar Nath Pathak, retd. Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Government of India, who very kindly read the proofs and offered valuable comments. At the last, but not the least, I owe very sincere gratitude to my spouse and family who have always suffered for my literary passion and have provided enough strength to me. We have been watching the passing away of so many near and dear ones throughout our lives that has made us immune to such heartbreaking pains but the recent one of our only nephew (Shri Yogesh Chandra Mishra aka ‘Rajan’) on the last day of the year 2022 has completely shaken us and has changed the entire philosophy of life. The pain is so severe and how we could survive for so long is questionable. I have dedicated many of my books in his memory in the past yet the present book is also dedicated to him and the Mamma-like lady Mrs. Graziella Fava.
Utmost care is taken in presenting the contents yet if any discrepancy is found by inquisitive readers I shall alone be accounted responsible for the same. The same brought to my notice shall be thankfully acknowledged.
Lucknow (India): 9th January, 2024 /
Paush Krishna-paksha 13, V.S. 2080 Ram Bilas Misrà
(Up-dated on 13.2.2024)
It all happened accidentally. In the second week of last month, I received a confusing message on the Research Gate website that Prof. Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi is following my research works. I could not believe it as I have read his works on Finsler Geometry published in French language in Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences (Paris) around 1938 and referred to in the first research monograph (in English) [5] of Prof. Hanno Rund of University of Pretoria published by Springer in Berlin in 1959. Later, I could reveal that Prof. José Carlos Tiago de Oliveira (aka José Oliveira) of University of Evora in Portugal is highly impressed by the Goan origin of Prof. Kosambi, who had died in 1966 at 59 only. Prof. Kosambi had been a prolific author and versatile. He published in diverse fields ranging from Anthropology, Genetics, Geometry, History, Philosophy, Sanskrit, Statistics, etc. He was a Professor of Mathematics at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh; Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi; Fergusson College, Pune; TIFR, Mumbai etc. His research mentor was a great French Geometer of possibly the highest calibre Professor Élie Joseph Cartan (9.4.1869 - 6.5.1951), who continued his researches throughout his life and had lost everybody including 9 children during his lifetime leaving only one illustrious son Henri Paul Cartan who too became a Professor of Mathematics at Paris University. One of my elder colleagues at the University of Allahabad, Prayagraj (India), Prof. Banwari Lal Sharma, had worked on Differential Topology under the supervision of Prof. H. Cartan at Paris. So, I wrote in high esteem about Prof. Kosambi. Prof. José Carlos got impressed from my knowledge about Prof. Kosambi and others. He recommended me to the authorities of a Grand Valley, Texas (USA) based Cypress International Institute University having its satellite campuses at Lilongwe and Blantyre in Malawi (Central Africa) for the honours to be conferred upon me at this advanced age.
As such, Rev. Prof. Dr. Tuweh Prince Gusto Gadama - The Great, Vice-Chancellor of the University invited me to act as the Guest of Honour in the International Graduation Ceremony of the University pre-scheduled on 4th November, 2023 at Lilongwe. Viewing my seniority and expertise in the academics, he enquired what award may be most befitting to me that may be bestowed upon by his University. In response to his query, I expressed my long standing desire to go for an Honoris Causa D.Sc. degree. It may be recalled that I was already conferred upon a “Diploma d’Honneur de Leges Naturale (Honoris Causa)” by the International Open University, Colombo (Sri Lanka) in 1996.
Thereafter, occurred a series of hectic activities within a short time. Great confusion and uncertainty continued till October 24, 2023 concerning procurement of necessary entry visa to Malawi and the air-tickets for my proposed international travel. Prof. Gadama has been trying to purchase return air-tickets for me at Lilongwe and had also made reservations for me onboard Ethiopian Airlines’ flights leaving New Delhi on 2nd November, 2023. But, the financial constraints on his part to make payments for my travel were hampering upon his mind and he was all the time avoiding asking me to purchase the tickets in India. We started searching economical (return) flights from India to Lilongwe from Rs. 64,000 onward that went on in spiral way by the time Prof. Gadama expressed his inability to pay for my tickets. It was considerably delayed by his indecisiveness. I had lost all hopes to get entry visa to Malawi within such a short time and was almost disappointed on 23rd October, 2023 when an Agent in New Delhi informed me to take a chance for visa that was normally requiring 9 to 10 working days. So, he advised me to make payment worth USD 150 as Visa fee + his service charges worth Rs. 2,500 at the earliest although a risk was involved due to insufficient time at our disposal. He stressed that I may take a chance but it all depends upon the High Commission of Malawi in New Delhi if they may consider my application on priority basis. The fee was no-refundable. The next day, our son (Mr. Rohit Misra) explored for e-Visa and started completing application on line for me. It did take almost whole forenoon and the task was finally completed by the valuable assistance of the Finance Officer (Mr. Ravish Arora) of his (Amity) University, Lucknow Campus who obliged us by making payment of USD 52 from his International Bank Card.
Perhaps the divine forces were kind enough a miracle did happen. After lunch, I received an unexpected intimation on my mobile phone. I was suspecting some additional query by the visa issuing authorities at Malawi. To our dismay, the intimation was quite pleasant and the Immigration Authorities of the Malawian Govt. had very promptly issued the desired e-Visa to me valid for 3 months after my entry to Malawi. Next day, we finalized our ticketing at Lucknow. The return airfare to Malawi had shot up tremendously high to almost double of our initial exploration. Altogether it costed me Rs. 1,11,379.20 for my Lucknow - Bombay - Addis Ababa - Lilongwe and return journey.
My reportage comprises 10 chapters supplemented by a list of abbreviations used in the text. The first chapter depicts the invitations letter received from the University while the next one details a long saga of procurement of visa and tickets along with the necessary bills. The Graduation Programme of the University is presented in Chapter 3. Author’s vast academic pursuits for over six decades both at home and abroad are presented in Chapter 4. The next two chapters detail the PowerPoint Presentation (which unfortunately could not happen due to non-availability if the facilities) and the qualifying lecture delivered before the august gathering of intellectuals. My long felt desire for the degree and my painful tirade is exposed in Chapter 7, while the Chapter 8 details the selected messages and appreciations for the honour. A photo gallery is presented in Chapter 9. A picture album of the Members of the International Board of the University is annexed in the last chapter. It ends with a list of expanded abbreviations.
While every effort is made to present the factual statements and utmost care is taken by the author personally. Yet, if any discrepancies are found by the inquisitive and vigilant readers the same will be amended to. Any suggestions for improvement of the text and healthy criticism shall be also welcomed. My thanks are due to all those who cooperated with me in diverse ways directly or indirectly. To name a few the staff and workers of the Riverside Hotel, Lilongwe making my stay comfortable especially Mr. Vipin Sarohi, all-in-one Bishops Rev. Mario Manyozo and Gracious Nkhata of Blantyre are noteworthy. The fellow participants such as Bishops Augustine Nyuma Bindi, Rev. Fayia Filee Barclay and Madam Dr. Traore Diakite Fanta Fernande shall be ever remembered by me. At last, but not the least, my family especially our son dear Rohit, my better-half (Mrs. Rekha Misra) and Prof. José Carlos of the Univ. of Evora (Portugal) helped me to accomplish this venture.
Lucknow (India): 23rd November, 2023 /
Kartik Shukla-paksha 11, V.S. 2080 Ram Bilas Misrà
“सुहृद वृन्द, सज्जन पुरुष, क्षल प्रपंच से दूर !
मन ह्वै जात अजौ वहीं वा संगम के तीर !!”
I have already paid my homage to all the Brahmins at Prayāgrāj in my earlier book [Ref. 7]. The present one (partly extracted from [7]) narrates the saga of the Kānyàkubjà community at large. Naturally, it is extensively supplemented and almost all KKBs of prominence have been included. The information is presented here in 12 chapters. The first one offers a Summary and includes the origin of KKB community, whereas the next one reveals the background of the author shaping his ideas and belief. Chapter 3 (forming the main backbone of the saga) accounts all pioneer KKBs in different walks of life. Arranged in alphabetical order, it includes academicians, administrators, ambassadors, artists, astrologers, chief ministers, recipients of national awards, defence personnel, educationists, freedom fighters, governors, jurists, (Honourable Chief) Justices and Judges of Allāhābāḑ High Court and elsewhere, littera- teurs, martyrs, mayors, medicos, politicians (including ministers at both state and central levels), (solitary) Prime Minister, religious & spiritual leaders, rulers, scientists, student leaders, Vice-Chancellors, (solitary) Vice President from the community etc. and ends with writers mainly in Hinḑī literature. The next two chapters offer detailed biographical sketches of my two teachers: mentor & Ph.D. supervisor: Paḑmàshrī Prof. Dr. R.S. Mishrà and Prof. D.N. Misrà for their extraordinary roles respectively. Chapter 6 enlists the prominent Brahmin Kings & Rulers all over the world. Great Revolutionaries, social reformers and the record–setters in different spheres are included in Chapter 7. Few more brave hearts of Avaḑh Region are included in the Chapter 8, whereas the Chapter 9 includes few brave hearts of author’s native place including his visionary father. Chapter 10 enlists author’s books on general topics ranging from biographies, history, culture and literature while his mathematical works are detailed in the next chapter. The Chapter 12 details 341 abbreviations used in the text. Internet being freely consulted, so gratitude is offered to their authors. However, few additional References also find their mention thereafter.
Every effort is made to present the factual statements and utmost care is taken yet many entries could not be confirmed. Writing history of the community, that provided excellent leadership to the society, both in ancient and modern times, is now given discredit by biased governments and other agencies. Many historians, especially the colonizers and invaders, did not do justice with our community and presented its distorted image. At times, readers may find more relevant spellings of many (Indian) words wrongly spelt by foreigners and blindly adopted by us. I have purposely replaced the ending ‘a’ by ‘à’ giving soft sound in the names of deities: ‘Rāmà’, ‘Krishņà’, ‘Shivà’, etc. and in religious epics: ‘Rāmāyaņà’. Similarly, the letter ‘c’ used for the sound of ‘ch’ in the older literature is dropped. The sound of Hinḑī letter च (cha) is given by ‘ch’. The spelling ‘Vijnan’ used by the colonizers is deliberately replaced by more appropriate one: ‘Vigyān’ that it actually means to. It has become customary to suffix the letter ‘a’ to many Hinḑī words written in English, such as my own surname (Misra) while the correct pronunciation is without stressing the ending ‘a’. To distinguish the soft sound of the ending an accented letter ‘à’ is used replacing ‘a’ in such words. However, as per Hinḑī grammar, the ending ‘a’ in the same female surname has to be stressed; so, it is more appropriately written as ‘Misrā’. Non-English words / phrases and few English phrases as well are italicized for distinction. At times, readers might get puzzled to find my presentation in mathematical way. References to entries in Chapter 3 are mentioned elsewhere in the text as “cf. Entry…” while “cf. Chapt…” refers to the entries in rest of the chapters. Though repetitions are avoided but birth details, educational qualifications, life span of persons covered in the text may be exception, when enlisted elsewhere.
Any suggestions for improvement of the text and healthy criticism shall be highly welcomed. My sincere thanks are due to my ex-student (Shrī Ōnkār Nāţh Pāthak, retd. Addl. Commissioner of Income Tax) and my senior at Lucknow University, turned a close relative (Shrī Umā Shankar Bājpāī jī, retd. I.G. Police, U.P.) for checking the proofs and offering valuable comments.
[What a telepathy – today is the 28th death anniversary of my niece (Reenā aka Beetoo) and I had totally forgotten about the sad event. Her soul flashed at 5:15 a.m. when my wife shouted if there is someone trying to enter our bedroom. I am yet to complete a book on her.]
Lucknow (India): 1st June, 2022 / 12:27 p.m.
Jyéshth Shuklà Pakshà 2, V.S. 2079 Rām Bilās Misrà
REVIEWED / UP-DATED: 5.10.2023
Typographical corrections especially inserting the special Roman characters for their Ḑévà-nāgarī counterparts (explained in the Preface) are incorporated. Whole manuscript is revised, up-dated and enlarged. Fresh categories: Veterinarians and Wrestlers are supplemented in Chapter 3. Chapter 9 is supplemented by rare photograph of the 2nd graduate (Shrī Samaliā Prasāḑ) of my village and his youngest brother (Dr. Shiv Kumār Pāndéy). Deliberations of the Kānyàkubjà Praţiniḑhi Sabhā, Lucknow of 8.5.2022 felicitating me are presented in Chapter 13. The messages received in appreciation of the author’s work are also included therein. Perhaps it was pre-destined that this monumental work must speak more about the greatest Kānyàkubjà gem of India’s Freedom Struggle: Pţ. Ravi Shankar Shuklà jī, Premier of the Central Province & Berār (27.4.1946 - 25.1.1956), and the Founder Chief Minister of newly formed State of Maḑhyà Praḑésh (including Chaţţīsgarh, Bhōpāl and erstwhile Vinḑhyà Praḑésh) after reorganization of the States in 1956. I could come across the Felicitation Volume published by M.P. Hinḑī Sahiţyà Sansţhān on his 79th Birthday. His illustrious grandson (Engr. Akhilésh Shuklà) sent the voluminous work to me - for which, I offer my sincere thanks to him. Pictorial saga of various activities of the great luminary soul is presented in Chapter 14, while some more high profile dignitaries are added in Chapter 15. It supplements information (in Hinḑī) on another highly dignified Kānyàkubjà gem (Sir Girjā Shankar Bājpāī) and his family. Photographs of few other Kkb. souls: Shrī Umā Shankar Bājpāī, IPS (retd.), ex I-G Police; Col. Vinōḑ Kumār Shuklà; and Hon’ble Justice Manōj Mishrà - a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court of India, who is very likely to retire as the Chief Justice of India in 2030, are added.
After the first version was out, the author met a heavy loss in loosing another young nephew: Shrī Yōgésh Chanḑrà Mishrà aka ‘Rājan’ on 31.12.2022. His untimely and sudden demise grieved the author most. I am yet to recover from this most tragic event in my life. I tried ...
“Nij kavitta kehi laag na neeka. Saras hoi athwa ati feeka”,
i.e. everyone enjoys one’s own creation irrespective of its worth. Likewise, for me it will be my other brain child to be adored. I must be grateful to the divine forces to have granted me this extended lease of life that, in spite of many hazards and irritating turmoil of losing many of my own kith and kin, I am able to concentrate on such a tedious task. What a sprinkling thought of the National Poet: Shri Maithili Sharan Gupta quoting:
“Maanas Bhawan men Aryajan jiskee utaare Aarti.
Bhagwan Bharat Varsh men goonje hamaari Bharati”
by that he wished for the success of his epic “Saket”.
The author also derives inspiration from his previous articles: Mathematics and Mathematicians at Prayag [2], Pillars of Mathematics sprouted / progressed / shrunk at Allāhābād (Indiā) [3], etc. given in the references at the end. Members / Chair Persons of highly acclaimed National / International Organizations of academic / administrative / research nature, or Diplomats / Governors / Legislatures / Parliamentarians / Recipients of Civilian awards, etc. are detailed in the first four chapters.
The next chapter is devoted to larger community of academicians and administrators who, irrespective of their subject affiliations, adored the office of Vice Chancellors of Indian Universities. It mainly consists of the retirees but also includes those who are presently playing the next inning. Some rare distinctions achieved by them in academic / civil life, etc. are also remarked briefly.
The readers may find some interesting facts:
The eldest member in my narration is Prof. Upendra Bakshi and the next (but eldest) living ex-VC is Padma Bhushan awardee Prof. Dr. Ram Prasad Bambah of 100+ years age. He retired as a Professor & the second senior most HoD, Panjab Univ., Chandigarh and became its VC in 1985. Next is a Geologist Prof. Dr. Harsh Kumar Gupta followed by a Physicist: Prof. Dr. Mahendra Singh Sodha, an alumnus of Univ. of Allahabad and a retired Prof. of I.I.T., Delhi; who first became a VC of Devi Ahilya Univ., Indore (M.P.) in 1988 and subsequently got a similar position at Lucknow Univ. in 1992.
I also derive solace in claiming to be the fifth senior most living ex-VC in India. I took the charge of Vice Chancellor’s position at the erstwhile Avadh Univ., Ayodhya, U.P. (later renamed as Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh Univ.) on 4.3.1989 at the actual age of 47 (but 48 years 9 months as per recorded age). I was then the 4th senior most VC of the Univ. and now the senior most living ex-VC of that Univ. I am accomplishing this document taking it as my duty to bring all such brethren on a single platform. Long live legacy of the dedication to the job in providing an ideal leadership and doing yeoman service to the intellectual mother-like pious institution. I must confess that the seeds of such dedication were inducted in my mind at the 4th oldest Univ. of the Indian sub-continent (Univ. of Allahabad), where I was trained for long. The emblem of the University still remains “Quot Rami tot Arbores”, i.e. (let the) branches of banyan tree blossom into roots (by themselves). Much of my encounters in facing the challenge of administration at Avadh University has been reported in my book [1]. With the academic training received both at home and abroad for long, my rural background and having gone through rigorous Naval training for my NCC Commission all helped me to fathom the ocean of problems which are unnecessarily rather deliberately fabricated by the junior staff.
It is also remarkable that some of the incumbents were branded successful for their skill so well to procure the repeated tenures. As per the internet, the present VC of CSM Kanpur University, Kanpur procured the coveted position at 8 State Government owned Universities in the duration of 13 years. Thus, he is likely to break the record established by Prof. Dr. Sarvagya Singh Katiyar, 4-times VC of CSM Kanpur Univ. and the founder Director of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow. All blended together, he was also found competent enough to handle the affairs of Chandra Shekhar Azad Univ. of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur. His services were found so invaluable to then governments that he also bagged Civilian awards: Padma Shri (2003) followed by Padma Bhushan in 2009. He was also elected as the President of Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi in the year 2006-07. It is worth noting that many incumbents were closely related to the highly ranked politicians. It is disgusting that many honourable ‘His Excellences’ appointed their own kith and kins to the august offices of VCs in the country. Once, a real brother-in-law of the ‘First Citizen of India’ was chosen repeatedly as the VC of different Universities located in the same city in the past. The caucus never dies instead it is still going on - “Old wine in a new bottle”.
Photographs of some selected academicians are displayed in Chapter 6. The last two chapters present the cover pages of the author’s books: both of general interest, and mathematical texts. Abbreviations used in the text are stretched out thereafter, while the selected bibliography is given at the end. The entire compilation and the typing is undertaken single-handed by the author himself, so responsibility for any discrepancy lies on the author only. Any supplements / improvements submitted by the inquisitive readers shall be thankfully acknowledged and incorporated in the later editions. The author has benefitted immensely by his teachers / mentors / superiors, and seniors both at home and abroad; so, at times, the people not falling in my project, are also mentioned herein. Such are the author’s parents, a dedicated academician: Prof. Hansraj Gupta, F.N.A., and author’s elder colleagues: Dr. Shree Ram Sinha and Prof. Franco Fava of Turin Univ., Italy. The author is also thankful to his ex-colleague (Prof. Sada Nand Pandey of M.M.M. Univ. of Technology, Gorakhpur) for his valuable suggestions for improvement of the text. The author recently lost his two young nephews: M/S Arun Kumar Mishra, and Yogesh Chandra Mishra aka Rajan in tragic encounters and is yet to recover from such a big loss so the book is dedicated to their pious memory.
Lucknow (India): July 27, 2023 Ram Bilas Misra
आइये हम सभी इन व्यथित करने वाले पलों को मिलजुल कर बांट ले । अतएव, मेरा यह प्रयास आपके समक्ष प्रस्तुत है । कोई सटीक रचना तो तत्काल मानस पटल पर नहीं उभर रही है, किंतु मैं स्वयं प्रयास करता हूं कि कुछ सामयिक शब्द निकल सकें ।
“क्षण भंगुर जीवन की कलिका, कब तक व्याकुलता देगी ?
क्या शेष बचा इस जीवन में, क्यों प्रस्थान नहीं करती ॥
इन दुखद क्षणों को जी पाना, नित-प्रति भारी होता जाता है ।
हे ‘मोरध्वज’ ! तुमने भी अपना बालक आरे से चीरा था ।
वह तुम्हारी परीक्षा थी, बालक पुनर्जीवित हो आया था ॥
फिर अर्जुन का अभिमन्यु उन तक वापस क्यों नहीं आया ?
हमने भी ‘राजन’ खोया है, जो सपनों तक में न आ पाया ॥”
I purposely decided to compile the sentiments of other grief-stricken brethren providing a good read to those who might have fallen in similar distress. My daughter-in-law (the widow of my slain nephew, dear Rajan) seldom talked to me: initially, because of her rural background not indulging in direct conversation with in-laws, and now after having lost her husband, she became more silent. When I and my wife did not get any response to our repeated calls as if we are responsible to the sad incident, we consoled ourselves to adopt every situation. But, a few days before our grandson Priyanshu s/o Rajan called us. He informed me that her mother wants to talk to me. She revealed about her dream wherein she got frightened. She burst into tears and informed me about her anxiety. Getting drowned to circumstances, she revealed her suicidal intentions. To console her, I decided to compile the proposed book. This unique idea flashed in my mind to compile the photographs of my associates who had lost someone in their family untimely. Though every loss is painful yet some of the losses are most unbearable and remain unforgettable in one’s life as long as it could be stretched even without any wish to prolong it. Remaining busy as much as my body now permits at 81, yet there are hardly any moments, when I am able to forget my nephew Mr. Yogesh Chandra Mishra aka Rajan, who lived with us for 42 years and was brought up by my mother since 1980 after having lost his mother. I shall welcome to include short information concerning others, if any similar situation is ever faced by them to have lost someone very dear to them. Most of the photographs displayed here are copied from the websites. Primarily, I wish to confine on my pictorial saga only.
Thanks are due to the persons who very kindly responded to my various appeals whether seeking their kind help to the bereaved families of my two nephews: Mr. Arun Kumar Mishra, who met a tragic road accident on 7.9.2020 and dear Rajan whose dead body was found on 31.12.2022 at his residence along with his licensed firearm. The compilation consists of 5 chapters of which the first one is devoted to the memories of Rajan. The next chapter depicts the photographs (along with their short comments of their most aggrieved moments, if any) of above mentioned benevolent people who exhibited their generosity. The Chapter 3 enlists the people who have passed through similar turmoil in their personal life or they or their family members have obliged me on any count. The last two chapters reveal the academic activities of the author having created a huge literature for the benefits of the inquisitive readers both in my field (mathematics) and in general. References to few of my books and articles connected in some way to the present compilation are annexed at the end.
Author feels highly indebted to all the persons listed in my narration with special reference to few of the most generous ones, like my ex colleague Prof. Sada Nand Pandey, ex-students Captain Biswajit Bhattacharya, Engr. Dharmagaj Prasad, Shri Onkar Nath Pathak, (late) Dr. Satgur Prasad Khare, and few Officers of the Govt. of India: Shri Rakesh Ojha and Engr. Narinder Wadhawan, both retired bureaucrats from the Indian Civil Services. Nevertheless the author ever remains grateful to his kith and kin especially the spouse (Smt. Rekha Misra) who has supported me like a solid rock behind me in all my endeavours whether academic or otherwise. Never sure, if I shall still remain in this mortal world to recall her support again and again serving the cause of humanity. In the end, I salute my parents, teachers and the divine forces especially Goddess Durga for providing me sound physique, sane mind and enough strength to accomplish my deeds.
Lucknow: July 02, 2023 Ram Bilas Misra
1) दिनांक 23 जून, 2023
असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ॥
करु बहियां बल आपनी, छांड़ि बिरानी आस । जाके आंगन है नदी, सो कस मरै पियास ॥
उद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्ति कार्याणि न मनोरथैः । न हि सुप्तस्य सिंहस्य प्रविशन्ति मुखे मृगाः ॥
धनहीन कहे धनवान सुखी, धनवान कहे सुख राजा को भारी ।
राजा कहे चक्रवर्ती सुखी, चक्रवर्ति कहे सुख इंद्र को भारी ॥
इंद्र कहे श्रीविष्णु सुखी, अरु विष्णु कहें सुख सन्त को भारी ।
सन्त कहें सन्तोष में है सुख, संतोष बिना सब लोग दुखारी ॥
Coming events cast their shadow ahead = भावी घटनाओं का पूर्व आकलन,
की भांति ही वह रचना मैंने स्वयं को ही संतुलित रख पाने हेतु रची थी । राजन की दर्द्नाक मृत्यु ने इस जीवन में सर्वाधिक चोट पहुंचायी है । दुखों के अथाह सागर में जीवन रूपी नौका की पतवार त्यागकर उसे सागर की प्रचंड लहरों के समक्ष खुला छोड़ दिया गया है । यह सागर की लहरों पर आधारित है कि वे नौका को किनारे लगायें अथवा अपने में समाहित कर लें । परिवार में आत्महत्या करने वाली दुखद घटनाओं की अब कोई पुनरावृत्ति न हो और इस प्रकार का वीभत्स कुकृत्य रोंका जा सके । अतएव, मैंने यह संकल्प लिया है कि मैं स्वयं जीवन नहीं खोऊंगा किंतु जीवन की शाम स्वतः आ जाय तो उससे अधिक जीने हेतु याचना भी नहीं करूंगा ।
१५ मई, २०२३ को लखीमपुर स्थित जनपदीय अधिवक्ता संघ की सभा के मध्य प्रिय राजन के चित्र का अनावरण कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न किया गया था । कैसी विडम्बना रही कि जो कार्य मेरे दिवंगत होने के पश्चात राजन द्वारा सम्पन्न होना चाहिये था, वह इन्हीं करों द्वारा सम्पन्न हुआ । उस विचलित मन:दशा में अत्यधिक प्रयास करने के बावजूद भी मैं अपनी अनेक पुस्तकों में कहीं समाहित उक्त संदर्भित रचना न खोज पाया । अंतत:, वह रचना मेरी एक अपूर्ण पुस्तक की पांडुलिपि में पायी जा सकी [ संदर्भ ५८, सोपान २ :
A comparative study of Avadhi, Hindi & English Grammar and Avadhi Shabda - Saar. Harḑwārī Publications, Prayāgrāj (Indiā), 2023, pp. 250 ] ।
सम्भवत:, इसी भावना से प्रेरित होकर मैंने अपनी सभी पद्य रचनाओं को इस पुस्तिका में संकलित किया है ताकि पुन: कभी उस परिस्थिति से न गुजरना पदे । लेखक ने अब तक अनेकों परिजन खोये हैं जिनमें निम्नलिखित कतिपय नाम प्रमुख रूप से उल्लेखनीय हैं -
अनाम अनुज (वर्ष १९५४), अनुजा सरोजिनी (१.८.१९८०), प्रिय भांजी रीना उर्फ बीटू (१.६.१९९४), पिताश्री हरद्वारी लाल (१०.७.१९९६), माताश्री (२१.८.२००३), पत्नी के अनुज रामदेव उर्फ रज्जन लाल शुक्ल (२२.५.२०१३), पुत्रियों के ननदोई डॉ. राजेश कुमार मिश्र (२०.१.२०२१) तथा राजन (३१.१२.२०२२) । यों तो विछोह सभी का पीड़ादायक होता है किंतु उक्त सभी प्रिय जनों में बीटू, डॉ. राजेश कुमार मिश्र तथा राजन की मृत्यु ने सर्वाधिक विचलित किया । मेरा यह संकलन उपरियुक्त प्रियजनों को ही सप्रेम समर्पित है । ग्रन्थ की रचना का सम्पूर्ण कार्य लेखक ने अल्पतम समय में स्वयं संपन्न किया है एवं सभी भाँति इसकी शुद्धता संजोये रखने का हर संभव प्रयास किया है ।
लखनऊ (भारत): २३ मई, २०२३ राम बिलास मिश्र
पुनश्च : १६.६.२०२४ को पुनरीक्षित
“भैया उठो, भैया जा रहे हैं ।”
हे पुत्र ! उठो, बेचारा शिशु दिवँगत हो रहा है । पहले तो मैं समझ ही न सका, किन्तु सचेत होने पर इस हृदय-विदारक सँवाद की पीड़ा का आभास कर सका था । ]
जब विदेश में एकाकी जीवन बिताता था तो ‘रामचरित मानस’ का पाठ करते समय अनेक प्रसंग रुला देते थे । “बिछडे सभी बारी - बारी” [ संदर्भ 12 ] में चित्र संकलित करते समय प्राय : भाव विह्वल होना पडा । वर्तमान पुस्तक की रचना एक लम्बे अंतराल से प्रतीक्षित थी । कोई न कोई रचना प्राथमिकता पाती गई किंतु अभागी बीटू के जीवन की भांति ही उस पर ये उद्गार व्यक्त करने में एक युग बीत गया । आगामी 1 जून को बीटू को गये 29 वर्ष पूर्ण हो जायेंगे - यह सोंचकर अब अधिक विलम्ब असहनीय लगने लगा । अत: मैंने अब इसे पूर्ण करने का संकल्प लिया ।
वर्ष 1965 का वह क्षण कितना मनहूस था जब मैं अपने क्रोध पर काबू न पा सका था । [ संदर्भ 12, अध्याय 12 से उद्धृत - एक दूरस्थ सम्बन्धी (श्री रामराखन लाल पाण्डेय), जोकि उत्तर रेलवे प्राथमिक पाठशाला, उत्तर मलाका, इलाहाबाद में एक शिक्षक थे, ने उसे भ्रमित किया, कि वह बी.टी.सी. प्रशिक्षण केंद्र में प्रवेश लेकर प्राथमिक विद्यालय में एक अध्यापिका बन सकती है । मेरी अनुपस्थिति में ही एवं मेरी सहमति के बिना वह आर.आर. पाण्डेय के साथ उक्त प्रशिक्षण हेतु आवेदन फार्म जमा करने चली गयी, जिसका मैंने बुरा माना । आवेश में आकर मैंने उसे एक थप्पड़ मार दिया । दुर्भाग्य से उसकी नाक से रक्त आ गया । उसके एवं अँततोगत्वा पूरे परिवार का दुर्भाग्य इन्हीं दु:खद क्षणों से प्रारम्भ हो गया था । मैं उस समय २३ वर्षों से भी कम आयु का था, जबकि बहन मुझ से ७ वर्ष छोटी थी । मुझे अपने अपरिपक्व निर्णय पर जीवन भर पश्चाताप रहेगा । मैंने पिता को तत्काल प्रयाग बुलाकर बहन को उनके साथ सेमरई वापस भेज दिया, जोकि वह चाहते ही थे, ताकि उसका विवाह कर सकें । मेरे सभी श्रमसाध्य कार्य - यथा, साइकिल से उसे विद्यालय ले जाना, इलाहाबाद विश्वविद्यालय से वापसी पर पुनः उसे विद्यालय से घर लाना निरर्थक सिद्ध हुए । मैंने भरसक प्रयास किया, कि उसका विवाह नगर क्षेत्र में निवास कर रहे किसी शिक्षित परिवार में सम्पन्न हो सके । किन्तु उसकी अवयस्क आयु एवं अल्प शिक्षा एक बड़ी बाधा बनी रही । ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में व्याही गयी अनेक दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण कन्याओं की दुर्दशा मैंने देखी थी, जो वे अपने विवाहित जीवन में भोग रही थीं । अतएव, मैं अपनी बहन को उस दर्दनाक जीवन में ढकलने हेतु कभी नहीं सहमत था । पिता, पति एवं ससुराल के मध्य प्रायः घटित होने वाले अप्रिय संवादों ने सरोजिनी की बलि ले ली । वर्ष १९६५ में अध्ययन में व्यवधान डालते हुए उसे प्रयाग से सेमरई वापस भेजने वाला लेखक का (प्रथम दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण) निर्णय २१ वर्ष की अपरिपक्व मनःस्थिति का था, किन्तु जुलाई १९८० में शारीरिक रूप से अतिशय शिथिल हो चुकी, गर्भवती बहन को ससुराल में रहने देना (वयस्क बन चुके) लेखक की दूसरी गंभीर भूल सिद्ध हुई । काश ! उसे प्रयाग ले आता तो उसका जीवन बचाया जा सकता था । ]
जीवन की तीसरी बड़ी भूल ने राजन को ही खो दिया । उसने आगाह किया था कि वह मात्र दस हजार रुपये प्रति माह की नियमित आय पाकर भी अपने को धन्य समझेगा किंतु मैं उसके अवांछित आचरण से दुखी होकर उसकी यह इछा भी पूरी न कर सका । उसने अपने अनावश्यक खर्चों एवं महात्वाकांक्षाओं को इतना फैला रखा था कि अपनी सीमित आय का विचार ही त्याग दिया था ।
पुस्तक में ८ सोपान सम्मिलित किये गए हैं - प्रथम अध्याय बीटू का संक्षिप्त विवरण प्रस्तुत करता है । अध्याय २ में उसकी शैक्षिक उपलब्धियां दर्शायीं गयी हैं । अध्याय ३ में उसके तथा परिजनों के मध्य कृत पत्राचार को दर्शाया गया है । ध्यातव्य है कि इस अध्याय में मात्र कुछ ही पत्र सम्मिलित किये जा सके हैं अन्यथा पुस्तक पूर्ण करने में पुन: विलम्ब होता । अध्याय ४ में बीटू से सम्बंध लेखक की अन्य रचनाओं से कतिपय स्फुट वाक्यांश उद्धृत किये गये हैं । अध्याय ५ लेखक के निकटस्थ (जीवित) परिजनों की जानकारी प्रस्तुत करता है जबकि अध्याय ६ बीटू से सम्बंधित कतिपय चित्रों को प्रस्तुत करता है । ग्रन्थ में प्रयोगित क्लिष्ट शब्दों की सरल शब्दावली अध्याय ७ एवं शब्दों के संक्षिप्त रूप अंतिम अध्याय में पूर्ण रूप में विस्तृत किये गये हैं । पुस्तक के अंत में संदर्भित ग्रंथों की सूची संलग्न की गयी है, जिनका लेखक ने निरंतर उपयोग किया है ।
जीवन का अस्तित्व ही सार्वभौमिक यथार्थ है । कवि अब्दुर्रहीम खानखाना लिखते हैं –
“रहिमन पानी राखिये, बिन पानी सब सून । पानी गए न ऊबरै मोती, मानुस, चून ।।”
जीवन समाप्ति के उपरान्त सभी कुछ अर्थहीन हो जाता है । जीवन विधाता की विलक्षण देन है, उसका संरक्षण एवं संवर्धन सभी जीवित प्राणियों का उतना ही पुनीत कर्तव्य है, जितना कि जीवन-दाता की उपासना । मेरा यह सद्प्रयास पृष्ठ ४ पर उद्धृत सभी परिजन कन्याओं को समर्पित है । लेखक उन समस्त सुधी-जनों के प्रति अनुगृहीत है, जिन्होंने इस संकलन को पूर्ण करने में किसी भी प्रकार का सहयोग किया है । सह-धर्मिणी (रेखा) एवं पुत्र-वधू (कीर्ति) भी धन्यवाद की सुपात्र हैं, क्योंकि जहाँ रेखा ने पुस्तक से इतर नित्यप्रति के अन्य आवश्यक कार्यों की ओर लेखक का निरंतर ध्यान कराकर अपना धर्म निभाया, वहीं कीर्ति लेखक को जीवित रहने हेतु सभी आवश्यक सेवायें उपलब्ध कराती रही । ग्रन्थ की रचना का सम्पूर्ण कार्य स्वयं लेखक द्वारा संपन्न किया गया है एवं सभी भाँति इसकी शुद्धता संजोये रखने का हर संभव प्रयास किया गया है । किन्तु, फिर भी यदि किसी प्रकार की कोई अशुद्धि शेष रह गयी हो तो उसका उत्तरदायित्व लेखक का होगा ।
लखनऊ (भारत): ११ मई, २०२३ /
ज्येष्ठ कृष्णपक्ष पंचमी, वि.सँ. २०८० राम बिलास मिश्र
“रहिमन वे नर मरि चुके जे कहुं मांगन जाहिं ।
उनते पहिले वई मरे जिन मुख निकसत नाहिं ।।”
I too witnessed it repeatedly in my life. The first setback I received in January 1980, when I contested the Parliamentary Election, for the first time, from Shahabad Constituency in U.P. The constituency was composed of three Assembly Segments of Hardoi district: Bawan, Pihani and Shahabad, and two Assembly constituencies of adjoining Lakhimpur-Kheri district: Mohammadi and Haiderabad. The last one included villages immediate to that of mine (Semrai) and Gola Gokarannath Town. I had studied there for seven years (class 6 - 12) during 1951-58. Many small traders and shopkeepers were regular debtors of my father. I also had many close relatives living there including my own real maternal uncle and his family. Even the maternal village (Deokali) of my mother was included in the constituency. So was the case of the maternal villages of my father and both grandmothers. In spite of all such bondages, I could hardly poll 118 votes from the entire town of Gola Gokarannath and 18 surrounding villages. Even the real maternal cousins of my father and others did not vote for me. Although my father trusted his cousin (Pt. Chhotey Lal Shukla - a Freedom Fighter) to the extent that he kept a large drum full of petrol for our vehicles at his house and deposited a considerable sum with his trusted jeweler (Sri Ram Gupta who was known as a staunch Congressman). Alas! no considerations worked in my favour.
On contrary, I could visit a distantly located Shahabad Town just twice during my election campaign only; but polled 147 votes, where I had no relatives and no any personal contacts. I cannot forget the loving words uttered by an elderly Muslim medical doctor who rushed to me during my electioneering. He confessed to have heard a lot about my knowledge, persona and candidature that he made it a point to visit me. He also claimed to be a “London Returned”. Those days it used to be an additional feather to one’s cap to have made a trip to London or abroad. Presumably, I might have succeeded in getting his blessings. Similar was the solitary instance demonstrated by my ex-teacher: Shri Brij Mohan Sharma, who had taught me English in 12th class at Public Intermediate College, Gola Gokarannath in 1957-58. He openly declared that he had cast his vote in favour of his student, i.e. me.
Being the only candidate hailing from the two Assembly constituen- cies of Lakhimpur-Kheri district amongst 10, I was very much optimistic to attract voters especially from this region. Anyway, it was the first debacle in my life. Later on, at many occasions I had to taste a bitter toast in my diverse and hectic activities ranging from academics to administration and a bit of political involvement. It may be added that I had again contested a Parliamentary Election second time (and that was the last so far) in 1991 - this time from Lakhimpur-Kheri constituency itself, where my own village was included. Again, it proved to be a setback. Out of 16 contestants, I alone was a Brahmin face, but nothing worked in my favour in spite of having made painstaking and strenuous campaigning.
I always carried an impression that my students love me maximum as I had never exploited them, never accepted anything from them in terms of material gains for my most dedicated service while imparting the knowledge to them. At times, I used to conduct my class even upto extended hours, say 4-5 hours, at A.P.S. University, Rewa (M.P.). In addition to my administrative liability as the Head of the Department and Dean, Faculty of Science, I used to devote completely to fulfill my academic obligations to the maximum extent possibly more than any teacher in the University. The only asset of my hard labour had been to find alumni of that small place right up to a level that one of my students (Dr. Sanjay Pant) is now an Associate Professor at a prestigious College of Delhi University. Two years back when I made an appeal to donate generously for the leftover family of my nephew (late) Mr. Arun Kumar Misra, not even a single student from Rewa came forward to my call. Going out of the way, I questioned a student (Mr. Santosh Kumar Mishra), who was gifted a soft copy of my own text-book on Tensors, published by us only, free. He took an alibi of caring his own ailing father. Neither any contribution came from Avadh University, Ayodhya, where I administered as a VC during 1989-92. Even my own research students: Prof. Paras Nath Pandey, then working as the VC of Nehru Gram Bharti University, Prayagraj, Prof. Chayan Kumar Mishra (appointed by me only at Avadh University), and Dr. Mahendra Pratap Singh (appointed by me at Avadh University and, later, on my recommendation at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi) donated nothing. The people can be so ungrateful that even the incumbents like Prof. Ajay Pratap Singh (appointed during my regime only) at Avadh University and others never thought of even showing their lip sympathy.
The indifferent nature of such ungrateful persons discouraged me much and I was reluctant to issue another appeal for similar help for the devastated family of my second nephew (Rajan) who died on 31st December, 2022. Instead, I requested my associates to get any job to the widow of Rajan. A favourable response was exhibited by a retired IAS cadre officer (Shri Dinesh Singh) of Prayagraj who, without my request for any monetary help, remitted Rs. 5,000 to the beneficiary (Mrs. Kanan Bala Mishra). Another retired IAS Officer of Panjab cadre (Engr. Dr. Narinder Wadhavan) encouraged me to issue another appeal to generate some funds for Rajan’s family. Of late, I could muster enough courage to circulate another appeal for donation to the bereaved family of dear Rajan on 15.3.2023, and donated Rs. 2,50,000 from my own sources. On my call, our eldest son (Shri Rakesh Mishra, Advocate, Allahabad High Court) also came forward managing Rs. 500,000 for my mission. The amount was remitted to Kanan Bala’s Bank A/c on 10.4.2023. Some of my trusted friends, colleagues, students also joined me for this pious mission. I was moved by unconditional love that I received from them, notably Prof. S.N. Pandey of Gorakhpur (contributing Rs. 31,000), Shri R.K. Saxena, Director, Amity University, Lucknow (Rs. 10,000), Shri Santosh Awasthi, Lecturer, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalay, Trivediganj, Dist. Barabanki (Rs. 10,000), Prof. Pramod Kumar Singh, HoD, Mathematics, University of Allahabad (Rs. 7,500), and of late our relative Smt. Poonam Trivedi, Sr. Bank Manager, S.B.I., Mumbai (Rs. 20,000), etc. [Cf. Chapter 6 for full list of donors].
I wished to raise the amount at least up to Rs. 1,000,000 (Rupees Ten Lakhs) distributing it amongst the three beneficiaries in the Rajan’s family:
(i) Rs. 2,50,000 earmarked for M.B.A. studies of his son (Rohan aka Priyanshu);
(ii) Rs. 2,50,000 earmarked for further studies of his daughter (Ms Arpita); and
(iii) Making a reserve of Rs. 500,000 for his wife (Smt. Kanan Bala) for any emergency.
In addition to Rs. 2,50,000 of mine and Rs. 500,00 of our son a sum of Rs. 1,30,000 only could also be received from others. As such, the planned amount was short of Rs. 1,20,000. I continued requesting for possible supplemental funds to my many associates. This had tremendous impact on an ex-student of mine (Shri Dharmagaj Prasad) who had already contributed Rs. 5,000 earlier. He decided to contribute the entire short amount (Rs. 1,20,000) and provided me much relief. His generosity and magnanimity inspired me to make all this narrative and I decided to pen it down so that it lasts forever.
What a pity! I got few flashes much earlier. As says the proverb: ‘Coming events cast shadow ahead’ I wrote the following couplet hardly a month before Rajan’s death:
'रमना' यह संसार है, अपना कोउ न जान । जिनको तू अपना कहे, वे भी नोचै प्रान ॥
जिनके तू काज सरे, वे सब भए महान । तेरी सुध ना काहु को, किनमें भरमे प्रान ॥
धीरे - धीरे सब चले कायर, चतुर, महान । ना तू कुछ करि सक्यो, देखत रह्यो सुजान ॥
जो थोड़े बाकी बचे, उनके भी अटके प्रान । क्या जाने अब कौन चले - क्यों सोंचे नादान ॥
My reportage consists of Two Parts: the first one devoted to dear Arun while the latter one details relevant saga about dear Rajan. Both parts have altogether seven chapters: three in the first one, and four in the latter. The last chapter includes information of miscellaneous nature concerning Rajan: some of his literary taste, social and professional life exhibited through pictures. He was very particular to fulfill his social commitments. The last one was his participation (along with his son) in the marriage of my own eldest granddaughter (Aparna) on 2nd December, 2022 solemnized at Prayagraj - the auspicious occasion boycotted by me on certain issues. In our last meeting he commented that I should have attended her marriage. My response was that you are not privileged to say so; instead if I abstain from your own son’s marriage you would have it so to complain. Alas! now if such hypothetical lapse on my part actually happen Rajan would not be there to complain. The saga ends with a list of few of my previous literature whose contents could be reproduced here.
Needless to add the author shall ever remain indebted to the kind hearted thoughtful donors who richly deserve our gratitude. On behalf of our grief stricken daughter-in-law and her children, I offer my humble thanks to them for their humane considerations. God shall always shower His divine blessings upon these noble brethren. My thanks are also due to my own eldest grandson (Mr. Rahul Mishra) to remind me forgotten wor...
“ दुनिया ऐसी बावरी, कि पाथर पूजन जाय ।
घर की चाकी कोइ ना पूजे, जेहिका पीसा खाय ।।”
[The world is crazy to worship the stones but not the one used for
grinding the flour.]
Most of the people derive interest in reading the literature of others, recitation becomes an integral part of their life, shouting and scrolling down the scriptures and religious texts please them. But, paying respect to the souls of their loved ones they recall them once a year only. The author, who is an octogenarian now, thought of making them immortal. Beginning in 2015, with the relentless efforts of six months, I completed the biography of my (late) father Shrī Harḑwārī Lāl – both in English and Hinḑī versions [cf. Ref. 9]. Subsequently, almost an encyclopedic narration of my native village (Sémraī) covering all deceased and living inhabitants, flora and fauna, cultural heritage, historical places of worship, orchards, significant monuments, water resources, wetlands, etc. was completed [Ref. 10]. During my long sojourn at Prayāgrāj of around forty years (1963 - 2002) I came across many scholars and other dignitaries with both pleasant and otherwise reminiscences. The year 2017 was devoted in recalling them. Beginning with an obituary note on the untimely demise of a former learned colleague (Prof. Dr. Hanumān Prasāḑ Ḑīkshiţ, ex Vice Chancellor of half a dozen Universities) on April 29, 2017; I recalled all the teachers of mathematics belonging to the University of Allāhābāḑ and its affiliated Colleges and paid my humble regards to the departed noble souls. Inquisitive readers may find the detailed information about them in the Ref. 11 on the internet. Taking more than four months’ time from September 2017 onward, I completed a voluminous work covering all the Brahmins of diverse professions: administrators, bureaucrats, Freedom Fighters & Revolutionaries, jurists, magicians, musicians, politicians, Rishis and saints (right from Véḑic period), scientists, scholars, and other learned personalities associated with Prayāgrāj including few alumni of the University of Allāhābāḑ, etc. [Ref. 12]. To my heartfelt satisfaction this book has been widely read all over the world.
Getting exhausted, I thought of a pause for a while before taking up another venture. However, heeding to the advice of the great legendary scholar “Rāvaņà” not to postpone any good work, I completed a book “Sambanḑhī - Jan” [Ref. 13], to cherish the memories of my relatives and posted it on the internet. The book vividly covers almost all the relatives: un-privileged as well as others including those of high profile like Shrī Umā Shankar Bājpāī I.P.S., ex I.G. (Police); Shrī Chanḑrà Prakāsh Ţripāthī, I.A.S., former commissioner of Sahāranpur Division and Dr. Rishi Késhav Pāndéy, I.A.S. In 2017, I recalled a valuable senior colleague (Dr. Srī Rām Sinhā) posthumously and posted my note on the internet. The period 2018-20 has been very productive. Compiling a list of 35 living scholars at Prayāgrāj holding / held positions of Vice Chancellor / Chancellor in Prayāgrāj or elsewhere under the caption “Gangā Ţeeré – Viḑvaţ Bheeré”, i.e. a large assembly of scholars at the banks of river Ganges; I completed several books and literature detailed in Ref. 20 (Chapter 6) and fulfilled my obligations towards my teachers, well-wishers and others. Felicitation given to senior citizens by Shrī Harḑwārī Shikshā Samiţi, Sémraī on July 14, 2018 was also reported therein. An encyclopedic record of the citizens of Gōlā Gōkaraņnāţh and around was detailed in the Ref. 17, while Ref. 18 offers few pioneers sprouted in the land (Unnāo) of my Guru (Prof. R.S. Mishrà). Hinḑī & Sanskriţ prayers in Roman script and Indian Astrology under the title “Dév-Vānī and Indian Astrology” got published by the Central West Publishing, Orange (Australia) [Ref. 16]. An obituary note for a close relative (Smţ. Mōhinī Bājpāī – the mother-in-law of my daughters) could also be completed [Ref. 19], while a pathetic saga of my niece (Reenā aka Beetoo) could be completed recently only. In the meantime, the creation of a huge literature in mathematics also continued. Since 2018, I authored 12 texts published by the same Publisher in Australia. Fulfilling so many obligations, I turned towards my own biography sometime in the latter part of the year 2020 and the first draft was completed in 2021.
Due to its largeness, it consists of two volumes: the first one detailing the general activities and accomplishments was completed in 2021. The second volume offering a comprehensive survey of author’s long and rich academic activities. It consists of eight chapters: the first one enlists the classmates, participants to various courses, seminars & international conferences, and a list of few bright students. The educational achievements and various academic / professional activities of the author at home and abroad are detailed in Chapter 2, while the next one depicts scanned copies of the academic certificates, degrees and honours received. The photo-copies of numerous academic appointments held / received by the author are annexed in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 details various research assignments and invited lectures delivered both at home and abroad. Other miscellaneous appointments & invitations received and the National Service done are covered in the Chapter 6. The next chapter enlists the author’s (mathematical) research papers, text-books, reviews and the expository articles. Abbreviations used in the inscription are detailed in the last chapter; while the frequently referred literature in the text is provided at the end under References.
Life itself is the universal reality. The celebrated Hinḑī poet and one of the “Nine Gems” - supposed to be the highly prudent members of Emperor Akbar’s coterie: Abḑur- rahīm Khānkhānā writes -
“रहिमन पानी राखिये, बिन पानी सब सून । पानी गए न ऊबरै मोती, मानुस, चून ।।”
[Rahīm proclaims to cultivate self-pride, as there is complete void
without it.
He cites a simile that gems without glitter, humans having no
self-pride and dehydrated lime loose their worth. ]
When life ceases everything becomes meaningless. Life is the unique gift of the Creator. Its preservation is as pious as worshiping the Lord and offering penance. My humble task is dedicated to all my Teachers / Gurus and Mentors quoted on page 5, whose blessings nourished my intellect enabling me to spread the knowledge globally and contributing to the nation-building and social uplift.
In this venture the author recalls valuable assistance of Mr. Pramōḑ Kumār Yāḑav of Amity University, Lucknow for scanning the documents for which he sincerely deserves appreciation. Rest the entire task is single handedly carried out by the author himself. Though utmost care is taken to maintain accuracy yet if any discrepancy is seen the author owes responsibility for the same. In the last stage of life, the author is influenced by the celebrated Hinḑī poet: Pţ. Mākhan Lāl Chaţurvéḑī’s prophecy narrated by him in his famous patriotic poem describing the ‘Ambition of a flower’:
“चाह नहीं, मैं सुरबाला के गहनों में गूँथा जाऊँ ।
चाह नहीं, प्रेमी-माला में बिंध प्यारी को ललचाऊँ ।।
चाह नहीं, सम्राटों के शव पर हे हरि, डाला जाऊँ ।
चाह नहीं, देवों के सिर चढ़ भाग्य पर इठलाऊँ ।।
मुझे तोड़ लेना ‘वनमाली’, उस पथ पर देना तुम फेंक ।
मातृ – भूमि पर शीश चढाने, जिस पथ जायें वीर अनेक ।।”
[ Have no desire to be decorated in the jewels of a fairy. Also, have no lust to dress up a garland tempting a fiancée. Neither any wish to be adored in the funeral of the emperors nor an ambition to be offered to a deity feeling lucky. O Lord ! pluck me up and place on the way where march the martyrs of the motherland. ]
Lucknow (Indiā): January 12, 2021 / revised 20.10.2023 Rām Bilās Misrà
या रहीम गति दीप की, कुल कपूत गति सोय । बारे उजियारो लगै, बढ़त अंधेरो होय ॥
सेमरई : 20.02.2023 / सोमवती अमावस्या, फाल्गुन, वि.सं. 2079
लखनऊ : 24.03.2023 / Appendix added / Further updated on 11.06.2023.
अथाह वेदना -
“तुझे खो दिया हमने – जाने के बाद तेरी (बहुत) याद आई ।”
“रस्ता वही औ’ मुसाफ़िर वही, एक तारा न जाने कहाँ छुप गया |
दुनिया वही दुनियावाले वही, कोई क्या जाने किसका जहां लुट गया ?”
“याद आती रही दिल दुखाती रही, किंतु तुझको भुलाना न आया हमें |
तू न आए तो क्या भूल जाए तो क्या, प्यार करके भुलाना न आया हमें ||”
It is a unique privilege for all of us to be here at the eve of First Convocation of the University. It is also my proud privilege to welcome all of you here in the portals of the august institution very appropriately named after a great visionary and social reformer of the past era in this part of the world: Teerthankar Mahaveer Maharaj. I quote a phrase form Sanskrit
“Mahajano yen gatah, sa panthah!”, .....