Unable to sustain my sorrow and disturbance on hearing the departure of one of my inspiring friends and professors! Prof. Subhash Mishra has been serving in Mechanical Engineering department at IIT Guwahati. His research contribution is phenomenal, number of publications, number of students, academic responsibilities, and other services to the research community in his field are indeed inspiring. The most beautiful side of his life is his service to Bhaktivedanta Institute, Kolkata in several roles. Prof. Mishra has been long associated with the Bhaktivedanta Institute, Kolkata since his first meeting with a sober saint of modern time His Holiness Bhaktiswarupa Damodara Swami (also known as Dr. T D Singh in the academic community) during his Ph.D. time at IIT Kanpur. Keeping his research contribution aside, when we look into his personal life, we find that he is, as a professor, truly a role model for the students.
It is a great good fortune for me that I have got an opportunity to serve Bhaktivedanta Institute, Kolkata under the guidance of Prof. Mishra. In our spiritual circle, we call him as Subrata Prabhuji. We have served together for many of the AISSQ conferences, which is an annual students' conference of Bhaktivedanta Institute, Kolkata, initiated by His Holiness Bhaktiswarupa Damodara Swami. All those moments are very much fresh and clear still now in my mind. In all those services, whatever I could render a bit, is due to Prof. Mishra (Suvrata Prabhuji). From a very small, minute things like how to talk, how to receive a guest, how to compose a mail to how we can do an excellent research being a great spiritualist at the same time, he has taught me a lot many things. In all those process and services he has been ever inspiring to me keeping my enthusiasm always maintained.
I met Suvrata Prabhuji during the preparation for AISSQ 2012 conference at IISc Bangalore. He has been leading the AISSQ conference series as a chairman. As the conference was nearing we have a lot many things to complete, which are with several uncertainties. Many of the things are just half done. We have to talk with the professors at IISc for several amenities, related to conference venues and accommodation of the speakers etc. Apart from that, we also have to meet the professors/speakers and finalize their arrival, accommodation, travell etc. And at the same time we have our personal things like doing early morning sadhana and attending to research/class etc. In midst of all those packed services, Suvrata Prabhuji was very much confident and clear about the execution of plan and its success. His frequent sentence used to be "Jaynarayan don't worry, Krishna will take care". Suvrata Prabhuji is really a charming person, never could anybody see any disappointment in his face. It really surprises me that despite all those services, he would ensure to read Bhagavad Gita, do his meditation, and must sit for yoga. Prabhuji is a great reader of Bhagavad Gita, he would chant the slokas time to time to bring the things in position and perspective. He is indeed an exemplary personality for me. I remember Suvrata Prabhuji also delivered an inspiring lecture at Choksi Hall, IISc on Thermodynamic of Life. He shared his experience on how he recovered from the first serious brain tumor and could become completely alright. However, the unseen plan of providence came for the second time.
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| Prof. Subhash Mishra (right side) gifting a book to Prof. Kirk Smith (Nobel peace laureate, 2007) |
Whenever he comes to IISc or Bangalore he would definitely call for me. It has been a great pleasure for me to accompany him to meet and interview professors on science and spirituality. In one occasion we met a
chemistry Nobel laureate at NIAS, IISc Bangalore. Suvrata Prabhuji interviewed him, discussed several issues in modern society. We had also a discussion on how by synthesizing the science and spirituality such problems can be eradicated. Prabhuji then discussed about the role of Bhaktivedanta Institute with Professor. We then gifted him a "Seven Nobel Laureate on Science and Spirituality" book to the Professor. Prof. Suvrata Prabhuji always go with complete preparation and plan. He taught me how to stand and talk when you meet a senior and respected person, how to keep things ready before the meeting, and what are the important things to discuss.
It is a great loss for many of us. For Bhaktivedanta Institute surely none of us can replace him in his role. I pray to Srila Sripada Bhaktiswarupa Damodara Maharaj, Dear Srila Sripada Maharaj, we have heard from sages that the eternal relationship between a disciple and his spiritual master is glorious. Dear Sripad Maharaj, you have always taken care of each of us, Suvrata Prabhuji now would be surely rendering a devotional service of your choice.
Dear Suvrata Prabhuji, we will be missing you, however, we will never let you go way from our heart.
Hare Krishna!
Jaynarayan, Bangalore, India
