Panchanan Mohanty

MEMORY OF SRI PANCHANAN BHAI
Usha Chopra
On a Sunday morning, between 9.00 & 10.00
A.M., some 15 of us had volunteered to clean the
area behind Patel Hall, near the bus stand of
Bhubaneswar.Some amongst us were B.J.B.
college students. I am talking of the time when
the school of Sri Aurobindo Integral Education,
Bhubaneswar, had just started with 5-6 rooms at
Patel Hall, unit .The area of Khadagiri was not
even thought of. The school had started but what
about the play area? Even the play ground at the
back of the school was not allotted yet. That is
when, under the guidance of my father Sri Amar
Singh, we decided to clean the open space
adjacent to the Patel Hall, which was full of wild
vegetation & waste material. Work proceeded in
a joyful atmosphere. A couple in a simple dress
& with smile on their faces arrived on the scene.
“ Oh, the children are working so hard .Let us
make some eatables for them”. They left at once
to return soon with biscuits, bread, & “pakudi”.
Tea was prepared in the room of Shankar bhai.
He lived in the school as the caretaker. Very
affectionately all of us were fed & energized with
hot tea. This couple was none other than our
beloved Panchanan bhai & Bidu apa (Bidyutprava
Devi-the great poetess). They were simple,
affectionate, silent workers. Always living in the
consciousness of The Mother. His faith in the
Master was so strong & so deep that he sent all
his children to study in the school of the Ashram,
at Pondicherry, under the direct supervision of
The Mother. His children learnt the art & science
of true living & they had the true education. He
always had that infectious smile which encouraged
others to go on in spite of all odds.
We had one room inside the school
premises, adjacent to Shankar bhai’s room, where
the plans for Matrubhaban, Cuttack, was being
worked out. Panchanan bhai & Sri D.C. Hota
would come, encourage us & give their valuable
suggestions, which we would then follow. Many
drawings were prepared & discarded till we
finally drew which had Mother’s approval.
Once Bidu apa was invited by a center of
“Mahila Pathachakra” to enlighten them on the
role of women. She insisted on sitting at the back
of my scooter & reach the place of meeting. I was
apprehensive of taking Bidu apa - a great poetess
of great stature on my scooter through the
crowded streets of Bhubaneswar. However
Panchanan bhai encouraged me by saying, “ just
go and do not be afraid, you are going for
Mother’s work, She will take care of everything”.
Bidu apa was advised how to sit on the scooter
& we not only drove off, it seemed we just flew
to a very enjoyable evening remembering Her all
the time. This was a great encouragement to all
girls. For this the credit must go to a liberal
Panchanan bhai who gave freedom to his wife to
do whatever & whenever she wanted. This was
an inspiration to all to respect the women folk.
He was one amongst the first few who
followed respected Babajee Maharaj & respected
Prapattijee’s instructions to start study circles &
schools of Sri Aurobindo integral education in
Orissa.He participated & took active role in
various discussions regarding improvement
matters of schools, teachers, & syllabus. He took
interest in different organizations concerned with
the growth of Sri Aurobindo’s action. This was
when Sri Udar Pinto of Pondicherry used to visit
Orissa very often. He was instrumental in getting
Govt. support & financial aid from the Govt.for
the schools. All along he worked silently believing
“work is worship”. He also knew “Ego is the
helper, & ego is the bar”.
He also translated works written by The
Mother into Oriya. One such book which helped
all of us is,” Purnanga Sikhyara Drusti O Bichara”
published from Nabajyoti karyalaya, Pondicherry.
I knew him hardly for 3 years, after which
I had to physically leave Orissa . But in that short
span of time he had the quality to make me feel,
as if I am a part of his family.
So, I have really no words to write about
a man with multifarious personality. As an
ordinary human being I shall miss him but I know
Mother’s child has returned to Her lap for it’s
onward journey. With gratitude in my heart, &
with fond memories of him & Bidu apa, I pray
for the soul’s evolutionary progress. May the soul
finally rest at the Lotus feet of The Mother.