Something I Lool At-404 Poem by Smrui Ranjan Mohanty

SOMETHING I LOOK AT-404
BY-SMRUTI RANJAN MOHANTY

THE BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS OF ALANAHAT HIGH SCHOOL

(THE MASTERS LIVED WITH THEM)

MIHIR KUMAR RAY

Memories of Khairagada where he took his first breath

Inherited wisdom from roots deep in depth.

Hope held strong despite sorrow's embrace,

In his grandmother Laxmi's care
he found love's grace.

Raised by Kulamani's legacy so vast.

Krushna Chandra
his father so wise,

Under Sulochana's love
his soul did rise.

Mother's loss early
yet he stood tall

Alanahat High School first witnessed it all.

Ravenshaw shaped him
his dreams stood bright.

Respected scholar
his mind a pure light.

Aspiration and wisdom made futures shine bright.

Years at DAV
then Rourkela's call,

Knowledge he nurtured, uplifting them all.

His journey found rest at Ekamra's door

A scholar retired
yet seeking much more.

In Bhagavad Gita
his heart found its muse,

Reflecting on Savitri
in wisdom infused.

Amid trees and books
his soul felt at ease

Glory in silence
a life meant to please.

A letters' composer
in thought he would roam

Defying the norms that sought to impose.

An iconoclast true
choosing wisdom as home.

(Mihir Kumar Ray, son of Krushna Chandra Ray and Sulochana Devi, was born on April 3,1960, in Khairagada. His grandfather was Kulamani Ray, and his grandmother, Laxmi Ray, played a pivotal role in his upbringing after the early demise of his mother.

A versatile genius, Mihir Kumar Ray was a brilliant orator, an exceptional student, and a remarkable human being. Adversity never hindered his intellectual journey. He completed his matriculation from Alanahat High School in 1976, graduated from Ravenshaw College, and later pursued his Master's degree at Utkal University.He was regarded as one of the finest students of his time.

His teaching career began with a brief stint at DAV College, Koraput, before he moved to Rourkela Municipal College. He later retired from Ekamra College, Bhubaneswar, in 2020, leaving behind a legacy of academic excellence.

Beyond literature, the Srimad Bhagavad Gita remains his profound passion, while Sri Aurobindo's Savitri continues to intrigue him as an enduring enigma. His love for trees rivals his love for books, symbolizing his deep connection with both knowledge and nature.

A man who shuns the limelight, he cherishes the serenity of anonymity over public recognition. His preferred mode of expression is through letters addressed to imaginary characters, a testament to his introspective and literary spirit.

Mihir Kumar Ray has always embraced an ambivalent stance on conventional success. While academic brilliance is often equated with economic prosperity and social prestige, he remains an inveterate iconoclast—indifferent to material wealth and the trappings of status.)

Smruti Ranjan Mohanty©
India
1.4.2025
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