DR. S.K. DEY LITERARY AWARD

THE MAN
Dr. S.K.Dey joined this college as a lecturer in English in 1973, and had served here for 20 years. He was one of a kind; an academic to the core (a recipient of Fulbright Scholarship), and a giant of a personality- quick witted, unpretentious, relevant, dignified, intense and a great conversationalist.
He was no less than the very embodiment of inspiration to students and colleagues alike. When he spoke, one strained to listen for fear of losing a relevant link to the next wave of his thoughts - so much could be lost by so little inattention. In his lectures, he would dandle the emotions of his audience with the rise and fall of his own; his voice choking over “Oh Captain, My Captain”, or lending an unbridled guffaw to “Ugly Ducklings”, or whispering in grave tone on ‘Science and Religion”. He was indeed a teacher’s teacher. It had to be someone like him to inculcate the love of literature in students who were primarily concerned with scientific formulae.
His impact on colleagues and contemporaries was no less influential. In the staff room, colleagues would gather round him, prodding him with provocative questions and assertions, apparently, to solicit his unrivaled verbal reflex. Minutes after his interview for the position of Readership in Silchar University, the chairman of the Interview Board deigned to inform him that he was the unanimous choice of the Board, and if he could wait till 7.00 P.M. that evening, an official Appointment Letter would be given him. The reason for this inordinate eagerness was apparently because the Vice Chancellor of J.N.U., a member of that Board, attempted to outbid the chairman by offering our teacher a position at J.N.U.
To a question on suicide, he said, Man is so insignificant as to have the right to commit suicide, and that it is simply an illusion of grandeur to think that his death would cause a ripple in the ocean of eternity. The universe does not care whether we live or die. Therefore we shouldn’t worry about anything. He was a skeptic, and probably, a Kantian and an unabashed Spinozist, until he was struck down by the dreaded Killer – cancer. In his last days he wrote to one of his colleague and friend, Mr. Megoneitso, with his left hand as “chemotherapy has taken my right hand … Only now, I am learning to pray”.
Death ennobles man; his virtues eclipse his shortcomings, and loom larger than life in the minds of his admirers. While all these are true, it can be confidently said that, in his death, we have lost a great personality and an excellent teacher.

THE AWARD :

This award is privately sponsored by a group of his admirers, and approved by the College authority. It will be conferred annually through selection from literary competitions. The decision as to the mode and nature of competition, criteria of selection, and any other relevant issues will solely rest on a panel of jury constituted by the sponsors, in consultation with the college authority.

The Award comprises a cash prize of rupees Five thousand only and a Commendation Certificate. The Dr. S.K. Dey Literary Award 2008 for the Best Poem goes to Miss Meyiengonu Tetso of Class 12 D, 71411 for her Entry entitled: “The Evergreen Cryptomeria Japonica”.

The Evergreen Cryptomeria Japonica
~ Meyiengonu Tetso ~
Class12 D, 71411.

Belonging to the great family of Taxodiaceae,
Coniferales is its order, Coniferopsida its class,
Plantae is its Kingdom and
The Botanist calls it Cryptomaria japonica.

The lofty pine stands with lush green leaves on the hillock,
a beauty in nature all do admire,
makes every beholder exclaim jubilantly, ‘What a sight!’
on a sunlit day of deep blue sky.

The breezy air of spring passing by
whispers to the buds of leafy spring tenderly,
‘Arise, for lo! The chilly winter has left thee.’
The pine tree is greener as ever, below the bright blue sky.

The sun is scorching down its power,
and waters gushing the rivulets has increased,
the crops of the field has strengthened their roots beneath.
The pine tree stands, a bower for farmers in summer.

Farmers are reaping their fruits of labour.
Young lovers stroll beneath the pine, promising their love
with snowy cotton cloud of autumn floating above,
and sunrays penetrating the pine, to share their laughter.

The chilly air of winter is blowing.
The great oak has showered down it brown gown
and the singing birds too have gone down.
The pine is still the vibrant green
below the vibrant blue sky.
And this vibrant blend shall fade never.

Behold! Kohima Science College,
The lofty Cryptomaria japonica surrounds thee faithfully
And thou never shall fade,
For the Great Blue Sky looks upon thee tenderly.