Prof. Prafulla K. Mohapatra

[Professor of Philosophy, National Fellow, ICPR. ROUNAK, Kalinga Vihar (K-5), Bhubaneswar- 751019]

When you want to do something, the entire universe conspires to help you achieve it. Thus says the alchemist in Paulownia Coelho’s fascinating fiction meaning to inspire all aspiring dreamers. Professor Bijoyini Mohanty was a dreaming to achieve a lot of things of worth and substance. And true to the alchemist’s message she was indeed able to achieve a number of things she wanted to do. At a rather young age she almost single handed managed an emerging teaching faculty at Utkal University with sterling efficiency and responsibility. The post graduate department of Public Administration was always in the news for all the right reasons under her meticulous care and tireless efforts. Within her rather short career and life span she shot into prominence in several co-curricular arenas besides her chosen subject: meetings, seminars, media presentations…you name it she was very much there making her lively presence hardly unnoticed.

Ever smiling and never tiring, Bijoyini would always engage your attention whenever and wherever you happen to be in her presence. Whether in the university or in social get together or in her husband’s nursing home, it was always a pleasure to talk to her and watch this wonderful human being – extremely modest, noticeably humane and ostensively looking for something of substance.

Whenever I happened to tread into her vibrant presence, she would be the one to open the conversation and offer pleasantries – a trait sadly rare in our time of self-conscious, ego-centric environs. She was to win friends and influence people with absolute ease. And that made her achieve a number of things that matter: secured place in the university academia, recognition for the department she cares and nurtured and recognition for herself as an author and researcher as well as a person in Odia literature.

The last one turned out to be by far the best of all her achievements, which shot her into prominence in the literary circle of Odisha. Surprising me and many like me, this unassuming and naive looking person had been silently working on a uniquely classy book in Odia – perhaps her only one in this language – which, alas, she did not live to see in print and earn laurels for her. Hasuni Monalisa (Monalisa is not smiling) is a book of unique class taste, published by her loving and illustrious husband soon after her untimely death, which is an interestingly written historical novel and passionately serious reflective travelogue.

A visit to France and Leonard da Vinci’s immortal painting, though of short duration – much like her short but fruitful life span – seems to have infused a lot of inspirations to write this book, inspirations not merely to write a book of this sort but to passionately reflect on the possible readings of the mysterious smile of Monalisa. Indeed a sort of reading on whether she really smiles at all, an interpretation of a possible sadness in her smile perhaps a reflection of some of Leonard’s own anguish, as Bijoyini so creatively imagines in the book.

But, by far the most creative interpretation of that mysterious smile (or rather no-smile!) comes out in the author’s passionate concerns for mother India and her dearest Odisha. In the face of brazen neglect of the best works of art and architecture of Utkal, her beautiful Odisha is reeling under the pressure of growing anguish. The patriotic heart of the imaginative author bleeds in agony to watch the Monalisa of her imagination, that’s her dearest Odisha, forget smiling altogether. Revelling in her glorious history (and that is where one marvels at the author’s impressive command over Odisha’s history), the passionate author in Professor Mohanty delves in deep deploration at the sad state of Utkal’s art and architecture. Neither the works of architecture are preserved and protected nor are their makers, the great artisans, respected or even remembered. It is the artist that is important in the West but the artist remains in cognito here, the author deplores. Bijoyini’s Monalisa is not smiling for sure; for despite her abundant reserve of architectural excellence, mother Odisha is reeling under the pressure of systemic indifference and callous neglect of such national treasures.

From tourism to history and moving onto speculative transference of the mysterious smile of Monalisa to Odisha’s rather non-smiling profile, the book earns a special status in the grooves of Odia language and literature. Written astoundingly in livid style and impressively ease of expression, the book is a unique piece of creative writing which, many will agree, is a phenomenal feat of literary success on the part of this rather young achiever. Little wonder that this single work would make her instantly famous in Odia literature.

Bijoyini pursued her dreams in unusual haste, as if under the premonitions of a sudden end to her precious life! But with her sincere will to achieve a lot in this sort time she really ended up as an achiever, passionately hoping though little knowing that her best achievement was not to be taking it’s finishes form in her life time. But if there is heaven she must be blissfully living there gleefully witnessing the celebrations of her achievement down here.

True to her connotative name, Bijoyini Mohanty will be remembered as an achiever in personal, professional and literary spheres. She has impressed many as a lively academician and certainly surprised me as a wonderful writer. Most certainly Hasuni Monalisa will place her firmly in Odisha’s literary scenario as more and more people come to read it and notice the specialty of its type and style.

Prof. U. B. Singh

[Professor of Public Administration, Lucknow University, Lucknow]

Dr. (Mrs.) Bijoyini Mohanty was a Professor of Public Administration in Utkal University at Bhubaneswar in Odisha. She served the University for almost three decades and fulfilled most of her academic dreams. Until her sad and sudden demise at an early age, she was heading the Department of Public Administration. She had equal scholarly interests in Public Administration as well as in Political Science. She was member of Indian Institute of Public Administration and International Political Science Association. She presented papers and enriched deliberations in various World Congresses of International Political Science Association. She was a unique combination of a teacher, researcher and prolific writer in Local Government, in particular, and Public Administration, in general. She has to her credit a number of books and scores of research papers. Her academic contribution includes some titles like Municipal System in India: Citizen’s Involvement; Mahatma Gandhi: His Political Philosophy; Tribals of Koraput: Native Politics, Modernisation and Percolation of Development; Glimpses of Local Government; and Financing the Grassroots Government.

I have known Professor Mohanty for more than two decades. As a scholar, she was a versatile genius, a good human being, and a committed family person, a devoted home maker, a caring person, and a perfect host. She was very witty, charming and helpful. Through her writings, she has not only contributed immensely to both the disciplines of Political Science and Public Administration, but also on grassroots problems of local governance and tribal development.

Professor Bojoyini Mohanty was a renowned scholar, a keen researcher and above all a good person. Having been associated with her as a friend, I have yet to find a person having her kind of humility, magnanimity, understanding, kindness and broad mindedness. The world would be a better
place to live, if there could be more individuals like her. I have lost a good friend in her. To a friend of great value and virtues, I pay my tribute on the sad and sudden early demise of Professor Mohanty. May her soul rest in peace!

Dr. Pratap Chandra Swain

[Associate Professor & Head, Department of Political Science, Indira Gandhi Govt. College, Tezu, Arunachal Pradesh]

Dr. (Mrs) Bijoyini Mohanty was an iconic scholar in the field of social science. Possessing an enduring persona, she attained luminous height within the academic circle of the country during her life time. In fact, she became a prominent star, which rose in the academic horizon of India during last few decades and remained at the apex until her last journey.

Popularly known for her strong determination, tenacity and perseverance, Prof. (Mrs.) Mohanty earned formidable reputation as a distinguished scholar, writer and singer across the state. She created vital landmarks in promoting a scholarly heritage within Political Science, and for Public Administration, she became a living institution over the years. Her uniqueness was to dream big and translate it into reality with a strong will power.

Although, she wrote extensively in different scholarly and literary genres, Prof. (Mrs.) Bijoyini Mohanty was first of all a Political Scientist par excellence as well as a distinguished scholar in Public Administration. She has made sizeable contributions towards the literature in Political Science as well as Public Administration. Scholarly books written by Professor Mohanty on Municipal Administration, Local Government, Panchayati Raj, and Mahatma Gandhi etc. adequately vindicate her extraordinary talents.

Significantly, her last creation entitled ” H a s u ni M o n alis a ” has been immortal one. This book reflects her exceptional writing style with indigenous language skill. Moreover, she has drawn a lively sketch of the socio-cultural, historical and political landscape of Odisha with the help of widely acclaimed portrait of a woman – Monalisa by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. She has made the work as meaningful and artistic as Monalisa and tried her best to configure the factors that led to suppress smile on the face of Monalisa in the contemporary period.

The publisher as well as Dr. Indramani Jena has made a laudable effort in bringing out such a richly worked out writing of Prof. (Mrs.) Mohanty. Indeed this is a great tribute to her yeomen contributions. Today Bijoyini Madam is no more with us .But she will be ever remembered for creating a scholarly cult in academics within a frame work of equity and humanism. I take this opportunity to pay sincere tribute to the immortal contributions of Bijoyini Madam towards enrichment of contemporary society, polity and above all academics.

Dr. Swarnamayee Tripathy

[Reader, Department of Public Administration, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha]

Prof. Bijoyini Mohanty has left us for her spiritual journey, though she lives in the heart of her students and colleagues. What distinguished ‘Bijoyini apa'( I used to call her ‘apa’ as both of us knew each other while working on our doctoral dissertation under the same guide) was her quest for intellectual pursuit. In her own right, she was a prolific writer and had penned numerous thoughtprovoking articles, books and poems. Her novel in Odia namely, ‘ Hasuni Monalisa’ exposes the originality of her creative writing.

Indeed, she was a perpetual student and therefore, remained intellectually vibrant throughout her life. Her students enjoyed her class in local governance. Even while travelling to different parts of the country or abroad, she keenly observed whatever she saw. Her reflections on Leonardo da vinci and Monalisa in her novel ‘ Hasuni Monalisa ‘ are clear indication of the fact that she always had a dynamic attitude.

My first interaction with her is memorable. Probably, I met her towards the end of 1986 in the chamber of my doctoral Guide, Prof. Sharada Rath. She had come with her two kids, Ini and Somu, both are eminent doctors today. Her children shared with Prof. Rath, how their mother puts up hard work to do her studies. In those days, I was having a tough time to manage my studies along with my household responsibilities of a newlywed wife and daughter-in-law. I remember her steely resolve to continue her studies despite all odds on those days. Since then, she became a source of inspiration for me. Whenever I felt desolated in the midst of my familial responsibilities I used to remember her efforts though I had not maintained any contacts with her till 2006. In 2006, I met her in a Refresher Course organised by her in the Department of Public Administration, Utkal University.

Thus, began my association with Bijoyini Mohanty, who was hailed as an illustrious academician in the state.

Even as she took pride being the spouse of Dr. Indramani Jena, a loving and caring husband, she never allowed her identity to be submerged by her husband’s image as an eminent physician. This was quite evident in her efforts to maintain a public life by being the Secretary of Indian Institute of Public Administration, Odisha Chapter and organise seminars and workshops in the Department. Before every meeting, she used to put a lot of hard work in preparation. Her assertion to be her own was a reflection of her originality.

Her involvement in shaping the Department was exemplary. She always dreamt of making the Department of Public Administration an Advanced Study Centre of learning. Quite often, she shared her dream with us in the Department. She gave a glorious tenure to introspect and examine the measures taken for the advancement of the Department. She is no more, but her legacy will endure.

She believed in the potentials of her subordinates. She had a strong belief that consensus works better than confrontation. However, any unsystematic work used to irritate her soon. Let me confess, whenever she had assigned me any work I had to work hard taking into consideration her exacting standards. About a year later I joined the Department of Public Administration of Utkal University in 2010, she proposed my name in the departmental Committee for Deputy Course Coordinator for the UGC Innovative Programme in Development Journalism and Electronic Communication in our department. In the course of our interaction, she once said, “I need your assistance to develop this Innovative master’s programme into a full- fledged department as I am not keeping well.” I was overwhelmed by her faith on my ability. However, things always do not take shape the way we wish. Things came out differently, her worries increased and our dream could not take shape. Sometimes, these things haunt me in lonely moments.

She was acknowledged by the intellectuals in the state for her wider social networking, sophisticated organising ability and robust vision. She had tremendous hold over diverse streams of learning and scholarship. With
meagre resources at hand, both human and financial, she had managed to organise every academic activity in the department. She had a fierce determination to meet any crisis, determination to up hold just and right concept and to defy the odds with a strong heart.

It is, indeed a great pleasure to listen to her speeches – vibrating with ideas pulsating the thought and echoing perpetually with her graceful voice. Every speech was quite distinct and refreshing as she used to do a lot of hard work before any meeting she had to address.

She was an extraordinary human being with finer sensibilities. Her humane qualities endeared her to one and all. Her students always saw a mother in her personality. She personally attended to the needs of the students who shared their pain and grief with her. She knew how to administer with a human touch, though at times she had reacted sharply in situations when the students had tried to play with rules. Therefore, at times, she was misunderstood by the students, who later on had realisation and shown great regards for her.

The most important quality of her personality was that she was a warrior in true sense of the term. Her competitive nature combined with passion, drive and skill made her a formidable and fierce opponent. However, off the court, she was a sweetheart, a bright light with an infectious spirit. She was extremely humble in her behaviour, cherished her family and life.

Long Live ‘Bijoyini Apa’.

Pratip Kumar Mishra

[Department of Political Science, P. N. College, Khorda]

It is always hard to believe that an academic crusader like Bijoyini nani is no more with us. She lives undoubtedly in our hearts and in the thousands of young talent who have chanced to come under her influence. It was midnight of 16th September, 2013, as usual, after glancing through the newspaper columns I sat before my computer to do some academic work it was a review of the Ph.D synopsis of one of madam’s dearest student and incidentally my scholar, Rashmi. It was about half past twelve when I received the message from Sarbari my former student and scholar working in the department that, ‚ Bijoyini madam is no more with us.‛

As an irony I was just going through the bibliography and the references Rashmi had taken from madam’s book I looked at the message again and again in disbelief. In my wildest thought, I had never expected a message as grave as this to come at the midnight hour. I picked up courage to ring up Somu to authenticate this dreadful news, wishing it all the time to be untrue. But the confirmation was positive. I started intimating those who were close in our circle to her the same night and looked to the dawn to have the last glimpse of her. A shadow of sadness and pensive melancholy was all over the place. Her house at Jagamara, ‚SAMAROH‛ was in shock silence awaiting the arrival of her near and dear ones. A place that had been a witness to many functions gathering and feasting was different today. Her premature passing away had put each one in a stupor. The final hour came soon we bid adieu from the home to the university and Public Administration department which was always so dear to her heart. Students’ and faculty from other departments had strewn the path. She calmly rested in her long sojourn.

My association with her, dates back to nineteen seventy eight when I had joined the P.G. department of Political Science at Vani Vihar and she was one batch senior to me. Her brother was our batch mate and gradually when our
intimacy grew I came to know that both our fathers were also good friends. I came in contact with Dr Indramani Jena leading doctor of the state, as much an academic researcher and writer, a very amicable and friendly man, who made everyone his own. Both of them were made for each other. Sir had a sweet smile too, like nani . From individual relationship both the families became firmly attached when we stayed as neighbours in Nayapalli. It was her idea that I stay there and try to buy a house in the locality and her wishes came true when I purchased the flat which is my home now. Siloo my wife and nani
became morning walkers and good friends. My children fondly called her Madam Aunty and Sir Uncle. The web of a strong togetherness between the children developed. But nani had to shift to her new home SAMAROH and she made it mandatory that we attend the Sradha of her mother in law which falls on the day of Holi to maintain our cordial relationship and this continued till her passing away.

As my thoughts cascade down today in her memory the days that were and the moments we shared just floats away. She took the masters in Public Administration and the centre was my college at Khordha while, in the same year I took the same, at department of Political Science, Utkal University. She had said that it will be always better in a neutral zone. Her branching to Public Administration coincided with the creation of the department at Utkal University and till her passing away contributed in many ways to make it occupy the top slot in academic as well as cultural and allied activities. It is here that I came in close proximity to her and could understand her ways and means of teaching, administering as well as handling the student matters not in the typical officious manner but with a student friendly approach. Having a consistently good career she was a good singer and has performed on many occasions along with her daughter. Her multiple talents bloomed.

On many occasions alone she had managed the activities of the department with the support of guest faculties, of which I was a luckily one. Not for a single day did we and my colleagues have had the feeling that we were not part of the department mainstream, with her astute leadership academic activities of the department reached dizzy heights. We shared views on many
occasions and her motherly influence on the students had spun a magic bond amongst all. All of us received the same respect and devotion from the students. She is no more but that legacy continues. Hitesh one of her favourite student had sent a message to me that madam used to always say, ‚My students will always be mine wherever they are, it is my strong belief that affection, trust and support that is expected by a mother is given to me.‛ This echoes in the hearts of her dear students who are so possessive about her that on her passing away they lamented that, this void will be difficult to be filled. I quote their message to me, ‚Our Bijoyini madam is ours even today , our source of strength , our valuable and priceless possession.‛ This is just a tip of the ice berg showing her popularity and attachment with her students. Selflessly they miss her more.

As we were life members of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, I had the opportunity of working with her in the Odisha Regional Branch. She was the Honorary Secretary and I was the joint secretary, this provided a great opportunity of learning some administrative skills and acumen and helped me to carry on when I was elected to the same post later. She was very happy and always encouraged and appreciated my work. She had inculcated a team spirit of working together for common interest and welfare of the institution. She was the Editor, Vice chairman and Director of Centre for Human Rights in the IIPA. She was popular with members of the regional branch as well as at New Delhi and took special interest in conducting programmes of quality. In her demise, IIPA fraternity has also lost a constructive and open minded member.

Today while writing this memorial script I feel, she was so close yet so far, gradually drifting away from things she liked. 29th May 2013 was her last association with all of us at IIPA regional branch where she was elected to the EC and attended its first meeting in June. No trace of the calamity that struck in September was ever perceived. She had gradually disassociated herself but reasons still unclear perhaps a premonition that she has a short stay in this mundane world. This started slowly unfolding; she was very close to my father who passed away on July 30th 2013, must have received the news but replied to
me little late. Still I could not guess the reason nor had anyone told me that she was getting critical day by day. In August, I had talked to her last, she expressing her condolences and I was trying to console. My assurance to her that I will see her while coming from college remained a mission unfulfilled and also taught a lesson that if you desire to meet someone do it today as tomorrow never comes.

She had lot of promises to keep and definitely many a miles to go. Many of her unfinished agenda is gradually being fulfilled by Dr. Jena. According to him she lives and always will do so. She is truly Bijoyini in overcoming the challenges of life. A humble prayer that let lord Jagannath give her the heavenly abode of peace and tranquility which she rightfully deserves.

Prof. A. P. Padhi

[Professor of Public Administration & Vice-Chancellor, Berhampur Shanti Nagar, Near Sai Mandir, Danipali Road, Budharaja, Sambalpur – 768004]

I know Bijoyini for the last three decades since her placement in the Department of Public Administration of Utkal University as a Reader in 1995 and as Professor in the same Department since 2004. She was a hard worker both as a student and teacher. She had a brilliant academic career and done her Ph. D. in Municipal Affairs of Bhubaneswar and this has been recognition to her ways to research and publication in depth. Her Ph. D. Work is a model of excellence.

Self efforts made her to rise to the top. She was proactive and articulate both in teaching – learning and research. She could succeed to attend the International Political Science Conference, once before her joining in Utkal University and from the University she could attend 3 more World Congresses outside India presenting worthy papers and making excellent contribution on behalf of the country. Over and above, she had the achievement to present a paper in the Annual Conference of United Kingdom concerning the women administrators of Odisha. Her presentations clearly post her in high echelons of Public Administration.

She was also a skilful organizer both in the Department of Public Administration and Indian institute of Public Administration. During her headship in the Department of Public Administration, things moved in a special way that speaks of her excellent managerial skill. She invited as much work as possible, she also was Coordinator of an additional department that she earned by skilful presentation at UGC in the name of Innovative Programme in Journalism and Communication (Development Journalism and Electronic Communication, Innovative Programme of Utkal University).

Her publications made her tall in academics and she is known as a reputed grassroots scholar both inside and outside the country. She earned the reputation of a good teacher and good researcher. She was widely respected by her students and colleagues alike.

God took her to his lap to look after HIM. May her soul rest in peace is my prayer.

Prof. Prasanna K. Nayak

[Chairman, NCDS, Bhubaneswar]

Bijoyini Mohanty was granted her angel wings on 16 September 2013. Her final days were spent surrounded by family and friends whose lives Bijoyini had touched in profound ways throughout her short, yet very memorable life.

Bijoyini’s life would seem too short to many, but those who knew her well understood that the quality of existence far exceeds the quantity of time in which one lives. Her gentle smile, soft spoken persona, dignified deportment brought so much joy to her family, friends and colleagues. Her positive approach to matters reminded us of how precious life is. During my tenure as Chairperson, Post Graduate Council, Utkal University she often brought to my notice problems affecting her Department in a very candid, courteous and decisive manner. This set her apart from other Heads of the Department at the University. She presented her viewpoints confidently and convincingly and earned the unstinted appreciation of her peers and senior academics. She had outstanding abilities both as a teacher and a researcher. As a Professor, she was so deeply committed to the growth and development of her Department of Public Administration that she could muster support from all her students and colleagues. She had a dream to transform her newly established Post Graduate Department at Utkal to a centre of national and international repute.

Success never made her lose her endearingly human qualities: she was generous with her time; she was ready to discuss anything with anybody in the university. Her comprehensive understanding of her subject enabled her to effortlessly reach the heart of the matter. Her inquisitiveness and her love for knowledge remained undiminished until the last hours of her life. Her death has left a void which no one can fill. However, the ideals she stood for and strove to realize as a teacher and a researcher will continue to inspire her former students.

Way back in 1994 summer, Bijoyini came to Berlin. Prof. Suryakanta Mohanty, who was a guest visitor to Berlin University at that time, accompanied
me to receive her at the Tegel airport, Berlin. We were to escort her to the international guest house, where she was to put up for about a week to attend an international conference. The conference venue was in the eastern part of Berlin. The two Berlins had been reunited just four years ago. However, East Berlin was not yet as developed as West Berlin. There were no proper signboards on the roadside. It was difficult to find one’s way to the international guest house. We were in a quandary and stood at a crossroad waiting for someone to tell us the way. The city was thinly populated. So, one could hardly sight people on the street whom one could ask for directions. Luckily, a passerby sensed our predicament, stopped his car and asked us where we wanted to go. We told him the name of the place, the address of the international guest house. He drove away at great speed. We thought that probably he did not know the place and he therefore could not help. We stood waiting for someone else to help us. To our utter surprise, the man who had left us, came back after about ten minutes and told us that he had located the place and now he could take us to that guest house and asked us to get into his car. He was a thorough gentleman, a German. He gave us a lift to our destination and then took leave of us. I thanked him profusely in German. I had noted his name and telephone number. But these I lost somehow.

We entered the guest house. Bijoyini was the first to arrive there. The guest house was almost empty. It was stocked with all necessary provisions but everything seemed sleepy. We took leave of Bijoyini for I was scheduled to leave for Paris the day after. I noticed that Bijoyini looked a bit nervous. I could understand her plight, our Odia sister in an alien place! I took a pause and then in order to instil in her a bit of self confidence tried to acquaint her with the facilities of the guest house and told her whom to contact and where to get what when she needed something etc. I arranged for her to talk to Dr. Jena, her husband on the phone. He was not available. However, she succeeded in getting one of her close relatives on the phone and informed him that she had arrived in Berlin and was safe and sound. We went to a nearby restaurant. We had our food. I got her two bottles of water and some cakes and fruit juice. Before she entered her room she suddenly broke down and wept. I consoled
her and promised her that I and Prof. Mohanty would meet her the next day in the morning. In fact she was very happy to see us the next day. Together went to the famous Berlin Zoo and on the way she did some shopping, purchased a camera, gathered some ideas about the city of Berlin and its important landmarks. During the rest of her stay in Berlin she managed everything by herself and returned home safe and sound. Her experiences during her Berlin visit must have emboldened her a great deal.

Bijoyini is survived by her loving physician husband, Dr. Indramani Jena, her son and daughter and their spouses, and her very dear grand daughter and two of her brothers and three sisters and their families.

Everything that has a beginning has an end; and it is not the length of one’s life, but its depth that ultimately matters. To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die. Bijoyini, an angel, continues to smile from heaven.

I pray to God to give her family the strength to cope with their loss. May Bijoyini’s soul rest in peace !

Netrananda Roy

[Vice Chairman, IIPA, Odisha Regional Branch, Bhubaneswar]

It was extremely harrowing to digest that Prof Bijoyini Mohanty had breathed her last. She, with her genial figure, cheerful face and smiling eyes, still looms around ! Her untimely wresting by malevolent destiny is impious and reprehensible.

I first met Prof Mohanty in 2005, in a meeting of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, Odisha Regional Branch, Bhubaneswar. She was then the general secretary of the organization. She was also the Professor and Head of the Department of Public Administration, Utkal University, Vani Vihar- one of the youngest ever. My interface with her in IIPA and other intellectual fora was limited. But even in these infrequent meetings, I was deeply impressed by her modesty, sincerity and positivity of attitude. She would never hesitate to accept an assignment, even when she knew that it would be a difficult drag on her time and routine. She edited IIPA’s annual journal with quiet competence and her’s was one of the best edited volumes. She was very active in meetings and conferences, sometimes delivered key-note addresses and authored many papers, which embellished the journals of IIPA, Delhi and Bhubaneswar. This is all in addition to her academic pursuits in the university.

Her academic and organizational accomplishments were no doubt great, but her virtues as a human being were still greater. She always wore a smile on her face and was never ever rude to anyone. She probably combined in her person a humane sensibility, a managerial competence and an attitude of service above self, virtues imbibed from her uncle, brother and husband respectively. She exuded a reassurance for everyone around like the ‘sister next door’. It is quite inexorable that cruel destiny plucked her off at a premature age, cutting short her promise to scale greater heights. One could rue with Shakespeare:

Like flies to wanton boys, we are to the lords

They kill us for their sport

Death has robbed us of her physical presence, but it can never blur her long lingering memory, which we all carry in our hearts. May her soul rest in peace! May her kinsmen gather courage to get over the loss !

Dr. Indira Pattnaik & Mr. Aditya Prasad Mohanty

[Dhauli, N/2-112, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar]

Some people come in our lives like a breath of fresh air, stay with us like whiffs of zephyr and then depart like gentle wind leaving behind the scent of memories…..

Bijoyini was one such individual. You have heard of love at first sight. Well, I experienced ‘affection at first glance’ when I saw her at the first re-union of 1968 admitted batch to MBBS course at NALCO guest house in December, 2006. She was very pretty, vivacious and a bundle of enthusiasm. She was all over the place chatting with friends, greeting acquaintances, smiling at strangers and making everyone comfortable.

My impression with her from the very outset had been her winning smile that had made me feel as if she is known me for years. And as we start interacting, a while later I actually realized that we were known to each other for a long, long time in the flow of time and eternity.

Bijoyini (Tuni) was a hugely talented individual to whom multi-tasking was as easy as breathing. She was a much loved Professor of Public Administration in Utkal University. Her views on the art and science of imparting education were way ahead of our times. She was also a classical dancer and singer.

I remember to have heard her bhajans on many occasions. Her soulful singing always remains with me long after I left her presence. There was a certain feel to her voice which touched a chord in the listener.

As a speaker too she mesmerised the audience every time she took the stage. She had this innate ability to connect with the audience and take them along.

Her creative was not restricted to dance, music and oratory alone. She was an accomplished writer. The rare sensitivity she possessed as well as her ability to see the beauty in the mundane helped her craft stories which left an indelible impact on her readers. Her novel Hasuni Monalisa is an eloquent tribute to her understanding of the ancient history of Odisha and comparing it with art of the great Leonardo da vinci.

As a wife she was a companion, a friend and a confidante – one who inspired love and trust. As a mother she was an inspiration, a lodestar guiding her children on the righteous path.

As a friend she personified fun, joy and camaraderie. She made everyone her own with little gestures that were straight from her heart. As a host she made her guests feel so much at home, going into the details of their likes and dislikes.

Whatever role Bijoyini performed, she did it to perfection.

As I look back to the moments we spent together I felt a sense of happiness, of pride – a feeling of having been touched by a brilliant mind, a loving heart and a noble soul.

She breathed her last at the hospital where I work. I am still not able to face the reality that Bijoyini is no longer with us. Her sweet voice “Apa” still echoes in my ears.

As an immortal quote from The Psalm of life:

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream!

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal;

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul

Durga Charan Samal

[Life Member, Indian Institute of Public Administration, Regional Branch, Odisha]

My acquaintance with Dr. Mohanty covered a short span of 5 to 6 years. I chanced to know her in the meetings of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, Odisha Regional Branch, Bhubaneswar where I was regular participant. I was greatly impressed by the manner she conducted the meetings. Though small in stature, she was tall in otherwise. But I personally came in contact with her when I needed and searched for scholar to write a preface to my book, Loka Prasasana Ababodh in Odia. She was the Professor and Head of Department of Public Administration, Utkal University. I could not venture to approach direct, lest she might decline.

Then I consulted my friend, Prof. B. C. Das and requested him to approach her. Prof. Das instantly agreed and we decided to contact her over telephone. Prof. Das introduced me to her over the telephone and gave her my bio-data and professional background. Besides, he also gave short account of the book in Odia which was first of its kind. I was afraid, she might decline the request because of professional bias. But to my utter surprise, she gladly agreed. She then asked me to handover the manuscript to her in the next meeting of the IIPA which she complied. I had great apprehension that she might just skip over and write a superficial preface. But to my utter surprise, when she returned the manuscript with her one and half page preface, I could not believe my eyes. When I went through it, I found that she had gone in detail through my writings and had analysed them and brought out the focal points to catch the reader’s eyes. It was an extraordinary preface which a Professor would write on the writings of an unknown writer who also does not belong to her profession. This proved that she was free from professional bias and is a true educationist. When we met next, before I would express my gratitude, she complemented
me for my efforts. I feel more than I can express how much I estimate her and owe to her.

Another instance of her magnanimity remains unforgettable. Once I, as a President of the Senior Citizens’ Forum’ requested her to give a talk in the seminar arranged by us on the topic, Citizens’ Charter. She, without considering the status of our organization consented instantly. During her talk, she covered entire gamut of the subject starting from the concept, evolution and the movement of the ideology which could be compared with any scholar of repute in such field. It was unparallel. The meeting was followed by lunch. After the lunch, to our surprise, she spontaneously expressed to host the lunch which was beyond our expectation. We, of course, declined the offer politely. This speaks of how magnanimous she was! I should call her she was magnanimity personified.

She was endowed with many human virtues and qualities. Brought up in a cultural ambience, she developed her natural talents and became a multidimensional personality.

In the field of education, she had to her credit the highest academic achievements. She was M. A. in Political Science and again M. A. in Public Administration. She completed her Ph. D. and D. Lit in her subject. In her official capacity she was Professor and Head of the Department of Public Administration and Coordinator, Development Journalism and Electronic Communication, Utkal University. Her rise in the discipline was phenomenal.

Apart from the field of education, she was equally tall in surrounding social milieu. She possessed a winsome personality and in her interaction, she exhibited a high sense of propriety and proportion. She had uncanny charisma to win others. Really she is worthy of her name, Bijoyini, hopefully named at birth, but proved by her in life and we do feel its justification at this function in her memory.

May her soul rest where she aspired to be.

S. B. Mishra

[Ex-Chief Secretary, Odisha, 64 Forest Park, Bhubaneswar]

Late Prof. Bijoyini Mohanty has left an indelible impression on everyone associated with her during her lifetime. It is difficult to believe that she is no longer with us. She was too young and vibrant to pass away.

She was an erudite Professor and scholar, having given shape to and steering the Public Administration Department of Utkal University. She was intellectually front ranking, wrote quite a few papers in prestigious journals and published a number of books, which received critical acclaim. She guided many students to Doctorate degree. Her academic and administrative credentials were many, varied and impeccable.

Bijoyini was a great human being, full of infectious enthusiasm and irrepressible energy. She was compassionate, courteous and helpful to all. I knew her closely as Secretary Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) Orissa Regional Branch, where I was the Chairman for four years. She was a pillar of strength of this organization. She worked diligently to make the Orissa Branch of IIPA one of the best in the country. She was liked by her friends, trusted by her colleagues and admired by her students. She leaves a void that is hard to fulfil. Dr. Indramani Jena and Prof. Bijoyini Mohanty made an ideal couple. She, in particular, was an ideal wife and mother, and of course, an ideal teacher. Her family, relations, friends and students will miss her for a long, long time.

Prof. (Dr) Binayak Rath

[Former Vice Chancellor, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar]

Almighty God is not always kind to some good and kind-hearted people on earth and they are destined to live for a short period perhaps because their services are required elsewhere for some noble work. One such multi-faceted personality was Prof. Bijoyini Mohanty, who died in the prime of her life on September 2013 at the age of fifty six. She was not only a committed teacher, but a good researcher, a writer, a singer, an able organiser and above all, a humanitarian, who used to face all problems with a smile. May be she was greatly influenced by the “Smile of Monalisa”, which is best reflected in her recently published book in Odia Hasuni Mo n alisa . She possessed a charming personality and triumphed over ordeals including even the killer disease she suffered towards the last part of her life. Though we have a brief association with her and her husband, Dr Indramani Jena, who is not only a good and committed physician, but who is also a compassionate human being, I have many fond memories of the time we spent with them over the last six years. I and my wife greatly admired this charming and lovable couple. As a tribute to Prof. Mohanty, let me recount some of my cherished memories.

After 33 years in IIT Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, when I returned to my native state to take charge as Vice Chancellor of Utkal University with a determination to revive and revitalize the great teaching and research tradition of the oldest University in the state, I was looking forward to meeting my faculty colleagues, students, staff and stakeholders to understand their vision and to seek their cooperation. So I decided to meet all the Heads of Departments individually to discuss the issues and problems they faced and the possible solutions they envisaged in order to improve the academic environment. Prof. Mohanty came to meet me in my office in mid-April, 2008 and during the first meeting I was
impressed by her suavity and by her deep concern for the Department of Public Administration and her students. I was surprised to learn from her that she was the only faculty member in the department and ran the two-year regular M.A. programmes along with two self financing schemes with help from faculty from other departments and also through her social contacts. I also came to learn that she and her husband were involved in many philanthropic activities in the city. Although a few of the heads and senior professors and other functionaries of the University suggested that I seek the views of the faculty by holding formal meetings with them, I decided to adopt informal and non-conventional methods, which would encourage people to express their views freely. Accordingly, a few days after I joined, adhering to the Indian tradition of greeting people, I and my wife decided to invite all the Heads of Departments and their spouses to the VC’s residence one evening for a cup of tea. Accordingly, we arranged an informal get-together in mid-June 2008, which was attended by all the Heads of Departments. But as this was something absolutely new in the University, only a few turned up with their spouses and one such couple who attended the get-together were Dr. Bijoyini Mohanty and Dr Indramani Jena. This was where I discovered that Mrs. Mohanty was not only a good teacher but an accomplished singer. The social bond established through this first interaction continued to be cherished and strengthened. Some of the memorable events worth mentioning over these years are:

We still recollect and cherish our last meeting with Prof. Bijoyini Mohanty at dinner in our residence in Debashram, SBI Colony, Kesura in June, 2013. In spite of her advancing ailment she had accepted our invitation and came to join us and heartily enjoyed the food and the music. She generously accepted our request to sing a song along with Mrs. Rath. Her face showed no trace of any stress or strain. We decided to sit down to another evening of singing and food with all our children. But alas, that was ever to be. The cruel hands of death snatched her away. So, when I was told that she had passed away in September, 2013, we could not believe it. Our thoughts turned to that happy family, to which God had dealt such a terrible blow. However, it is man’s fate and one has to accept it meekly.

Another important day in our growing relationship was October 29, 2008, when I was invited personally by Mrs. Mohanty to deliver a talk at the IIPA local chapter meeting. I was also invited to be present at the release of the book entitled Odishara Swasthya written by Dr Indramani Jena. We were so deeply highly impressed by lucid and persuasive writing style of Dr Jena we decided to consult him on all personal health-related problems. The bond developed there has been strengthened over the years through Mrs. Mohanty.

Prof Mohanty’s deep commitment to the wellbeing of her students and her desire to serve her department to the best of her ability always impressed me profoundly. Whenever she came to meet me in my office, she would insist that she should be given a few more faculty and staff members. And in response to her passionate commitment to strengthening the department, we recruited three faculty members for department in the selection committee held in March, 2010. I can never forget the feeling of satisfaction her face showed that day, which one rarely comes across these days when selfish considerations shape our behaviour and our attitude to life.

I recall many more memorable days that we have spent with this happy couple after my tenure as VC of Utkal University came to an end.

The untimely death of such a good soul is a great loss not only for Utkal University but for the community of teachers, researchers and for our society. Above all, we have lost a great humanitarian. Let me pay a glowing tribute to her. May her soul rest in peace !