Reminiscences

Prof K L Bhalla

According to Sir Richard Livingstone' What is the aim of education? Its aim is to know the first-rate in any subject that we study, with a view to achieving it as nearly as our powers allow.'

It was my good luck to serve under Prof. PN Pushp when he was Principal of Govt Degree College, Poonch. He lived upto the aim of education' as stated above. The college under his stewardship registered all round progress. He is professor of Sanskrit but he speaks and writes English in a superb manner. He asked students to collect folk songs and stories and even now the students of those days remember him lovingly

Prof. Pushp was our guide and friend. He served the College loyally, held aloft its inspiring motto "कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते' Eminent as a professor, he was reputed to be an authority on many aspects of his subject. He was the idol of students. He inspired and quickened in their minds a thirst for knowledge and research. With him the path of duty was the path to glory. We cannot forget his many unremembered acts of kindness and love! We shall ever remember with gratitude the solicitude he showed for the welfare of the student community.

During 1965 Indo-Pak War teachers and students of Poonch College did commendable work under his guidance. He along with staff and students went to the border, repaired roads and did a lot to assist the army. Many persons were uprooted because of shelling and they were rehabilitated and served. He was a source of encouragement to all of us. He was living alone those days and I requested him to move to my house but he declined. He is a great disciplinarian. Once in my presence he rebuked his son who was a student of the college for taking part in a demonstration. He was mild and soft spoken but he was firm when the situation required to take stern action. He laid stress on character building. It was not through preaching but setting an example. Example is better than precept.

I still remember those days when seminars and symposia were held in the college wherein many prominent citizens took part. During those days teachers-parents meet was a regular feature to sort out problems. The inaugural number of college magazine 'Aracena' was unique in the sense that it contained valuable information on many topics including Poonch Region.

Like Krishna Chandra he loved Poonch and the residents of Poonch were grateful to him for the pains he took to develop the college. He was a source of inspiration even to those who did not belong to Poonch College. Raj Bhalla, my wife, still remembers him for encouraging her to write.

'Selfreverence, self knowledge, self control' These three alone lead life to sovereign power These words sum up his multi-faceted personality.

Prof K L Bhalla

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Courtesy:  1996 November, Koshur Samachar