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DR. JAHAR KANTI SEN “Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts,” writes Arunabha Bhattacharjee
Sept. 14: No more shall we hear, in that nasal intonation (which was unique in its own way) and British accent, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.… (from Julius Caesar, spoken by Marc Antony) or the Drama of Ideas by George Bernard Shaw – yes, we have lost that legendary teacher of English language and Literature – Dr. Jahar Kanti Sen, popularly known as J.K.Sen Sir.
For us, his students, and we consider ourselves fortunate for that, he was ‘A larger than life figure’, for whom teaching literature was not only a profession but a passion. We found Sir at his best inside the classroom and I deliberately use the word ‘we’, for I am sure my friends and colleagues will agree with me on that point. Be it T.S. Eliot or the poems of John Keats or Percy Bysshe Shelly, Sir used to delve deep into the poem and invariably mesmerise his students.
I have been his student during my days of Higher Secondary at G.C.College, Silchar, but, even after completing my Masters, I was in constant touch with him. Many a times he called me to his residence and over a cup of tea he discussed with me many issues related to literature and teaching of literature in classrooms. His doors were always open for his students and he loved and enjoyed discussing with them any topics related to literature.
A man of principle, who always believed in putting or stating things as they are, his unique style of teaching attracted the students who were otherwise, perhaps, awed by his magnanimous personality. The general commotion of students in a classroom of G.C.College quietened down as soon as Sir stepped inside the class after stamping out the “burnt end of his cigarette.” We waited for the Roll Call to be over, which again was unique in his characteristic style, and then started the memorable lecture of the great teacher.
A few years back, in course of a personal conversation with Sir, I said to him that I again wanted to attend his class as a student and to that he replied with a usual but rare smile on his face that, “I have grown old and now it is your turn to teach the students.” The words were precious for me and I bowed down before him.
The passing away of J.K.Sen Sir is indeed a great and irreparable loss to the students and teaching fraternity at large. The passing away of the celebrated teacher has indeed created a void which only perhaps ‘Time’ can fill up. As a teacher, he has achieved what all of us could just dream. His contribution to the large number of students and teaching fraternity at large will always be appreciated. Sir had the capacity to ignite the minds of his students and with his presence he would light us all up with positivity. The memory of our beloved and respected Sir will remain ingrained in our memory for ever. I pray that his soul rests in eternal peace. Good bye Sir…
*Arunabha Bhattacharjee is an admirer and student of Sir J.K.Sen. He teaches English at Radhamadhab College, Silchar.
