Dr. Deshpande

I just could not resist the temptation of visiting Pilani immediately after completing my work in Pakistan High Commission at Delhi. Pilani, where I grew up and graduated from BITS, keeps on calling us old Pilanians time and again. Nothing has changed since I left the place in 1971, except the growing population and dirt, but the place and the people are exceptional. So this time it was no different.

During my sojourn I learnt that an Old Batch ( probably 1976 – 77 pass outs ) comprising of some 80 odd well settled people now had organized felicitation of Dr. Deshpande in Pilani. They organized pick up, drop, lodging and boarding for all the family members of Dr. Deshpande and arranged a hugely successful program in AUDI ( yes, our dear old auditorium ). They gave a cheque of Rs. 2 Lac and a citation to him. We all knew Dr. Deshpande and had always high regards and respect for him, but hardly any one had thought of this gesture. It moved me.

Hats off to the 80 odd boys, who are different.

An incident which is etched on our memory like many others tells amply about the command and respect he enjoyed. In a street fight some boys from CEERI thrashed some of the students from BITS. As usual the BITSians ganged up together and charged at the CEERI gate with hockey sticks, lathis in their hands. Dr. Deshpande rushed to the spot, when he came to know about it. He stood at the gate and said in loud and clear voice “ ABOUT TURN ” and all the BITSians turned their backs and walked off peacefully. A big clash was thus avoided.

It is really very sad that only a few months later he passed away, leaving a legacy and his memory behind.