The order changes, not perhaps for good

Sushil Kumar Phull                      

In the late ’60s I registered with the PU to pursue a Phd degree in Hindi. Dr Ganpati Chander Gupta was my adviser. The first DLitt in Hindi from the university, he had added to the lexicon a new word, ‘literology’ — science of literature. A young Rajasthani from Seeker had come to Jalandhar to study for his Master’s degree. Dr Inder Nath Madan, then HoD, would scarce believe that a shy youth from a village could work miracles, but when Dr Gupta topped the list of successful candidates, Dr Madan was happy to help him. His adviser for Phd was Dr Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, whose many students had come along with him when he moved from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to the PU. It reflected the culture of ‘gurudom’: the student is where the guru is. It was a hunger for excellence in research and it could only be done under the very best of times.

My topic was ‘Poetic romances of Hindi prior to Padmavat written by Malik Mohammed Jayasi, analysis of their sources and  motifs’. My guruji made all efforts to make me run from Palampur to anywhere in India to collect material and interact with scholars. Today, with Google it has become easier, but those days, one had to do all the labour. He ensured that I spent a month at Kashi Nagri Pracharini Sabha, Varanasi. It was a place where scholars from across India thronged to eke out the best. It was a great learning experience to meet BHU scholars and consult the huge library. 

After 50 years, I feel it was a training — in writing, interpretation and communion with the silent books of knowledge to assimilate the best available; for posterity, as we are custodians of knowledge who pass on the baton. 

In 1972, Dr Gupta was posted as HoD of the Regional Centre, PU. I took leave from the College of Agriculture, Palampur, to stay for three months at Rohtak, to discuss every line of my thesis before submission at Chandigarh. Time was flying and I was worried. A friend of Dr Gupta advised me to get the thesis typed and present it to the guide for certification. This was the only way to escape the rigid guru. I did as told and got my railway ticket booked. I went to my adviser’s residence with a copy of the thesis. He started reading it, his pen in action. He began to correct typographical errors brutally. I pleaded, saying it was a fair copy. Throwing it away, he said, ‘Nothing is final in research. If Dr Dwivedi happens to be your examiner, he may throw it in the bin.’ 

Ultimately, I submitted it to the PU. The reports of both external examiners, including Dr Dwivedi, endorsed Dr Gupta’s view: ‘A grade recommended, but it has chhape ki bhayankar bhulen hain, which must be corrected before publication.’ The liberal Dr Dwivedi asked me questions about my findings and would elaborate it in his rhythmic style. How great the luminaries were! 

These days, the external examiner is approached by advisers even before the thesis lands for adjudication. The old order changeth, be it good or bad.