Year 1956 witnessed an immense change in my life when I was admitted to Intermediate Final ( Second Year ) in Government Lohia Degree College Churu consequent to my brother VCSrivastava's transfer as Lecturer there from Government Intermediate College Tonk.
Highly Respected Principal Shri RS Gupta was a Gandhian to the core and exemplified ethical values by personal conduct and also tried to inculcate them among staff and students in College.
We English Literature students had an added advantage of attending one period in his room in rectangular shape surrounding his Principal's chair. We learnt some lessons for life besides English Poetry period.Simple living high thinking , helping others and truthful conduct were the core values among others.
As it happened in December 1958 4 months before my BA Final Examination my brother had shifted to a house which ,though a little off the road , lay on way to college. After getting a slight hint from my Principal quite often I accompanied him on way back from college.
Principal Guptaji became my mentor for career and life. He asked me to study with focus and concentration to secure First Division in BA Final Examination.Besides he suggested that I should aim at appearing for IAS Etc.Exam as it was termed then. He indicated that History papers for competitive exams would be a good choice as I was already studying history books for BA Final course.
In January 1959 Guptaji asked my eldest brother to allow me to shift to his residence room located in the large haveli gate for undisturbed studies and come home for meals. My brother agreed in the larger interest of studies and my career ahead. Accordingly, I shifted to the small room where a table chair and a charpoy were fixed to serve my purpose.The room also had an electric bulb which we missed at the rented accommodation. I studied earnestly and with necessary concentration.
In the college, Principal Guptaji set up Gandhi Mandap in a large vacant room with Mahatma Gandhi’s large photo , a few small Charkha sets and Gandhi Sahitya library with a view to inculcate Gandhian values and truthful conduct in life. This room open for 24 hours also allowed to be freely used for personal reading and writing for all students who wished to be alone.
In early March 1959 Vinoba Bhave Gandhiji's disciple and Bhoodan Leader was scheduled to visit Churu on his return Journey after conducting Bhoodan in Bikaner. Principal Guptaji arranged a lecture for Vinobaji's Secretary who called upon the students to attend Vinoba ji's public meeting at the garden near Jain Stupa located between college and city market.Among others I also listened to Vinoba Bhave with rapt attention and was attracted to the concept of Bhoodan and in a flash of adolescent thought I decided to join Bhoodan Movement .But while returning on my way home I saw his followers being served lavish and sumptuous food I thought they were parasites on society. I changed my mind and decided to concentrate on my studies.
Principal Guptaji not only became my mentor but also father like by his love and affectionate behaviour. Unbelievable it may seem,he would wake me up with a cup of tea in his hand ,knock at the door and call “Utho Ishwar Chandra “. In April 1959 I appeared at my BA Final Examination and returned to live with my brother.
Eventually Principal Guptaji's suggestions equipped me intellectually to prepare for my IAS ETC.EXAM for which I qualified in 1966 and declared successful after interview.
Allotted to Rajasthan Cadre I met my mentor Guptaji at his residence in Ajmer where I joined as IAS Probationer trainee in 1967.He was very happy to see me again and blessed me for a successful career. His youngest son Atul Kumar Gupta also passed IAS Etc Exam in 1980 and was allotted to Rajasthan. But he resigned and left for USA in 1991 in the interest of studies for his children abroad after serving as Collector Pali and Bharatpur . His eldest son Raj Kumar Gupta had topped Indian Engineering Services in 1960 and retired as Chairman Railway Board.
Principal Guptaji's cherishable memories remain enshrined in my heart for life