Among my teachers the man whom I see at a unique height of nobility is the divine Yogendra Chandra Roy. I have never seen a man wearing Dhoti-Punjabi-Nagra like him. He backbrushed his half-unruly hair, making the dashingly fair man look truly extraordinary. Never was a student so wretched as to disdain his painted eyes. He seemed to be a man with extraordinary personality in Dhoti-Punjabi-Nagra. Once upon a time Dhoti-Punjabi was read in Bangladesh irrespective of Hindus and Muslims. Our time is in fashion. During our time only Hindus read Dhoti-Punjabi. Our Pandit (Yatindra Nath Chakraborty) Sir, Gopal (Chandra Das) Sir used to wear dhoti too. But the unique philosophy of tucking the lower end of the dhoti into the pocket of the Punjabi was reserved only for Yogen Sir. I have never seen anyone else in such a vision till today. He was working at the school when he died. The chair in which he used to perform the duties of the headmaster with great splendor. Hart died in that chair. Which is an exceptional case. I received the news of his death two days later. I heard from Mohsin, Iti madam (sir’s wife), that she was wiping the sindhur of Shithi with her dead husband’s big toe as per the Hindu custom. At that time he was very poignant to say ‘You never left me and went anywhere, today you did one thing, leaving me alone.’ The madam’s name is Iti Rani Roy. She was a student at Adarsh Girls High School and later Morgan Girls High School in Narayanganj. One day there was a fight between the senior students in the school. Sir heard the noise and came out of his room and ran very fast to the east side of the school. Hearing Sir coming, the conflicted students climbed over the wall and fled to the pond of Poddar’s house. Who will say that there was a fight here a while ago. I have not seen any teacher to this extent in my educational life, working life. During every function of the school, he used to stand in the middle of the student assembly. Even during Milad ceremonies, he used to stand in such a degraded state. This means that naughty boys stop moving and talking. Sir used to teach ‘Wise Man of the Old’ essay and ‘Happy the Man’ poem in our class nine. With Sir’s inspiration, I memorized the first page of the article. About 43 years ago today. Sometimes I look back and still can recite it by heart like before. Yogan sir is said to be an inspiration. Sir was born in 1922 AD in Khidirpur village of Manohardi upazila of Narsingdi district. His father’s name is Tarak Chandra Roy and mother’s name is Basant Kumari Roy. He started his education at Mashua Primary School in Katiyadi Upazila of Kishoreganj District. He completed his secondary education from Murapara High School in Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj District. Later, he got his graduation degree from Harganga College of Munshiganj district. He was the first graduate of his birthplace, Khidirpur. Swargiya Yogendra Chandra Roy in 1946 AD as an assistant teacher with a salary of 13 taka, B.M. He started his career as a teacher in Union High School. Simultaneously, he started teaching as the founding professor of Seth Tolaram Women’s College (now Govt. Tolaram College). In 1972 he B.M. He took charge of the head teacher in Union High School. He served as a teacher in both these institutions for 33 years till his death. He was suffering from age related hypertension. Moreover, he was also under family and mental stress. But he never shared it with anyone. His illustrious career came to an end while sitting in the chair in which he managed the school. 18 December 1979 AD. He passed away on Swargiya Yogendra Chandra Roy took an active part in the anti-British movement during his higher secondary studies. He received the President’s Medal for his significant contribution to voluntary work. Sir used to teach Commercial Geography in Govt Tolaram College. He used to come to school a little late on the days when there were classes in college. As far as I can remember, he sometimes used to walk to school from Godara Ghat. He always walked with files in hand. He used to paint his face after drinking. He was also used to tea – used to drink tea in a royal manner. In 1978, our SSC exam results came out. There are many thoughts in our mind; I am cowering in fear of the unknown. One day in the early morning my father heard someone calling me from the street by my name ie Khalil. Father went to the side of the window and saw, head sir. Abba said ‘adab sir’ and he told me the result of my exam. He also told Abba about Mohsin’s stand. Later I learned that after completing the tabulation work all night, waiting for the test results, he came straight to the port after being confirmed. After a long time, Bandar School got such good results. Holding all the achievements and joys together, he rushes to share the joy. We rushed to school early in the morning. By that time Sir had gone home tired of sleepless night. Sir, I have not been here for a long time. He served as Head Teacher in BM Union High School for about 7 (seven) years. His period can be called the golden age of the school. He was a teacher, administrator and an exceptional parent. He played the role of a judge in a school play in 1976. The play is called ‘Chor’. The play was held at Sirajdaula Club ground. Then I 8th class student. Abdul Hai Durbar sir directed the play. Farsa Yogen sir looked amazing as a judge in Dhabdhabe Alo. That form of him, shining like a man, is still in my eyes. I have served as a judge for a long time in my professional life. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to rise to that level in Ajlas. He used rickshaws for inward movement of the port. While walking, all the passers-by knew Sir, saluted him. Seeing that scene, it was as if a king was going, and everyone was greeting him. He replies with a gentle smile. All of this is now a distant past, my imagination. In personal life he was affable and soft-spoken. He always had a smile on his face. Outside of teaching, he was a stage actor, clergyman and social worker. He is survived by his wife, five sons, two daughters and numerous well-wishers. Within a short time his wife also became a resident of heaven. All his sons are socially established. Ram Shankar Roy, the third son of Sir, was my colleague while working as Assistant Commissioner (Lands) at Singair. He was the DGM of Rural Electricity there. He was known as a decent person. At that time he had to perform the duty of presiding officer of a challenging constituency in a national election. He executed it with skill and put his stamp of merit. I have always had a close relationship with my grandfather. Sir’s personal information was provided to me by Ram’da. I haven’t seen the great philosopher Socrates (470-399 BC), nor have I had a chance. I have learned a lot about him from Sir. He taught it to us. Apart from textbooks, sir one day brought an encyclopedia and read about Socrates. Athens is therefore the land of wisdom for me. And Athens means the Socrates of my country. So I went to Athens one day. There I touched the Acropolis, Athena Temple, Olympiad, Plato’s Academy, Amphitheater. I visited the prison where the last days of Socrates’ life were brutally spent. I imagined the scene of Socrates drinking hemlock standing in front of the prison. No harm in not having seen thestrong personality Socrates, I have seen Yogendra Chandra Roy. – Md. Khalilur Rahman