Emotionally Speaking

The following was written in mid-March 2004. I was impressed by his no-nonsense disposition while conducting a seminar in which Martha Nussbaum was the lead speaker. He was the SSS dean and I had met him only once earlier for some paper work. He had suggested some grammatical corrections to it which unfortunately I forgot to note. I have edited out four lines from the original.

He is a known authority on Russian and European History. He took voluntary retirement from JNU in late 2004.  This is being published without his permission. Click here to read a poem on Prof. Gurpreet Mahajan.

1
This is to tell you about Professor Palat, Madhavan K.
‘That is holding the candle to the sun’, did you say?!
All the same I will tell you, come what may
Hang on my lips! All appointments at bay.
2
Ordinarily he is the professor in the center of history-CHS
But he is much more than one solving Russian mess
Incidentally, he is also the dean of school, SSS
But detailing these designations is not my case.
3
There are more profound things, I must confess
The man, disposition, nature and humane base
A cool customer in a world of cut-throat race
Humdinger of a man – indeed and not ‘more or less’
4
He finds something worthwhile where perhaps exist none
When I met him, from pillar to post, I had run
He will help you when no one does it under the sun
And he will do it like no other while having his fun
5
Mention his name and it sends shivers down the spine
Of students, present and past, who admire yet whine
That maximum they got B only, while everything was fine
So keep off from him, if merely in grades you want to shine.
6
They say he has traveled far and wide – America or Europe
Had an audience with intellectuals, Putin and may be  Pope
He must have outshone everyone. I am not  hoping against hope
You must see him once, if knowledge is what you grope.
7
Let me tell you about his oratorical skills
Boredom and  monotony, simply put- it kills
Don’t seek their remedy in stimulants or pills
Listen to him now and then and save money in bills.
8
He speaks always in a melodious baritone
Class, seminar, meeting, talks or over phone
A soothing voice indeed- in pleasure you shall moan
Don’t tell him this lest he’ll speak when alone.
9
Let me hold forth on his command of the language
It expresses perfectly- situations: most calm to one of rage
It clears the air, surrounding mist and haze
As becomes of darkness-invaded by sun’s rays
10
I shall discuss more  his command of the word
Or  you  may be  knowing if  you ever heard
Words will weave a wing and you will fly like a bird
And if he speaks in kitchen – milk  will turn curd.
11
I cannot risk telling you more  -you may not wait
And rush to him to hear from horse’s mouth -  straight
And I don’t want to lose    your audience at any rate
After one stanza, I’ll change the topic. Is that enough  bait?!
12
Not mere English -  but I am told – he is a polyglot
Can entertain a German or French – senile or tiny-tot
And he can cool a Russian when things getting hot
He can do many things, you must wonder if anything  not.
13
Now I will tell you the physical aspects of the man
A smooth bald scalp like egg-yolk in frying pan
Five feet eight inches; wheatish skin, much tan!
Count the hair on his scalp. Oh! You can.
14
He wears mostly shirts and trousers with much flair
Black shoes, wristwatch, pens in a leather case- a pair
And a Nokia cell phone for all why and where
And those glasses to occasionally put on some air.
15
Once they say came Samuel P. Huntington
But professor Palat will stick to his gun
Said the clash theorizing is nothing but pure fun
It will never happen, come what may, under the sun.
16
When you have the situation of Ten Thousand watt
You will find in chair: professor Madhavan Palat
For he has intellect, ingenuity, humour; a big heart
Do I need to say then- he ably plays his part.
17
Only yesterday he chaired first session of a seminar
Handling Martha, Asha Sarangi and Sumit Sarkar
And above all an audience that could make or mar
Scholars must be controlled. You  know how they are!
18
Take only specified time. He will make you docile
Or you will make a speech as long as Nile
And then the audience too can make it futile
They speak so much –leaving speaker behind, by mile.
19
So when you have a situation – so delicate
Send an SOS to Prof. Palat at any rate
Apprise him of impending seminar, your blues you narrate
And only if he is available, fix the seminar date.
20
However, I notice his  humour is unnoticed at time
Let alone humour, some don’t understand nursery rhyme
He is to any discussion – a catalyst and much enzyme
The result is splendid -  as water has with lime.
21
He may ask you – the speaker – if you are
Questions- knotty,  and you may end up being below par
And if you are an audience – keep your loquacious genie in a jar
Exercising control is must. Discussions or Nuclear war.
22
At the end he will say he enjoyed the discussion
Even the most boring are music to him – percussion!
He will then thank all- indeed a true mason
Finally he will welcome for food – take your ration.
23
This was Professor Madhavan Palat- in a nutshell
It was just a drop. Explore the whole pail
Needless to say, we have reached the end-the tail
At this moment I know he is reading mail.
24
I would have gone on and on if I knew more
I will stop now in say seconds four
He makes everything interesting, never a bore
You must take his courses – optional or core.