Deepak Kumar Behera: Shifting Focus from Cricket to Academics

It is the general perception that a naughty kid would never be able to build a successful career, nor would he ever lead a fulfilling life all together. But Prof. Deepak Kumar Behera who now occupies the apex position of the Vice Chancellor of Sambalpur University has proved all such perception to be a myth. Since the formation of State of Odisha he is the second person from western Odisha who has become Vice Chancellor of two major universities of Odisha (i.e. Sambalpur University and Berhampur University). The other person was Late Parshuram Mishra.

Deepak is happily married to Mamata Mohapatra (Rita) and they are blessed with a daughter as well, i.e. Sweta (Titli). When their daughter was born their well-wishers  suggested them to look for a second issue so as to have a male child to maintain the patriline as prevalent in our society. But thirty years back Deepak was conscious of his responsibilities. He said that beautiful butterfly (Titli) is their soul and they have got great responsibility to do the right upbringing of the baby, instead of looking for another child (be that a son or a daughter). 

Now their daughter Titli is married and living happily with her husband at Phoenix, USA, working as Senior Business Analyst with Infosys. There might be a woman behind every successful man. But Prof. Deepak Behera says it’s not only his wife but also daughter who combinedly play a major role in his life. He says his daughter Titli has taken the role of his grandmother all together. Even while settled in US yet she takes stock of every moment of her father’s day. Modern day communication facility like WhatsApp made it possible for them.  Deepak Behera and his wife have no regrets for having only a daughter. Their daughter is more than a son for them. Deepak Behera’s wife Mrs Mamata Mohapatra is herself a teacher of Nrusingha Guru Town High School, Sambalpur. She takes all possible care of her husband. Though Deepak leads a busy life yet he always tries to play the role of a good husband and father. This is how they maintain their domestic equilibrium.

                     

Deepak had his elementary schooling at

Harihar M.E. School, Kuarmunda, located in between Rourkela and Biramitrapur of Sundrargarh District. Every day he had to walk barefoot through the meadows of the paddy fields. He was studying with the low luminosity of a kerosene lantern. On passing 5th class he joined C.S.B. Zilla High School at Sambalpur where he studied from class 6th to 11th. 

His father was working as a land estimator in the minor irrigation department of Odisha.  With a low income, his father was rearing his eight children. He was leading alife of honesty and integrity. But after superannuation, he started practicing homeopathy so to spend his time meaningfully by  helping those poor people who were suffering from various diseases. His father became a noted homeopath in Western Odisha. Deepak was profoundly influenced by his father who was his role model.  Deepak being the first male child in the family, his mother pampered him a lot during his childhood and even when he started attending college.

Though at morning Deepak would leave home for school, yet he used to bunk classes frequently. He used to walk barefooted to cover the distance between his home and school. In order to save time, he used to walk through the paddy fields as a short-cut to reach school. Along with his friends he used to invade the nearest forest (Pati jungle) to pluck berries and fruits. That apart every Friday unfailingly that lad would go to watch the matinee show of the new movies that were  released either in Laksmi or Ashoka Talkies. With as little as just a Rupee all he could afford to buy was a ticket of the front row of seats. He recalls while seating there on the front row he had to keep moving his head from one side of the screen to the other, when either a horse was running or the heroine used to dance.

Though Deepak was just an average student, but he was a proficient cricketer. Deepak had the dream to play the domestic Ranji Trophy for his state Odisha. Deepak started his career as a bowler but gradually turned into a genuine all-rounder. He was a left arm off spinner and simultaneously a middle order hard-hitting batsman. He was very popular for hitting sixes even against any mighty opponents. While he was a student of 10th class, some students of Lala Lajpat Rai Law College of Sambalpur invited him to play for their team in an exhibition match which was held at Bhawanipatna. They said you are very tall and no one would be able to trace you to be a school-going student. Deepak readily accepted their invitation. But they said Deepak has to wear a trouser instead of a nicker. Deepak did not have a trouser. In those days only on joining college, boys were getting the luxury of wearing trousers. He kept nagging with his mother to buy one trouser for him. And as usual with her hidden savings, she bought a trouser for her son.

Deepak boarded the passenger train along with the students of the law college. When the train crossed Bargarh station he got to know, that the entire team of players are travelling without tickets. He was shocked. Then it was a usual trend for group of college students to travel in a train without tickets. Deepak argued with those boys, saying how could you at all break the law, despite being the students of a law college? Deepak was adamant to buy a ticket for him in the very next station; otherwise he would get down and catch a return train. When the train halted at Balangir a senior teammate rushed to the ticket counter to buy just one ticket. He came back with a thick rectangular piece of brown ticket and handed over to Deepak. That tall boy might be a prankster, but was leading life on certain higher ethics. None except his mother traced such uncommon etiquette of Deepak that would make him an achiever in life in the days to follow.

In that match L.R. Law College, Sambalpur batted first and scored 139 runs. In the second innings the opposition team scored as many as 79 runs at the loss of just two wickets. Sambalpur team was at the verge of losing the match. The captain was chatting with the vice-captain, what could be done so as to resurrect from the lost ground? Deepak went and asked the captain, why at all he was brought to play the match? Even without a second thought the captain immediately tossed the ball to Deepak. Deepak balled aggressively and altogether clinched as many as five wickets and helped his team to win the match. Finally L.R. Law College lifted the trophy.

During his student life Deepak was the captain of cricket team for G.M. College, P.G. Departments, Sambalpur University and the District altogether. He was a very serious cricketer with lot of commitment, dedication and determination. His concentration and self-confidence helped him to be a frontline match winner for the local team which he was representing (MCC). In many crucial times, he completely turned the matches up-side down helping his team to win match after match.

While studying Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) at Gangadhar Meher College, Sambalpur that fellow has carried all the mischief which any student of his age ought to do. Because of his height, he was always asked to sit on the back bench, so as no other students would be blocked from viewing the blackboard. It proved to be a boon to that tall young man. The backbench gave him ample liberty to do all the mischief that could be done beyond the purview of the lecturers. One day while seeing him doing a mischief, his Botany Mam drove him out of the class while addressing him as “You lanky fellow………..”. As a consequence, Deepak was ridiculed by his friends of the same class. This event changed the life course of Deepak and he became more calm and composed.

During his Master’s in Anthropology and Sociology, another significant incident had happened in his life. Deepak was absent-minded in his class, which came to the notice of his professor. He asked Deepak, where your mind is wondering? You have chosen a course curriculum which is certainly beyond your reach. Instead of concentrating on your study, you are trivialising your time, energy and your father’s hard-earned money. The words of his professor left a deep impact in the mind of that angry young man. Furiously Deepak returned home. He threw his bag on the cot. His sisters asked why did you return back so early to home? Is your university closed today? Deepak straightway went to his room and came back with his cricket bat. He took out an axe kept on the corridor, than started piercing the handle of the bat while crying. His sisters intercepted him from damaging the bat any further. But Deepak said “from this day onward I would not play cricket any more”. But his sisters laughed at him saying you are such a trickster and we know you would be intending to ask mother to buy a new bat that is why damaging the old one. However, that was the “turning point” in Deepak’s life.

Deepak kept aside the cricket bat and lifted text books and a pen instead. Deepak channelized all his time and energy towards studies instead of playing cricket on the ground. As a result Deepak became the gold medalist in his batch in the University.

In each of our life there is always an individual who silently takes the position of a role model. Deepak was unhappy with his grandfather at one point of time thinking him to be a strict disciplinarian and authoritarian and was always demanding perfection in whatever he does. That perception got changed with the passage of time. Even today Deepak feels his grandfather played a profound role in shaping his life altogether. He was the one who shifted Deepak’s attention from cricket to academic. Looking at the outstanding performance of his grandson, his grandfather applauded him by gifting a key operated Ajanta wrist watch. During 70’s of the last Century owing a wrist watch was a luxury for any college student. That happened to be Deepak’s first ever wrist watch which he kept as a prize possession till date. But the irony is that today school going kids demands to buy one smartphone for them along with the net pack so as they can play online games in social media.

Deepak’s father was bestowed with a rare wisdom to foresee the importance of education. Five decades back when the literacy rate of Sambalpur region was abnormally low, even with his marginal income he imparted the right education to all his children. His father was brave enough to sell the gold of his mother and some agricultural land so as to fund the education of his children. As a consequence, all the children are well placed while happily married. His father with his inadequate income managed to afford the expenses of medical education of two of Deepak’s sisters.

Deepak able to occupy the coveted post of Vice Chancellor of the prestigious Sambalpur University, which has been accredited with Grade-A by NAAC, Bangalore. As an alumnus of Sambalpur University, Deepak also played a significant role on securing that grade. In fact, he helped the then Vice Chancellor of SU by sharing his NAAC experiences of Berhampur University. His long journey which started as a student and then move forward as research scholar (junior and then senior), lecturer, senior lecturer, reader, professor, head of the department and finally as the Vice Chancellor of the same University is worth an acknowledgement and will definitely keep on inspiring the younger generations to follow.

[Felicitating Nobel  Laureate  Kailash Satyarthi at Sambapur University 2018]

To the world the position of a Vice Chancellor may look glamorous, but with the authority there lies the great responsibilities and challenges. While he was holding the position of Vice Chancellor of Berhampur University, the super cyclone Phailin stuck the east coast of Odisha. The Bhanja Vihar complex of Berhampur University is located in close proximity of Bay of Bengal. In the night of 13thSeptember 2013 when the Phailin cyclone made a land fall the wind speed was an astounding 260kms per hour. Overnight that Super Cyclone caused devastation to Bhanja Bihar which spreads across around 250 acres of land. 

The fury of Super Cyclone had its maximum impact at Rangeilunda where the University is located. As many as 50 thousand trees got uprooted and all buildings and infrastructure facilities were severely damaged. There was no electricity and water supply in the campus for as long as a month. Though Deepak is a very robust man but for the first time in life he broke down emotionally. He thought to quit his job and return back to Sambalpur. But since he was a sportsman, he did not give up. He thought to rebuild Berhampur University from the scratch. On the developmental scale the University was pushed back to at least 10 years.

Prof. Deepak displayed his outstanding determination and commitment for the University whose mantle he was holding. He spoke to different stakeholders and everyone started cooperating. With the support of students, teachers, employees, media professionals, department of higher education, he could take the risk of operating the University within a span of just three weeks. He generated ample funds for restoring the infrastructure of the University to normalcy. As a leader, Prof Deepak Behera provided the right kind of leadership keeping the morals of the team players high. This helped Deepak to establish himself to be an able administrator. It is how he applied the basic principles of cricket in his professional administration.

While his tenure as the Vice Chancellor of Berhampur University as many as 51 posts of lecturers, readers and professors were lying vacant in the University. He wanted to fill up those vacancies before applying for NAAC accreditation. The Berhampur University published an advertisement in the newspapers for the recruitment and in response to that they received countless applications in prescribed formats. The University shorted out the applications that they had received. On the second day of interview when Vice Chancellor Deepak Kumar Behera left his home for University in his car, on the way his car was intercepted by two vehicles coming from the front. The driver slowed down and tried to take a right turn. Another car prevented him by blocking the road. Three youngsters came and snatched away the key of the car from the driver. They asked Prof. Deepak Behera to get down from the car. Deepak was clueless on all that had happened in a split of few seconds. He did not agree to this proposal. Then one of interceptors entered his vehicle and asked the driver to proceed to a secluded place. The driver had no option rather than following their command. Having reached in front of the main administration building, they asked him to get down. This time Deepak got down and asked them to reveal their motive. They said “don’t dare to ask the questions. We are “bhainas” (super seniors) of this campus. Do not risk your life by conducting these interviews for filling up the teaching positions. They suggested him a particular method of selecting their candidates which Deepak did not agree. Deepak said he can’t compromise with the skill of the teaching staff. In the meanwhile one of the bhainas offered Prof. Deepak a glass of water to drink so as to quench his thirst. However, another super senior scolded him and asked him to get a bottle of Bislery instead for Deepak Sir. All along, the super seniors were behaving decently with Prof. Behera showing due respect. With great difficulty finally he was rescued by the police almost after a couple of hours. However, this did not lower the courage and confidence of Deepak. After almost a month under the adequate supervision and protection of police, Vice Chancellor Deepak Behera smoothly completed the recruitment process even against stiff opposition. All the selected candidates finally joined the University to fill up the vacant posts. The basic principles of cricket again helped him to face this challenging situation in life. He also organized the All-India Central Zone Festival and Golden Jubilee Function during his tenure as Vice Chancellor of Berhampur University.

Now Deepak Kumar Behera occupies the coveted seat of The Vice Chancellor of Sambalpur University. Under his dynamic leadership, the University has been able to clear all the pending backlog certificates numbering more than one lakh and thirty-seven thousand by signing those within three months of his joining. He is instrumental in bringing two World Bank-funded centres of excellence to Sambalpur University for carrying out inter-disciplinary research. Those are: (1) Centre for Natural Products and Therapeutics, and (2) Centre for Regional Development and Tribal Studies.  HRDC, Sambalpur University has now been declared as a National Resource Center for “Tribal Studies”. In order to promote youth activities, Sambalpur University organized one All India Central Zone Youth Festival and All India East Zone Inter-Varsity Football tournament. He loves visiting affiliated colleges under the University for inspiring the youngsters. He is now taking interest to have a stadium with all modern facilities and he has been successful to mobilise fund for this.

It is worth appraising to discover how a person could be successful in life if he channelizes his energy in the right direction. Prof. Deepak Kumar Behera has gone abroad more than 40 times in different academic connections. He has taught students in every continent of the planet probably excepting Antarctica. He has enjoyed all major international fellowships including Fulbright (USA), DAAD (Germany), European Union Fellowship, National Research Foundation Fellowship, South Africa, Carlos Chagas Foundation Fellowship, Brazil, Indo-French Fellowship, Indo-Israel Fellowship.

While teaching the students of anthropology at University of Tubingen (Germany), he casually applied for the position of Vice Chancellor of Berhampur University having being motivated by two of his brother-in-laws who live in Berhampur city. But he got short listed and invited for an interaction with the then hon’ble Chancellor of the University. He got selected as the Vice Chancellor of Berhampur University. He went to Berhampur University as a brand ambassador. Under his stewardship Berhampur University became the first state-funded University to secure Grade-A by NAAC (much before Utkal University and Sambalpur University).

The academic journey of Deepak which began with a school located in a remote region of Odisha (Harihar UP School, Kuarmunda in the district of Sundergarh) confronted with many failures/challenges and finally ended up with an unprecedented success. Deepak Kumar Behera has now become a role model for the present younger generation of western Odisha. He applied all the basic principles of cricket on academics and administration which helped him to emerge as a successful person and excel in his professional life. The rules of the cricket which he inculcated in his profession are (1) hard work, (2) concentration, (3) dedication, (4) determination, (5) patience (6) self-confidence and finally (7) enormous will power. Hopefully unfolding this life sketch of Deepak Kumar Behera will inspire and motivate many youngsters to achieve their goals in life. For decades to follow people of western Odisha will remember our Deepak Sir for his outstanding contribution to academics.

N.B. This writer has made two trips to Sambalpur University to meet the Vice Chancellor so as to collect the data and photographs. He spent two and half months  to compose the text. If he submits it as a thesis to any University across the globe by every likelihood he will earn a degree.

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