Mr. PK Ratha: A Letter to My Engineering CS Professor
I was in the last semester of my engineering career when the lockdown was imposed. I had chosen to write a series of letters to my teachers.
In that context, the following letter is dedicated to Mr. Pradyumna Kumar Ratha, who had taught us 3 Papers: C Programming, Data Structure & Data Mining and Data Warehouse.
DEAR SIR,
Pranaam!
I consider it a privilege for being a part of your classroom teachings during my B.Tech journey at SUIIT during 2016-2020. While every activity is at a halt on the account of the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt like writing a letter for you to express my gratitude would relieve some of my anxieties.
You may wonder, today is not Teachers’ day and not even Guru Purnima, then what’s the significance of a letter? It’s such that, it’s been my practice over last 1.5 years to write a letter of gratitude to absolutely every single person who’ve touched my life in some way or the other. That could be someone in my friend circle or senior, junior or even a generous teacher like you. So, kindly go through my words below.
In August 2016, I had arrived in the SUIIT campus to pursue my engineering studies in computer science engineering. I had occupied a front seat on the first day, first class which was C Programming, taught under your guidance.
The lucid explanations of concepts blended with a right dose of humour by you had made my tasks easier, although I had a Non-IT background prior to that.
The next meet up happened during the Data Structure classes in the 3rd semester and later on it took us a long wait of two years to catch you again in the recently ongoing Data Mining and Data Warehouse classes of the final semester.
I’ve always been a regular attendee of your classes. But probably due to the interruption by the lockdown across the nation, we might not be able resume in your class again, although few more days are still left.
Somehow, my bonding with you has grown stronger beyond the limited scope of classroom for our frequent collaborations for organizing several events in the campus.
It won’t be an exaggeration, if I’d describe my time with the sports club when it was under your command, as one of the golden moments of my engineering days for allowing me the space to exercise my creative liberty with my design works.
With my little experience, I could say every designer or person with any skillset dreams to work under a leader like you who respects his artwork, as well as allows the room for an open-end growth.
Since then to the recently concluded national seminar on machine learning, our collaborative approaches have weaved the magic! I’d be thankful at you for this. I’m assured, you’d meet even more brilliant minds with the following batches, who’d take the things to the next level.
Although I’m a bit delayed and left with a little time before graduation, I’m aware of my commitment to build the necessary web portal features (exam results publication, E-theses upload and attendance) which we had demonstrated you under our minor project titled ‘Mission SUIIT’ back in January 2020 during the submission.
I’d reach out few of the abled juniors with the details of it, so the project could be maintained even after we leave! In this context, let me not forget to thank you for accepting us under your guidance for the minor project at the end moment as our guide had resigned from the institute and expressing trust on us by signing the project report on the final day, although we hadn’t had even the space to meet you for discussion to make any necessary improvements. That timely help by you can’t simply be ever forgotten. Thank you!
Meanwhile, I could understand the loads of responsibilities upon you to conduct the remaining exams to conclude this even semester and the running academic session.
Sir! Before graduating, if I’d like to share my insights and experience with SUIIT, then… I must admit, this place neither lacks any genius minds nor any possibility for professional excellence. The only issue with the student end is, they get restricted with the barriers of academic curriculum and hardly consider it even a necessity to put on any other skillsets.
Ironically, the quality of hostel food and speed of internet services have turned a matter of headache for many, which are just the minor things. It’s expected from an engineer to address the complicated problems with a technical approach.
I feel, the growth could be acquired through no cost solutions like a mandatory project submission in every semester, thought provoking assignment questions for every individual, public speaking, encouragement for group projects to solve problems with SUIIT through tech-end solutions etc. A student with a well groomed intellect would create new possibilities for the world. I hope, you’d consider my points.
On a final note, I’d be thankful to SUIIT and a teacher like you, who’ve always influenced my life with positive energies. Staying connected with a mentor like you is a life-long privilege, which I definitely don’t want to miss out even after moving from the campus. With all the best wishes for your health and family, here I rest my writings.
Thank You!
With Respect,
Sourav
P.S
I clearly remember, I had touched his feet to seek his blessings, while leaving the campus on final day after vacating the hostel. He's such a gem💎of a person.
