Pandit Harihar Prasad Dube was born on 8th May, 1900, in a very poor family in village Mahuadabar in Gorakhpur District. His biography is like an interesting fairy tale, too true to be believed. George Bernard Shaw rightly said - " Truth is stranger than fiction..." To make this true story inspiring and easily understandable for our young readers, I will call this village boy as 'Hare'.

     Mahuadabar village is located in a flood affected area of the river 'Rapti'. The unchecked floods were so severe that the villagers were either forced to migrate or live on tree tops in heavy monsoon rains. The mud houses built in those days could hardly withstand the devastation caused by the floods.

     Hari's father was a school teacher, earning a meagre monthly salary of Rs.13=00 only. His father naturally had to face a lot of difficulties in bringing him up and his four sisters. Instead of taking staple rice and dal commonly eaten these days, the family at times used to survive on 'KODO', a tasteless variety of food no longer grown in that area.

     There was no school in the village, not even for the primary education. Hari's sisters could not receive even the benefit of the primary education. The young boy Hari was very keen in receiving proper education and on his own insistence he joined a primary school in village 'BHITI' at a distance of 5 kms. from the village. Hari had not only to walk all that distance but also to swim across a river to reach the school.

     After the initial schooling his father took him for admission in the Government Jubilee High School in Gorakhpur city. The school rejected his application and preferred to select the rich students of the city. And, that was the beginning of a dramatic turn in his career.

     His father enquired from the other students which was the best place for studies in that province. The boys mockingly told him that, Allahabad, a city about 200 km from Gorakhpur, was supposed to be the best. The father and the son proceeded directly from there to Allahabad. That was easily arranged. Hari got admission in Jamuna Mission High School.

     Hari's father often used to visit Maskanwa in Gonda District to pay his respects to his Guru Pt.Deo Prabhakar Pathak. Pathakji was a 'jyotishacharya' of all India repute. Hari was taken to that Guru by his father, along with him, during one such visit.

     Immediately, after meeting the boy Pathakji remarked that Hari was like Sukhdeo, a legendary learned Hindu Saint about whom it is said that the Saint was born with learnings from the womb.

     Guruji proposed the marriage of his daughter, barely 8 years old with Hari, a 12 year old boy then. And, the marriage was performed.

     In very dramatic turns of the events Hari's father died shortly after the marriage in Mahuadabar due to collapse of his mud house during monsoon. Hari at that time was in class 8th only. However, he continued his studies even in the poverty stricken conditions, with great determination.

     Many friends of Hari's father, who saw his forbearance and will to study came forward and helped him in achieving his objective. One such interesting incident will be certainly worth mentioning here. Hari used to attend his classes wearing chamroudha shoes Allahabad University.

     In a class room those shoes left mud marks everywhere. And, those marks were noticed by the British Professor there. The Professor announced in the class that the student wearing chamroudha shoes must meet him after the class. Hari promptly went and met the Professor in very apprehensive mood. But, he was surprised to see that the Professor was very appreciative of him and offered Hari to use his personal home library.

     Hari joined the Gorakhpur Bar in 1921 after completing his M.A., LL.B., degrees with honors from Allahabad University. With his intelligence, devotion and hard work he soon established himself as an advocate of great repute in Uttar Pradesh.

     Hari had profound knowledge of both civil and criminal laws and kept himself abreast with the latest developments by studying law books at the early hours of 4-6 every morning and kept himself abreast with the latest developments.

     Hari had very profound knowledge of English, Hindi and Sanskrit and quite at home in arguing in any one of those languages. It will be interesting to mention one incident that actually happened in the Honourable Court of District Judge, Raina. Hari argued one case in Sanskrit as desired by the Honourable Judge.Mr. Raina was so impressed and obliged with the arguments that he made a regular practice of visiting Hari once in a month.

     Hari was widely respected and admired by his colleagues. They elected him as the President of the Bar Association in 1952. His colleagues persuaded him to serve the association in that position for 11 long years continuously.

     From the core of his heart, he remained a simple village boy. All the name, fame and riches could not lure him from his cultural heritage. When not on court duty, he used to dress up in white Kurt and dhoti.

     Those days in the Brahmin marriages learned pundits from the bride and grooms sides used to argue on various aspects of the Shastras. Hari used to join in the arguments if he ever found his side badly needing his help. He used to receive wide applause from the audience on such occasions.

     He had suffered a lot due to floods in his village. He knew that once 'Jeetwapur' dam was constructed the floods could be controlled considerably. He organized one team and submitted all the details and pleaded for the construction of the Dam, with Uttar Pradesh Government. On his persistent follow up the Government conceded the demand. 

     Hari used to think that the real India lives in the villages only. He was of the firm opinion that providing proper educational facilities in the eastern Districts of Uttar Pradesh was very important for all around development of the villages.

     He had not forgotten the hardship that he had to put with getting Primary and College education. He was instrumental in seeing up a number of schools and colleges in Gorakhpur District.

     People had explicit faith in his honesty of purpose, sincerity and capabilities and in turn he found that the people were always willing to Jon him in such ventures.

     Sometime in 1956, Hari thought of establishing an University at Gorakhpur. He discussed the matter with Pt.S.N.M. Tripathi, District Magistrate, Gorakhpur. Sri. Tripathi welcomed the idea and encouraged him to proceed forward.

     Gorakhpur University Foundation Committee was formed and Hari was the Secretary of that organization. The University was established in the year 1957 and is now one of the top, leading and recognized centers of learning in India.

     It is said that the final judgment of one's life should be made only after having seen the end. On the 14th April, 1963, Hari was attending the Executive Meeting of Gorakhpur University.

     During the course of the meeting in the University Campus, suddenly Hari collapsed and closed his eyes. His friends, Mr. Tripathis (D.M.), Mr. Chatterji (V.C.) and others rushed and tried to wake him up but in vain. Hari passed away silently. He was no more.

     The village boy died in a temple of learning without any pain due to Brain hemorrhage and his soul got unified with God. A saintly death (Samadhi) and the boy rightly deserved it too.

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 Indra Deo Dube

 NY, USA

     

     

     

     

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