Surendra Pathak with his wife in his kitchen garden in Ranchi. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Those who find it difficult to keep themselves occupied after retirement or are unable to pull on smoothly in a joint family should visit Surendra Pathak's house once. An author of more than a dozen books in Hindi, Maithili and English and several columns in leading dailies, Pathak spends his day reading, writing critical essays, playing with his thirteen grand children and spending time in his kitchen garden.

Pathak is an idol for those who want to do well in life in life, but are unable to study. He began his career as a primary school teacher and ended it as a district superintendent of education. Most of his popular literary creations have hit the stands after he retired.

?When I married Sumitra Devi in 1945, she was 10 and I was 12. In those days, being a matriculate was a big thing. My wife inspired me to study and I passed the matriculation exams in 1948. Financial hardship and other constraints, however, did not allow me go for higher studies. I started teaching in a middle school in the neighbouring village in 1949,? Pathak recalls.

Pathak completed his teacher?s training course and became a headmaster 1954. He also passed the I.A., B.A. and M.A. Examinations conducted by Bihar University as a private candidate and was selected for Bihar Education Service in1960.

While serving the Bihar government, Pathak wrote articles for various newspapers and magazines. His tryst, however, began after he retired in 1989. His critical essays and religious texts landed him at the centrestage of academic criticism. Nahin Chahiye Devtaon ka Swarg exposes the ultra-Left rebel within Pathak, who meditates and prays for two hours everyday. Tark Vitark in Maithili critically analyses the rich Mithila culture.

?I have been a rebel throughout my life. There was a time when 19 questions were raised against me in the Bihar Assembly and five in the Parliament. Gradually, the MLAs and MPs realised that they would never get any undue favours from me,? he says.

The veteran follows a strict daily regime ? he wakes up at 4 am everyday and turns to the newspapers after two hours of prayers and meditation. At times, he even takes his grandchildren to school. Then he goes into his library and immerses himself in whatever comes in his mind. Pathak has translated the Valmiki Ramayan in Maithili in prose form and written critical notes on Ram Katha in Maithili. Aparadh Bodh, Shashtra Puranak.

Kichchu khissa pahini, Kichhu chatpat kichchu khatpat, Gamak Gapp and Kichhu rochak nibandh in Maithili and ?Ram ko Ravan banane se bachein, Bhagwan bachae aaj ke rajnitibajon se and Pyada se farzi bhayo in Hindi are due to be published soon.

?I write for self-satisfaction. I am least concerned about finding potential publishers. I agree that the habit of reading is gradually fading away in the changed scenario, but I firmly believe that if my articles have sufficient stuff, the editors and publishers will be running after me,? he says.

Pathak also enjoys gardening. He has planted several fruits and vegetables in his kitchen garden.

His wife, though not physically fit enough to help him nurture the plants or select new books, accompanies him everywhere. The couple is blessed with five children and more than a dozen grandchildren - all of them are settled and doing well in life.

?When I started working as a school teacher, my monthly salary was Rs 25. Today my pension exceeds Rs 10,000 a month. I often go to my native village in Begusarai district and fetch quintals of foodgrain grown in my fields. Those who say that joint families can not sustain in the changed scenario should visit my house once,? he adds.

Sudhir Kumar Mishra