Dr. SS Das (Shyama) passes away

Shyama to many of us, Dr. Shyama Sundar Das or Dr. SS Das, in short, is a famous name in Rourkela. Met him in SK Academy in Class VI when he, with many others migrated to Srikrishna Academy from his Sashanpada village school which was every year getting ravaged by the floods. We became thick of friends in the hostel where we used to share the same hall for boarding and lodging. His elder brother used to work in Bhubaneswar and was taking care his educational expenses and was sometimes taking shelter in the hostel in Jagatsinghpur while visiting home. We went to the same college in Jagatsinhpur, SVM College and studied Sciecnce in PU & PP classes and later got selected for Medicine in 1970. This time he went to Burla and I went to Berhampur. But as fate would have it, we both again met in Rourkela in Ispat General Hospital. Shyama comes from the same modest background as myself and fought hard in life. After a small stint in IGH, Shyama joined the Urban Development Ministry and remained a popular doctor among the staff and common people in Muncipal Office of Rourkela.I remember his big heart when I think of days when he was with his family of wife and two kids as a house staff in IGH and would still host myself, Niyati and my son in his one room flat in Rourkela with sumptuous meals when we came from Tensa where we were posted.
Always jovial and humourous, Shyama befriended people from all walks of life. He always had strong political opinions and therefore couldn't achieve much in the political circle. But he never forgot his humble background and therefore always could establish a strong chord with people in need.
Shyama was to superannuate from his job at the end of this month and had met Niyati the day before in CWS Hospital where he went in connection with some of his own blood tests. Never expected him to take the plunge so fast. Might be he has beaten many of us- his classmates- in finding the ultimate- much earlier but my heart goes all out for his wife who is simple enough to bear the heavy loss and also his son and daughter- who are working in Bengaluru along with their respective spouses and other family members for the untimely demise. May God give them enough strength to bear the loss.