Pen wale sir’

IT WAS a hot summer day in 1975, and the university’s exam had just got finished at St Francis De Sales College. The exam papers were being checked. A lecturer from the zoology department came to ask for pen from the Head of Department (HOD) of Physical Education, “Sir, can I get a red pen please?”, he replied, “why not!”. After a few hours, the lecturer came to return the pen. But when the HOD had given him that pen, the smile and happiness he saw on his face was an extremely pleasant one. This was the main reason that led him to start distributing pens in public, just as a token of love. This person (HOD) is none other than Ramsundar Mahadeo Kubde, who is also known as Shyamrao, a 68-year-old retired lecturer.

Since 1975, Shyamrao started purchasing pens for gifting as a token of love from his side and that made him famous all over Nagpur and specially in the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU). Let it be sports field, examination centre or general meetings, Shyamrao is seen distributing his famous weapon, i.e. pen.

He completed his Master of Science from RTMNU in Zoology. Due to his love for sports he pursued Diploma in Physical Education (D P Ed) and Master of Physical Education (M P Ed) and was a meritorious student. He also cleared the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) easily, but he didn’t join the services. The idea of pursuing D P Ed and M P Ed was given to him by his mentor Gururao Ansinkar. 

“You can’t give one hour lecture in Zoology. I will suggest you to choose sports field as you will enjoy and can make good name in that too,” told Shyamrao, how his guru guided him to choose his career in sports field.

“I started purchasing pens from ‘Dr of Pens’ shop near Shree Talkies (now it is Janki Talkies). Yearly I spend Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 on pens. But it’s not the money that matters, it’s the smile and happiness which I get is beyond anything,” Shyamrao laughingly recalled.

Shyamrao also supervises entrance exams likes UPSC, SSC and banking. He has been a supervisor for the last 35 years in city. In that also he found a unique idea to give remuneration to invigilators. He brings beautifully designed ‘envelopes’ to give the invigilators as their remuneration. 

“I don’t know from where I got this idea but I like to do these things. It makes me feel privileged,” said Shyamrao. 

“Once while I was attending a marriage ceremony, I gave an envelope as a gift to the married couple. Next day I received a call from Deputy Collector Gedam sir, asking me about the envelope, because the couple liked the envelope so much that they wanted similar pieces of it,” told the retired SFS lecturer.

“Former city mayor and veteran local politician Atal Bahadur Singh and Kundatai Vijaykar, who was the first woman mayor of Nagpur, they never asked me for pen, they both directly snatch the pens from my pocket,” recalled Shyamrao. 

“Shyamrao never thought of to stand for elections in college, University. But he always made the things possible for his friends and members who used stand for the elections. He was the mastermind behind every elections which I won in college days and University,” says Vanita Kubde, wife of Shyamrao.

When asked about Shyamrao’s habit of distributing pens, she smiled and said, “He not only distributes pens to his friends but also to relatives. Whenever we visit for routine check-up in hospital, their he starts distributing pens. Same things happens in banks too. I never had any problems with this habit. I feel brought for this unique idea which he has. Same thing happened when he distributes envelope in exam centre and marriages. Many times I got calls from married couples asking about the envelopes from were did he brought.

“Shyamrao never likes to wear T-shirts and shirts without upper pocket. He never wear kurtas, because kurtas don’t have upper pocket. So occasionally on Diwali I force him to wear kurtas,” says Vanita, retired professor of Shrimati Binzani Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Mahal.

Shyamrao did his matriculation from CP & Bearer, Ravi Nagar. Among his school friends, many of them are holding top most position in Government department. Some of them shared old memories with me.

“Shyamrao was were descent, lively and helpful from school day’s only. He has good social circle in Nagpur. He was merit student among our friend circle. But due to his love towards sports he choose sports field. I had received many pens from him but didn’t get any attractive or simple envelope from him. Thanks for telling me this, now I will ask him to send the best envelope for me,” said Sunil Pathak, retired Additional Commissioner of IRS.

“From school days he was doing unique things. I don’t remember how he got this idea of distributing pens but whenever he comes to my hospital, from the entrance itself, he starts distributing pens to my all employees till he reaches my chamber. He never buys costly pens. He never had cost attached to it, he believes in ‘the emotion’ which is attached to it. That’s what he loves to give everyone ‘the emotion’. Believe me, if he gets a chance to meet PM Narendra Modi, he may buy a cheap pen but with his innovations will make it attractive for him. That’s what he is. He never values things with money. Emotion is what he shares with everyone,” said Shyamrao’s school friend Dr Nishikant Kotwal, Director, Colours Children Hospital.

Shyamrao was a kho-kho player and a coach too. He worked many years as a Director in Dr Ambedkar Cricket Sports Academy. 

“Shyamrao sir is very gentleman man. He used to come on cycle to coach us. He never ever charged us any money for coaching. He always helped us if we are in need of money or any instruments. We all players always wanted coach and manager like him. So we used to request University to appoint him as coach and manager for tours. Sir is also a good singer. He loves singing and listening to music,” recalled Shyamrao’s student Dr Vijay Datarakar, who is presently Principal of Jyotiba College of Physical Education.

Shyamrao also work as Advisory for Share A Smile NGO in Nagpur. He loves to do social work. Let the work be of any type, he finds the way to do the social work.

“From last four years Shyamrao sir is attached to our NGO. He not only help us financially but also take out some time for our NGO. He always gives his 120% in every event which we organise,” said Madhuri Yadav, President of Share A Smile NGO.