Narrator:
(Blowing of the conch shell and traditional ritual sounds) Friends, greetings from Shanti Kunja. Today is a very joyful day for us at Shanti Kunja. As you can see, a gentleman is approaching the temple. He has been honored with a special recognition. The State Government has conferred the \"Shiksha Ratna\" award upon him. You can see him bowing down to Gurudev. He is presenting something, which we will see shortly.
Dr. Sujit Kar:
(The gentleman shows his trophy to the camera)
Narrator:
This is the award he received from the State Government—the \"Shiksha Ratna Sammanana 2021,\" presented by the Education Department of the West Bengal Government. Many of you may already know him, as we have introduced him before. He is Dr. Sujit Kar, a dear disciple of Gurudev. He is a climatologist and an environmentalist. Additionally, he is the Headmaster of Maheshtala Ganipur Shitalatala High School.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
(Gurudev is now blessing him) This is an honor for all of us. He has been coming here for 15 or 16 years. He often used to say, \"I am not able to achieve anything.\" I told him to have patience, and he would eventually get everything. Today, he has received the \"Shiksha Ratna,\" which is a rare and prestigious recognition from the Government of West Bengal. I am extremely happy.
Narrator:
Friends, he insisted that he would first offer this honor at Gurudev’s feet before anything else, and that is exactly what he did. Now, another member of the temple is garlanding him to show our respect. We are honoring him for this great achievement.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We are all gathered here to congratulate him. He is my disciple, and his achievement feels like my own. He has always shown a deep interest in Tantra Sadhana (spiritual practice) and has mastered it over the years. He is a true practitioner, though he remains humble and doesn’t show it off to anyone. I wanted him to remain focused and \"hidden\" in his practice, just as I was for many years.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He performs intense spiritual practice secretly, just as you see him now. Even when I practiced at Tarapeeth, I did it quietly so that no one would know I was a practitioner of Tantra. He follows that path. He frequently visits the cremation grounds for rituals and fire sacrifices (Homa). His chants are very clear and precise. He is about to perform a fire sacrifice now; everything is prepared.
Interviewer:
Dr. Sujit, congratulations. I have a question: Why exactly were you chosen for this \"Shiksha Ratna\" award?
Dr. Sujit Kar:
The government grants this award based on several criteria. One is the infrastructural development of the school under my leadership and the progress of the students. Another major factor is research. My research at national and international levels, published in various journals, focuses on social relevance—how it benefits the economy and the future of the people.
Dr. Sujit Kar:
As you know, my predictions regarding various natural disasters and storms have often been accurate and effective. All these factors combined led to this recognition. While it feels good to be recognized, the work itself is what matters most. I want to continue my work with everyone's blessings.
Interviewer:
But Dr. Sujit, we read in the newspapers that you provided a crucial solution for the Metro Rail project. When the tunnel was being built under the Ganges toward Bowbazar, several buildings began to collapse. Top scientists were struggling, but you provided the solution. Please tell us about that.
Dr. Sujit Kar:
To clarify, it wasn't just scientists; engineers were doing the work. However, understanding the soil conditions in Kolkata is very complex from an engineering perspective. The reports they were using were five years old. They didn't realize how much the underground soil conditions had changed in that time.
Dr. Sujit Kar:
The day the incident happened in Bowbazar was \"Ashtami\" (a lunar phase), which coincided with a high tide. The water from the Ganges created an immense pressure flow. There used to be an old canal there called the \"Mukundapur Canal,\" which is now buried under Bowbazar Street. During high tides, there is still a significant underground water flow. Because of our research, we understood this situation. We suggested that if they timed the excavation according to the water depth and tidal cycles, the work could proceed safely. It was a suggestion that turned out to be effective.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
And look, today we have the deity \"Kaushiki\" (a form of Goddess Kali) with us. Today is the eve of Kaushiki Amavasya. This is the deity who transformed her form to become Kali. Tonight, we will have a special program with various prayers and rituals starting at midnight. Dr. Sujit will also perform a fire sacrifice now.
Narrator:
It is wonderful to see your achievements, Dr. Sujit. Everyone at this temple is proud of you. We thank the State Government for this recognition. Gurudev is proud as well. (Closing sounds of rituals and bells)