The clamour by various Muslim bodies to accord Urdu the second language status in Jharkhand hardly surprises anyone. But what causes surprise is the mention of a Brahmin IPS officer and a Sanskrit scholar, who has devoted his life to Urdu.

Gupteshwar Pandey (IPS) who was the senior Superintendent of Police in Ranchi and is now the Deputy Inspector General, Tirhut range, North Bihar has taken up the cause of Urdu with missionary zeal. Pandey, a batch mate from Patna University, is true example of a connoisseur and lover of poetry.

Pandey embarked on his mission in Ranchi itself when he organised a grand Mushaira (gathering of poets) which was graced by the top shairs (Urdu poets) of the country including Bekal Utsahi, Rana Jeba and Rehana Navab. Hundreds of people enjoyed the sher-o-shairee evening organised by Pandey near the Sainik Bazaar here, about five years ago. And many, still today fondly recall the zeal with which Pandey organsied the meetings.

Pandey is an old friend who studied with me in Patna University in 1980s. A brilliant student of Sanskrit, he secured first class in his B.A examination from Patna College and took admission in MA. He would often recite Sanskrit verses and extracts from Vedas with
much ease and pleasure.

But he abandoned his love for the language and appeared for civil services examination. He still did not let go of Sanskrit and took it up as an optional.Finally, Pandey became an IPS officer in 1987.It was a chance meeting with him on Sunday during my visit to North Bihar when I found Pandey reciting the Urdu couplets composed by himself.

Urdu tou na Hindu na Musalman hai, Urdu to Hindustanki beti hai-aan hai, Kyon bantate awaam ko Urdu kenaam pe, Hindi ki shaan hai, Musalman ki jaan hai. (Urdu is neither Muslim nor Hindu. Urdu is the daughter and pride of India. Why do you divide the people in the name Urdu. It's the pride of the Hindi and life of the Muslims), Pandey sang. It was the same man and the same love with which he recited his Sanskrit slokas way back in 1980.

Pandey was busy discussing his plan to organise a grand mushaira with some known Urdu poets at
Muzaffarpur when I called on him. Endowed with a mellifluous voice, Pandey does daily riaz (exercise) of singing ghazals accompanied by the harmonium and tabla.

Pandey has also organised mushairas to restore Urdu's glory wherever he has been posted in the last five years. He opted for Bihar cadre after the bifurcation of the state and was posted at Aurangabad and Nalanda as superintedent of police. He organised poetry evenings at Aurangabad and Nalanda, which was graced by likes of Bashir Badra, Manauwar Rana, Shabia Adis and the who's who of Urdu poetry.

Many of our readers in Ranchi recalled Gupteshwar Pandey for his charming personality. When I joined the capital of Jharkhand in February last year many spoke of him to me. They recalled how he would mesmerise the audience with his songs and poems in the majlis (rendezvous of poets and shairs).

The Ranchi people still remember him as one of the best Superintendent. “He was unlike an orthodox police officer, confined in his office. He mingled with people, listened to them, sang with them and shared with them", remembers Sukhdeo Singh, a senior IAS officer of Jharkhand Government who was the deputy commissioner of Ranchi when Pandey was its senior SP.
Pandey's decision to opt for Bihar is Jharkhand's loss.

With his departure to Bihar, the city has lost the atmosphere of sher-o-shairee besides a true lover of Urdu and its rich tradition. This is to tell you Pandey, that Ranchi still misses you.

Nalin Verma The Author is the Ranchi based special correspondent of the Telegraph