Author: Baidya Nath Prasad (1933-1987)
Alternate names: Baidya Nath Babu
Born: 02/08/1933
Died: 19/02/1987
Bio: Dr. Baidya Nath Prasad was an eminent educationist and literary figure of Bihar and Jharkhand, India. 

He had a brilliant academic career. He was awarded Sachidanand Sinha Gold Medal for being the best graduate student for scoring maximum marks among Arts, Science and Commerce graduates in Patna University—one of the few reputed universities in India in those days. 

After his B.A. in Hindi with Honours degree in 1953, he switched over to English literature for his M.A. – a rare switch even today. Interestingly, he had gone to Patna College to take admission in B.A. English where he was spotted by the Principle of Jain College, Arrah who convinced him to come back to his home town and study in his college itself for B.A. Hindi Honours with other subjects in English literature since the college didn't have Honours in English.

Baidya Nath Babu not only excelled in studies but also in several extra-curricular activities. He was Carrom Champion and avid debator and represented Patna University in various fora around the country.

Soon after his post-graduation, he was offered a position in Jain College, Arrah as a lecturer where he worked for a brief period. Around that time education in Ranchi, the summer capital of Bihar, was expanding at a faster pace and lecturers with excellent academic backgrounds from other parts of Bihar and India were being called to be part of this expansion. 

And, Baidya Nath Babu also took this opportunity. He joined Ranchi College, Ranchi as a lecturer of English in 1957 and later joined Post Graduate Faculty of Department of English of Ranchi University in 1960 where he taught till his death at the age of 53 years in 1987. 

He became a Reader in English in 1972 and a full Professor of English in 1985. He was one of the very few scholars who was awarded the degree of D. Litt. (Doctor of Literature) – a degree for which the scholar has to work himself without assistance of any guide or supervisor. 

The topic of his seminal thesis was the critical concept and ideas of W.B. Yeats and a degree of D. Litt. was awarded by Patna University, India in the year 1974 upon reviewed and recommendation by the scholars of the Universities of Calcutta and UK. 

Dr. Prasad was a very popular teacher and many of his students who have reached to great positions in teaching, administration and education owe their success to his influence which sparked a sense of curiosity, commitment and a desire for higher goals in them.

His work was not limited to writing a thesis for the sake of degree but to spread this very important façade of literature far and wide. He wrote and published a book entitled, “W.B. Yeats as a literary critic and other essays” which had been widely acclaimed in the literary circles. 

His thesis was so invaluable that a renowned publisher printed a book out of the thesis. He published several literary papers in the renowned journals around the world and presented papers in various seminars and universities around the world including in few in Canada and UK. 

Multifaceted Dr. Prasad was not just satisfied with his role as an educationist to his students and as a research scholar for writing literary papers and presenting them amongst elites. His idea of education span to the common masses as well. 

Towards this endevour, he got himself actively involved with the All India Radio, Ranchi since its inception in the year 1960 and made regular broadcast of his stories and plays in Hindi and other programs in English. In those days, Radio used to be the most powerful media for the educated and illiterates alike. 

His "Aaj ka Sandesh" (Message for the Day), an early Morning broadcast containing spiritual and moral message was very popular among all the age groups. He spoke eloquently in Hindi too on annual cultural events of educational institutions such as 'Surdas Jayanti', Tulasidas Jayanti','Gandhi Jayanti". 

His satirical short story in Hindi 'Rashtrya Pasu" (National Animal) where in a meeting of eminent Indians claim of all animals including the tiger is dismissed and the council selects a poor underfed Indian as National Animal was Published in "Nayi Kahaniya" Allahabad (edited by Dhanpat Rai(son of Premchand, an eminent writer himself) in 1973. The short story 'Rashtrya Pasu" was greatly critically acclaimed and was translated in many language including Spanish.

Dr. Prasad was one of the few Professors from Bihar who had been called upon by various universities around the country to be an expert on the panels for selection of faculty and to be examiners for PhD candidates and often scholars-in-residence at Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla; Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore; Oxford University, Guelph University.

Before the IAS exam got non-English-ized sometime in early ‘80s, the candidates had to appear in a compulsory exam of English essay writing to be chosen from five given topics.
 
The candidate had 3 hours to write an essay in English which was worth 300 marks and such essays would run in dozens of pages, if not more.  
 
Dr. Prasad was on a selection panel of UPSC for a few years and a question setter and an examiner for this Essay paper for three years.