Ramakant Parashar was born to Jagdish Prasad and Laxmidevi Sharma on Nov 22, 1942. His father was a supervisor with the UP state electricity board, while his mother was a simple kasba lady.
Right from that moment, his parents told us they could sense something extraordinary about the child. He was unusually calm and cheerful as an infant and when in primary school; he showed keen interest in his books and borrowed encyclopediae while his contemporaries played with tops and kites
In a case of reversal of tales, his parents would have to coax him to spend some time beyond his books. But the would have nothing of that. Out of respect, he would leave his books for a moment, only to tend to the cow that used to be tethered in the aangan. Or maybe indulge in something he did like - singing.
Once, in standard IX, he didn't return from school at his usual time. While everyone at home got really worried, his elder brother, Shyam, left on his bicycle to look for him. He found him sitting near the school well, looking blank with disappointment. What transpired then changed his life forever. He had scored a 99 in maths, and in view of the lost 1 mark, wasnt' sure if life was worth living! His brother convinced him to come back home, but he took a vow - never to lose a single mark in maths.. it just wasn't worth it!
True to expectations, he topped all his exams and finally decided he wanted to be an engineer. His parents were happy that their son would complete a diploma and become an overseer in some state govt. deptt. and command a bungalow and servants in some remote small town. But he clarified he wanted a degree from AMU. His application, however, was turned down because he was under-age. He waited patiently for another year, applied again, cleared his entrance papers with aplomb and even secured an all-expenses paid scholarship to the esteemed university.
The next four years were spent doing what he was passionate about - models, engineering drawings, theories. He graduated in Civil Engg and immediately joined as Asst. Lecturer in the same college. After a year and a half of teaching, he appeared for UPSC Engg Services, cleared it easily and got an appointment with Central Water Commission, a Union Govt. organisation involved in national river data & management, flood forecasting and irrigation systems. He continued with CWC after his marriage in 1966. It was in 1969 that he was invited by the Royal Hydrology Society in Den Hague, Netherlands for a one-year fellowship in hydrology. He accepted.
When he came back, he decided to formalise his training in Hydrology by joining Roorkee University for his PG. He passed out with honours, topping his batch and procuring the Khosla Gold Medal. His name still adorns the board of honour at Roorkee.
He went back to CWC for another 4 years before the Govt decided to send him on deputation to Nigeria. This posting was with Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority (UBRBDA) and his job was to apply whatever he had learnt in India to the raw systems there.
Upon completing his deputation, he was appointed as the Exec Enggr at the Lucknow office of CWC, to look after U.P. Next posting was as Director, River Data Directorate at Sewa Bhavan in New Delhi. Thereon, he went on to be Chief Engineer at the South India Circle of CWC, at Coimbatore. He came back to Delhi as Commissioner (Projects) with the Union Ministry of Water Resources - a Joint Secy level post.
Some people say he went far away in 1999, but of course, I don't believe them |
