Dr SC Baugh was my research guide for the doctorate degree in science. He is no more having passed away nearly three decades back: A teacher and scientist who was utmost sincere, forthright and honest to the core. Besides, he was a perfectionist who would repeat and revise an experiment and/or a draft umpteen times till he is absolutely satisfied about its accuracy and perfection.
During my association with him, I had learnt so many lessons in my professional and personal life including basic human ethics and values. Of course, later to survive and to keep get going in a rather mediocre bureaucracy, I had to fine-tune myself on several counts including my own passion, if one may call it, for the perfection in doing things. Dr Baugh was highly original and would never ever copy or repeat even from his own work – a practice which I had noticed people were frequently indulging in even at the research place. Though the external examiners, particularly the American professor, made high commendatory remarks on my doctorate work giving credit to the student, guide and university, I was always clear in my mind and heart, if anyone really deserved any credit or commendation, this was the guide himself.
Dr Baugh never married in life so his approach towards many mundane worldly issues was not very conventional or professional. People often called him a miser, for he was against any lavish spending. In fact, he never changed his decades old bicycle and used to have detachable cuffs and collars to his shirts with a view to economizing wash while in his own house he was a perfect host for the visitors. At a particular juncture, I too was not fascinated with the idea of matrimony and was not keen for the marriage. I had a lot of persuasion and pressure from the parents and relatives but this was Dr Baugh who actually educated me that a person doesn’t live only for self; instead, one owes a lot and need to care for the aspirations of parents and others who have contributed and connected to one’s life.
In an environment where almost every student doing a doctoral course was exploited by their supervisors in some or the other way, he never allowed me even to carry his routine professional letters to drop in a post box. This learning had an everlasting effect in the ensuing years in my life.
He was absolutely punctual and regular at work. I recall a particular incident when he was delayed almost by two hours at work. On way to the university, he had met an accident in which he had minor injuries and his bicycle too was partially damaged. The party (two young boys) offered him free repair of his bicycle, to which he replied, “Well Gentlemen! you can get my bicycle repaired but can you return my precious time wasted on account of you…” While narrating this incident, his face reflected a honest conviction and glow that I was able to perceive and comprehend even at that fairly immature age.
In a way, he was a legend which, in a scientific jargon, I humorously refer to as ‘a living fossil’. I don’t know how many people can really understand him in correct perspective because in a fast paced materialistic life with rapidly changing social and moral ethos, such iconic personalities are rare nowadays.
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