The first president of Acem India, Siba Kripa Bose, passed away on 25th May 2022

Till his last breath, he remained a passionate lover of nature, yoga, and meditation.

Mr. Bose’s (Dada’s) education included an MA from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Foreign Trade from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Delhi. After a brief stint as a lecturer in a degree college in Odisha, he spent most of his time in Birla Company, rising to the level of CEO in one of the company’s start-up ventures in Nigeria.

After his retirement, he settled in Delhi with assignments in teaching, NGOs, yoga, and meditation.

He came from an illustrious family. His initial grooming came from his father, Late Raj Krishna Bose, who was a freedom fighter, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, and a minister of the Government of Odisha. He used to actively participate in the election campaigning of his father. A lover of nature and wildlife enthusiast, he used to recollect, with sorrow, his hunting adventures in the jungles of Odisha, in his youth.

The photo shows Mr Bose at his farm in 2017. For me this photo catches him in essence. Always kind-hearted to nature and fellow beings. At his farm he really was in his right element!

At Centurion University, Dada founded the Acem Centre of Meditation, with the active collaboration of Acem Founder Dr. Are Holen and Acem India Founder Torbjorn Hobbel. As Chief Mentor, he used to steer the activities related to the well-being of students, faculty, and staff of the University.

Dada was a key member in conceptualization, design, and development of the Klorofeel Foundation, devoted to the improvement of the quality of school education of children from the underprivileged society. It is moving forward with Dada’s dream.

Highly disciplined in physical exercise, meditation, food, and work, Dada used to teach all around him the value of physical and mental wellbeing, through simple practices of pranayama, yogic exercises, satsanga, and doing one’s duties diligently.

Dada lived a rich life. His legacy will remain and guide us in our journey. As Tagore said, “Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.”

Haribandhu Panda, Professor, Vice-Chancellor of Centurion University; Advisor of AIPH University (for Klorofeel Foundation)

Photo: Torbjørn Hobbel