"While my teaching career began in 1996, I also got an opportunity to visit Kanzava University in Japan to study Tibetan grammar in the year 1999. After returning from Japan in the year 2000, I further decided to do PhD in Pali language," adds Deokar. He has also taught at various colleges and universities across India. Recalling one of the most memorable moments of his life, Deokar says, "In the year 2006, Pali, which was earlier affiliated to the Department of Sanskrit language, was declared an independent Department and I was given the honour of becoming the Head of Department (HOD), Pali Language."

Today, it has been three years that Deokar has been serving the language he loved as the HOD. Looking back at the years gone by also means recollecting some of the biggest challenges that life threw in front of him and Deokar says, "I lost my eyesight at the age of eight due to an unsuccessful operation. Life was not an easy walk especially given the fact that no books were available for us in Braille language for Sanskrit and Pali. At these times, my professors and friends stood by me. They recorded the textbooks and made cassettes for me. I did my schooling, college and both MAs listening to the recorded books and lectures. There were times when some of my fellow professors objected to me being promoted as the head of Department or even a professor for that matter doubting my ability to communicate with the students, but today, I not only teach the language to students of the Department, but also explain the grammatical intricacies of the language for them on the black board."

... contd.