Brij Mohan by himself

Abstract

A philosopher by raw definition means one who has a love of wisdom. Dr Brij Mohan has often been termed a social work philosopher, as he, indeed, is one who seeks knowledge with a passion while pondering the meaning of life, and its varied manifestation as reflected in his complex interpretations of social phenomena. Brij has a deep passion for the love of knowledge and the philosophy of science. His writing is poetic and provocative in terms of turning phrases on their head and contemplating the meaning from the inside out. He takes on injustice head-on and bravely faces a landscape that few have ventured. He is a journeyman, a philosopher, a father, a husband, and a prolific and profound force in the social work world whose work literally bridges the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries. When I think about ‘‘Brij by himself’’, I think about all of the people he has influenced, the masses of students throughout his 35-year career, the international contacts that link continent to continent. I think about the paradox between a visible man and a prophetic and prolific writer and the solitude of someone whose mind never stops. I think of a man who takes each and every email as a vessel for further contemplation, who always responds to his friends with a personal greeting, and who remembers historical events with lessons for the present. I think of a man who loves Jean Paul Sartre and the existential reality, a man who has told me to endure, to hold on, and to remember that success is the best revenge. When one thinks of success, one is often reminded about resilience and the predilection to endure. Brij embodies these attributes. Part of Brij’s legacy is his predilection to counter internal and external politics and to endure and question power. Brij has outlived any other faculty at the School of Social Work by decades, has experienced more than eight deans at Louisiana State University (LSU) and has taught approximately one-half of all graduates since the beginning of his tenure. When I reflect on the topic ‘‘Brij by himself’’, I think of a man who has experienced challenges in a steadfast manner. I also think of his generosity. It is not often that someone shares so generously with so many, while putting himself out on a limb to protect his core values. Over the past nine years since I have worked with Brij, I have gained hundreds of insights into this man’s