IIM, Ahmedabad professor's colleagues pray for safe return

Five days on and police are still in the dark about Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad professor Prathap Oburai who went missing during chardham yatra at Devprayag last week.

Although the mysterious disappearance of one of the popular faculties has not disrupted the pace of the academic session at the premier B school, his colleagues are keeping their fingers crossed for his safe return.

Colleagues describe Prof Oburai, a faculty of marketing, as a warm and friendly person. Another faculty of marketing who has worked closely with Prof Oburai said they are still optimistic about him returning to the institute. "It is sad news for the institute. But, despite a rigorous search operation by the police there, they have not found his body. This means that there are chances of his being alive. And we hope he is discovered soon," said the professor.

As per the complaint filed at Tehri police, before Prof Oburai went missing he had attempted suicide by trying to jump into the Ganga river but his nephew stopped him in the nick of time. His nephew also told the police that Prof Oburai was talking of going on sanyas before he went missing from his hotel room.

So, was Prof Oburai spiritual? A faculty at the institute says it was after his stay at Pune that they had heard him making spiritual references during conversations.

Prof Oburai (42) is the father of two and lives with his family in the IIMA campus. While no faculties have gone to Uttarakhand to extend help to Prof Oburai's family, senior faculties said that they are coordinating with the police and providing whatever information is required.