You learn from experiences you make,
You imbibe from whom you meet,
All along this journey called life.
No, I’m no philosopher but somehow these words ring true.
As we journey through life, people and events inspire us, shape us into what we eventually become. Sometimes good fortune, at times adversity, every trifle or every lot becomes a building block. But the most significant influence remains of people, those around us, those we read about. And when we look back there is always that one person on whose ideals, on whose life we try and base ours.
It's true. In fact, this reminds me of something.
When I was in school, there was a tradition of crowning a student from the senior most class as Ms. St Margaret’s, St Margaret’s being the name of my school. It was a way to celebrate and honor the best student of the class passing out that year. I remember being very fascinated by it all, especially the question and answer rounds, probably to hear what the seniors had to say. Among all the questions asked though, do you know which the most common one was? Well, I’ll tell you.
It's true. In fact, this reminds me of something.
When I was in school, there was a tradition of crowning a student from the senior most class as Ms. St Margaret’s, St Margaret’s being the name of my school. It was a way to celebrate and honor the best student of the class passing out that year. I remember being very fascinated by it all, especially the question and answer rounds, probably to hear what the seniors had to say. Among all the questions asked though, do you know which the most common one was? Well, I’ll tell you.
Who is that one great person in the world whom you admire the most and
why?
And every time the answer would
range from Mother Teresa to Audrey
Hepburn, Vivekananda to Nelson Mandela. All great figures undoubtedly but I
often wondered why no one talked about someone closer home. Someone they would
have touched, felt and even talked to. But that was just me and my mind concocting
theories of its own, like always.
But today I’ll try to answer that
question myself. Today, I’ll tell you about someone who has been the rudder in
my life’s voyage. He is the man who taught me everything there is to know about life, whose experiences I draw upon to take major decisions in life.
So, are you with me?
So, are you with me?
Born in to a Bengali Family in the
North East of India, he grew up with 9 other siblings. Being the 8th child
in the family, the youngest son among 4, you could say he was pampered a
little but never to the point of being spoilt. Education was given prime importance in his family which he took extremely
seriously as well. In fact, from a very young age, he was very much inclined towards
amassing knowledge in any form available, books being the primary source. Hailing from a
small tea garden estate, he walked for miles every day, crossed rivers too, to
reach his school. But that never deterred him or his other siblings for that
matter. And finally after years of hard work and focus on education, he went on to become an
Electrical Engineer. That was just the beginning though of his wonderful journey.
From the moment he landed a job,
he took upon himself the responsibility of his younger siblings' education and wedding. In fact, he made sure the responsibility lay
solely on him. So, while his career was just starting, while he was just beginning to make a name for himself at his
place of work, he was also simultaneously making sure his younger sisters are educated and later married into good families when the moment was right.
The next phase in his life came
when he was poised to be married. Now, I’m talking about the 80s here where
arranged marriages involved the groom-to-be selecting or rejecting a
prospective bride based on how photogenic she was. But he decided against
subjecting a woman to all this scrutiny. He didn’t want to subject someone else’s
sister to what he disliked his sisters being subjected to. So, he actually met
his bride for the very first time on their wedding day. You don’t find many
people who can do that nowadays, do you?
Then a few years down the line, he
became a doting father to two little girls. From then on, his mission in life
became one of protecting and shielding his babies. But not in a way that
stopped them from growing or spreading their wings. He taught them the meaning
of being independent and the dire need for it. In many ways, he was the biggest
influence in their lives which resulted in them growing up to be fierce and vocal feminists, never compromising because of their gender. Even today
when both his daughters are all grown up they know only too well that he can
move heaven and earth to make sure no harm comes to them. And also as long as
he is there is nothing that can’t be righted, no problem that can’t be solved.
At every stage of his life, he has been the epitome of resilience, focus, love and sincerity. An
honest man to the core, a family man and an accomplished professional, a self-made man, they don't make men like him anymore. Somewhere between his generation to the next, men have stopped being as awesome and wonderful as he is.
He is a man, all man should be like. Being a good man drives him and that is a rare quality in the world today. He is truly made of great for…
·
He has never spent a dishonest moment in his life.
·
He has lived by the principle of doing the right thing no matter how difficult.
· He has been a good son, a good brother, a great husband and the greatest Dad he could have been and still endeavors to do more.
· He has lived a life of honesty and made sure his daughters learn the same.
·
He was man enough to never subject his wife-to-be to the abysmal selection process common to arranged marriages.
·
He has made a home full of respect, love and
happiness with the woman he married, stands by her through thick and thin.
·
He has never turned back from his responsibility either towards
his family or his wife’s.
·
He has emphasized his daughters being educated and
independent rather than learning the tricks of the kitchen.
·
He has never stopped them from soaring high, discovering themselves.
·
He has never subscribed to the nonsensical belief that daughters do not belong to their parents.
·
He has given everything and more, still does, to his
wife and daughters.
·
He is the most handsome man to have walked this earth with a beard.
· He is also a die-hard fan of Lionel Messi, Argentina and Barcelona.
·
He is the best husband, the best father in the world. He is my father, my baba.
· He is so much more!
I must have done something great in
my past life to have deserved him in this one. Whatever I have, I owe it to him.
To him, I owe...
You have to meet him to know what I mean. He is not only a good human being but a learned one in the truest of senses. I wish I can measure up to even an ounce of him one day for then I would have definitely achieved something.
Ladies and gentlemen, my father, my inspiration and a man who is #madeofgreat in the truest of senses.
Before you go, a question for you, a contest rather. If I like your answer, you could win an Amazon Voucher worth Rs. 750.
So here it is:
What do you think of Tata Motors' association with Lionel Messi?
http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/
Go on, tell me!
To him, I owe...
- My life.
- My education.
- My career.
- My beliefs.
- My ability to live alone, be independent.
- My life with my husband. Never for a moment did my father judge me for choosing a life partner on my own. If anything, he stood by my decision.
- My love for reading and books.
- Everything!
- Oh! and my love for football & Messi too!
You have to meet him to know what I mean. He is not only a good human being but a learned one in the truest of senses. I wish I can measure up to even an ounce of him one day for then I would have definitely achieved something.
Ladies and gentlemen, my father, my inspiration and a man who is #madeofgreat in the truest of senses.
***
So here it is:
What do you think of Tata Motors' association with Lionel Messi?
http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/
Go on, tell me!