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Father's Day 2015: Life lessons learnt from Dad #MyPapaMyHero Contest

Father's Day 2015: Life lessons learnt from Dad #MyPapaMyHero Contest

Our readers write in about the most important life lessons they learnt from their dads.

Written by Debjani Arora |Updated : June 21, 2015 6:31 PM IST

Father s day is just around the corner and it is the perfect time to say Thank You to your dad. He had been a rock solid support for you during testing times, gave up his own dreams to fulfil yours, gave you a shoulder to lean on when you needed it the most, understood your unspoken words.

As we get into a day-to-day rut, we forget all the wonderful things that our dads did for us. Secretly, we yearn to live by the principle that our dads tried to pass on to us, follow his footsteps and that s when we realise how difficult it was for them, but they never complained.

Today nine people write to us about life lessons they took from their dad and express their gratitude in a heartfelt manner. You can send us your story too. Write to health@corp.india.com with the subject My Papa My Hero, and win exciting prices. You can also tweet to us @health4u with #MyPapaMyHero or add your comments below.

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Dad, being with you is magical

Samarjit AcharjeeWhen my brother and I were young, my father had a job that regularly took him away to distant cities for a year or more. It would not be very wrong to say that we were brought up almost entirely by our mother. Even when he was around, rarely did he say anything assertively or raise his voice. Being with him meant listening to endless stories and incidents from his life and discussions about wars during his years in service, memorable sporting events, puzzles, spellings and Arithmetic. In short, a lot of fun and excitement. Creating that comfort zone was his way of silently passing on his values, thoughts and experience to us. In my mind, when I think of it now, that is a very effective way of teaching.

He never persuaded us to do anything according to his wishes. Yet, his perseverance in encouraging us towards them stayed intact. He relentlessly talked about the benefits of early-rising - reminding us that it would mean extra time to play as well - but I cannot remember a day when he pulled me out of the bed or scolded me when I finally got up, just in time to rush to school. For everything else as well, he would guide and encourage but never force his views or habits.

It is now our turn to live away from home, but trips to Calcutta still means a lot of stories and overwhelming nostalgia. To this day, the charm of his storytelling and his wizardry with words has not lost any of their sheen. Everyone listening to him has a smile for the most part. For the remaining part, we are rolling with laughter.

Only a few things have changed. His repertoire now includes stories about our childhood as well and he fills up with visible pride listening to our experiences in life. And, if these chats take place in the balcony around sunrise, on rare days when I can manage to wake up early, his face glows with a joy that I have denied him all along.

Samarjit Acharjee, IT professional, Hyderabad

You are in my prayers, Baba siddharth

I still remember the day when I signed the discharge formalities of the nursing home where you had taken your last breath after immense skirmishing with the almighty, which lasted for seven months. It was 19th September 2010 and one of the worst days of my life. Now, it s been more than four and half years spent without you, but not even a single second when you were not there with me. I converse to you to feel you around, but still something is missing. I miss all those times when you supported me in case of any gaffe, I miss the daily hugs you gave me without any reason, I miss all the good manners you gave me so that I became what I am today.

I hardly remember an occasion when you scolded me because you always had faith in me. I still feel your last affectionate touch when you tenderly slided your hand from my to head to my cheek with a drop of tear in your eyes and then to cheer me and tell me that everything will be OK you showed your thumb. I want to feel all that loving hugs again. I again want to debate on political matters or football with you. There were times when we played together, we laughed on each other's jokes, we had supper together, I want to relive all those moments again with you. I just want one more chance from you where I can unswervingly tell you that I LOVE YOU BABA.

I am trying to be as strong as you were. But somewhere I know that I will never come close to how strong you were, I ll never be as premeditated as you were. However, I know what I desire is not possible, but I still assure that I will try to fulfil all your dreams. Please give me the strength to be a superior, composed, amorous dad to my son just like you.

Siddhartha Mukherjee, Marketing Professional, Kolkata.

Resilience, patience, honesty and simplicity is what I learnt from you

My father is a simple yet extra-ordinary man. He was brought up in a small chawl in Mumbai in the most unimaginable conditions. He grew up in an environment where he could easily have become a drunkard, a vagabond, or anything but what he is today. But he decided to do otherwise. He studied hard, completed his graduation in commerce and made sure that he earned enough to support his family. He cut down his own expenses and saved up just so that his children can live in a better place and have a better future as compared to his. It s not that we are rich now, but my sister and me have led a far better life compared to my Dad and his parents. We didn t have to walk miles to get water for our house; we didn t have to start working at the age of 15 to support our family. My dad went through all this and more. Imagine the burden of supporting a family consisting of a mother, father, younger brother and 2 sisters! And then, the difficult task of educating 2 children in the most expensive times! Also, the family drama with a son who is an Engineering graduate but wants to become an actor!

I have learnt from my Dad how resilience, patience, honesty and simplicity can lead to a fruitful life. I have learnt how I should embrace the unexpected surprises life throws at me. I have learnt how to be strong and keep moving no matter what. And above all - I have learnt how we are capable of going to any extent for the ones we love!

Dilip Merela, travel writer & actor, Mumbai

Thanks for teaching me to be fearless Punyarupa Bhadury

As a child a TV commercial used to inspire me a lot where several young daughters in their respective style claimed my daddy strongest. I can hardly remember the subject of that advertisement but those words always keep ringing in my ears. To every daughter, her father is always the strongest man in her life. I am no exception. It s been 3 years since my father left for heavenly adobe, but his teachings are etched in my heart. He taught me to speak up for truth and never compromise, to raise voice against any wrong. I always try to follow this in my life. I do not compromise or indulge any wrong doing. My colleagues and students at the college where I am professionally engaged revere me for this nature.

I remember several incidents where I stood up against wrongdoings, be it as a customer in a shop or rebuking a traffic police personnel in a crowded street. Whenever such incidents used to happen in front of my father, I always saw his face glow with a smile and praise for me. My father imbibed within me the quality of fearlessness. When I used to be upset, my father always used to say Don't worry. Everything will be fine. Now I miss those words, I miss the glowing face of my father whenever I protest against any wrongdoing. I miss my father a lot and always try to find out his qualities in my husband. Baba, I love you a lot, may your soul rest in peace. Bless me and be with me always in my life s journey.

Punyarupa Bhadury, Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Women s college, Calcutta

You made my dreams come true

My papa is my real hero; he always tried to give me all the happiness in this world even if he had to go out of his way. Once to pay for my college fee my dad had to sell his gold chain and he did it willingly without even informing us. To avoid questions from the family, he buttoned up his shirt even when he was at home and took bath early in the morning. He started wearing a shirt all the time at home and also when he slept so that nobody could notice that his gold chain was missing. Even my mother was unaware of all this but I knew where it was and what he did with it. He sold it to arrange money for my studies. I salute my BA.

Shobha Sinha

He taught me to try, try and try till I succeed

My dad had been a constant source of inspiration for me all through my life. Going by the expressions on my face, he gets to know what s going on in my mind. I don t need to tell him about things that I need or what s keeping me low. At times, he becomes my teacher and guides me to make important decisions in life. The best thing I love about my dad is his never give up attitude. Whatever happens, he will always say, Try, try, and try till you succeed. One should never ever lose hope. I have faced lots of rejections and difficulties in my life, but this saying has always been a driving force for me, because of which I believe that I can do anything. At one point of time, I thought I can never succeed in life and went into depression and then my dad said, jaise ek choti si chiti(ant) diwaar par chadti hai phir gir jaati hai, phir woh chadti hai, phir gir jaati hai, phir woh chadati aur phir woh chadna shuru karti hai toh chadti hi jaati hai, ussi tarah se, hame bhi koshish karte rehna chahiye, jab tak hame apni manzil, goal na mil jaaye. This not only changed my thinking but also made me an independent and positive thinking person. He has been a constant source of motivation and inspiration for me and he has always told me to hope for the best.

Meenakshi Kapur

I will always be your little girl

Pinky ShahI don't know about my Dad's biggest achievement but my biggest achievement is My DAD my SUPER HERO. It is the way a father holds his child's hand that makes his child feel safe. It is the way a father looks at his child makes his child feel cared for. But most of all, it is the very presence of a father to a child that makes the child feel blessed. You were always there for me whenever I needed you dad.

You were my world, when I was young. You taught me to love and care. You made me what I am, and I thank you for your support and care. I am proud, glad and honoured to have you as my father. I wish to thank you for all you have done, but I somehow know that I can never thank you enough. You are my inspiration, support, strength and faith. Thanks for the love and kindness.

Even today after all these years I know that if I give you one call, you'll leave everything and be there for me. How could I ever thank you? I love you Daddy. And no matter how old I am, I will always be your little girl.

Pinky Shah

You are my role model sanghita

Baba as we call, took the sorrow and grief he had to face after coming from Bangladesh in his own stride. He developed him from a point of nowhere. From my early years, I remember him as someone who was diligent, strict and very particular with his responsibilities. My Baba had loads of responsibilities. I am the youngest of three brothers and one sister. My eldest brother being ten years older is himself a father figure to me. I am 43 years old and in my childhood my father was like a godfather to me and not a friend. But as time passed on, and I started crossing the hurdles of examination Baba started to develop a huge level of confidence on me. He never persuaded me to do anything against my wish. He was happy with my success. He silently became my soul-mate.

At a time when the whole family was against my marriage, Baba was the one who tactfully made the situation favourable for me. He passed on all his qualities, which now makes me a loveable but strong mother of an 11-year-old kid.

I still remember the day when I received a phone call from my sister-in -law informing that Baba has been diagnosed with malignancy of the pancreas at the age of 83. After seven months on 27 th March 2014, he breathed his last. Except for my eldest brother (who was with him) we were all busy nurturing our family and doing our duties far away from him. Though it has been over a year that he is physically not with me, but now I can feel him in my own way. He is there in all our joys and sorrows. Love You Baba.

Sanghita Bhattacharjee, Assistant Professor, Women s College, Calcutta

You are epitome of righteousness

My father is the epitome of what's most right about this world. When I look back at the last 37 years, what's right about me is what he has molded me into, almost always without my realizing it.

When I was growing up, we couldn't afford a lot of luxuries. You ensured that we (my sister and I) experienced it in moderation. Why? You used to say, we must understand the value of everything we have. Too much of anything was bad, as we take it for granted. However, one thing where this principle never applied to, was his endless love for us. I hope I can do the same for my kids.

I wasn't a bad kid, but I did create my fair share of headache for you. I remember, your calm demeanor, reasoning with me on what I could have done differently. I wish I can have half his patience, now that I am a father myself.

The time I graduated from college and came back home before joining my first job, one evening he asked me to go for the walk. Of course, we talked about my mostly and how very proud he was of me, there is one thing he told me that I can never forget. He said: When you start the next phase of your life, make sure to enjoy it to fullest. Go grab every opportunity you can. I couldn't afford it (due to multiple financial commitments). But I want to experience it through you.

Dearest Acha, on this day and every day, I wish you only more and more health and happiness. There is not one moment I haven't been proud of you. Everyday, when I see my kids, I wish I can be at least half as great a Dad that you were. I hope I can instill in them the qualities of life, as effortlessly as you did. Every time I think being a Dad is not easy, I remember how you did it.

Love you, dad.

Vinod Kartha

Participate in our #MyPapaMyHero Contest

Want to share your experience and tell us how your dad influenced your life? Write to health@corp.india.com with the subject My Papa My Hero, and win exciting prices. You can also tweet to us @Health4u with #MyPapaMyHero or add your comments below.

Contest closes 21st June 2015

Image source: Shutterstock


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