I've always been a daddy's girl. Until not very long ago, my mom was just my mom. But for as long as I can remember, my dad has always been much more. He's my friend, my teacher, my rock.
He is my hero.
Not because of what he has achieved, although it is a lot to be proud of. A boy who grew up in a small village in Kerala and studied up to class 10 in a Malayalam medium school. Who would run barefoot to school, and return to take the buffalos out to graze. Whose family thought he had arrived in life when he got a job as a lecturer in a rural college. Who dreamed of being more, quit and financed his higher education (and supported his family) through hard-won scholarships. Who is today, a published author and respected professor at one of the finest institutes in the country.
Not because he is an enlightened, involved husband and father, and was one even at a time when it was considered infra dig for a Mallu man to help the wife out in the kitchen or deal with the kids' night time tantrums and other messy tasks involved in child-rearing.
Not because he is the most fair-minded person I know. Or because I can talk to him about anything - anything at all - without fear of judgement or recrimination. I know he will always tell me the truth, even if it is unpleasant.
Not because of his fierce integrity, the courage to live by his principles, and his straightforward honesty. Not even because of his warm heart and generous soul.
Not because of the fact that despite his achievements, he is always striving to be better - both professionally and personally. Last year he asked me for feedback on his parenting approach. He wanted to know if I wished he had done anything differently. I cannot begin to describe how touched and amazed I am by that gesture.
Yes, all of this makes my father an amazing person. It makes me strive every day to be more like him, but that is not why he's my hero.
He is my hero and always will be, simply because he's my Dadda.
Happy Father's Day, Dadda!
7 comments:
nice one! UR DAD WILL BE extrememly happy when he reads it!!
Love the description of your dad - and it's so true!
Oooohh yes!!! I soooo agree with you. It's thanks to him that I didn't get suspended in my last year of college, cos I thought it was very kewl to organise a strike against the college authorities.
Jeeezzz.. whatever was I thinking! Thanks to his voice of reason, I chose a more reasonable approach, and actually got results. :-)) Happy Father's Day to you uncle... you're awesome!!! :-))
A lovely tribute to your Dadda.:-) wish I still had mine with me...
Wow. I am so touched that he asked you for feedback. What an open and humble person he must be to think along those lines and how much self worth it must take to listen to feedback too. Great!
Wow - your dad really seems like an amazing man - I mean everything you have said about him - esp that he helped his wife...that he was so self made...is a professor now....and really how incredibly sweet of him to ask you for feedback...ammazing that one thing esp. You just never hear of that...You are incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful man for your father. What a great tribute for your father!
Hi! I came across you're blog from The Mad Momma... love the way you write. Seems like you and your father have a wonderful relationship. I am a total daddy's girl too, my mom's my best friend but I will always be my daddy's girl!
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