Father's Day is coming up on June 20 and we invited readers to share unforgettable memories of the time they spent with their dad. Here are some of the responses we received. Share yours!
My dad is one person to whom I always look up to. A chemical engineer by profession, he brought up a handicapped child (my sister) with so much love and pride, gave her the best education and now he is enjoying his retired life seeing his kids (me and my sister) married and happy in our life.
A very simple man who used to be a strict when it came to discipline, he is highly organised and a great planner. I used to have arguments with him a lot but he was the person who supported me when I had a crisis and encouraged me to go ahead with what I thought was right.
There is one instance in my life that I will never forget. I got my dad a very costly branded shirt for Diwali and he was not very happy with the price I paid for it as he felt that a retired person doesn't need something so costly. I did feel bad. I got married and came to the United States and the first time I made him come here I could see the pride in his eyes and of course he was wearing the very same shirt. He was the person who was so tough when it came to inculcating values and the most beautiful person as I could see tears in his eyes when he saw his grandchild for the first time.
How beautiful is God's way of making fathers? They do everything for you from the moment you are born. They dream for you and feel they have acheived everything when you do something in life. Especially when you live in a country like US and see how kids manage to pay their own college tuition you know the values of Dads in India who toil a lot to give their child the best education, get them married and are there for you even today. What more can you ask for?
The only soul, like your mom, who gave everything they had for you and are ready to anything for you even today after you are married and have kids of your own. For me my dad is more than a hero in my life.
Dad I am so proud to be your daughter. Whatever I am today its because of you and salute you for all that you have given me. I will always try my best to make you happy and proud.
-- Lakshmi Balaji
I love my father", almost 99 per cent of people on earth can say but not all can say "My dad my hero".
Here is what I can say to support my statement that my dad is really a role model, a hero to me.
His highest priority was my education, he has sacrificed a lot for me and my education. I had seen days when he didn't get his salary for 17 months.
It all started in 1996 when for the first time the new process government of Bihar started for paying salaries to government employees through the allotment process. It resulted in more corruption as the allotment needed to be approved by bureaucrats in zonal offices. Even my father had to pay a bribe for his salary.
I was studying ISC (+2) in Orissa during that time. He didn't get a salary for seven months then. But he didn't let me know anything about it. I was staying away (4 hours by train) from my hometown of Jamshedpur. He used to come to see me every two weeks.
Bihar was burning due to the new process, many people were affected badly. I even heard of a person whose father was a government school teacher and since he didn't get a salary for several months burnt himself alive near the Bihar Assembly building. I do not know happened to his family. But I was shocked by this and always used to pray to God a lot.
My dad handled everything very patiently. He always used to save money. He always ran the household expenses like an organisation's. He prepared a budget for monthly expenses, at the end of the month he would calculate all the expenses to find out which was an unnecessary expense and could be avoided. He taught me patience, discipline, respect for elders.
The second time it happened when I was studying for my Bachelors degree in engg. Being a good and above average student I was selected through the Orissa JEE and got a government quota seat in one of the prestigious college there. By my 2nd year my dad had not received his salary for 17-18 months.
He shifted our house to a small apartment, a 1hall-kitchen. He didn't purchase anything needed to have a comfortable life. The only aim he had was my education and a respectful position for me. He never told this issue to me. I had never felt that he was in trouble. I always had enough money to complete my studies.
My father had a desire of studying medicine but due to his financial conditions he could not continue studies and had to do take up a job as an accountant/clerk. He wanted me to be a doctor but I opted for engineering, yet he never said anything or have any grief for that. He always allowed me to live my life freely.
He took care of my mom, me and his parents perfectly.
Now because of him I am in a better position. I am currently in USA working for an Indian MNC.
-- Suman Kumar Nanda
I am expressing my feelings for the first time about my Father, my living god, legend and source of inspiration.
From admission into convent school, engineering college, foreign university. He always stood by to me and supported me, explained everything to me. Dad, in your company I can face and defeat any problem.
You always said be a good human being first and the rest will follow with your hard work and determination.
Everything today I am is because of you and every particle of my being belongs to you (to mom as well).
Thanks for this life!
All I want is to be your kid again and again.
-- Amit Nagesh
I am sure God makes very few people like him. He has dedicated almost half of his life to make sure that we get all the small and essential things in life. He gave us the right upbringing and the best education to become a successful man in life. Although earning very less, he raised my uncle on my mother's request. He did not ever think of saving. He kept on investing whatever he could earn on all three (me, my elder brother and my uncle) of us. He did not ever compromise on our education. He did not ever force his decisions on us. He asked us to do whatever we felt good and he kept guiding us the entire way.
At tough times he always encouraged us to give our best effort. Looking at him, I learned that what ever tough times you face, never give up, keep smiling and give your best.
He successfully managed to get all three of us into a degree course which was his ambition. Today, all three of us are doing well.
He is very humble and patient. I look up to him to be like him to my children as he was to all three of us. I owe my life to him. Papa, we all love you.
And all this he could make possible because he had a very dedicated, uncomplaining, caring and wonderful life partner in my mother. We lost her to god four years back. She left a void in our life which later got filled when my elder brother got married and got me a bhabi. I see my mother in her.
-- Bhawesh Tanna
I want to thank my Dad Prof Tarini Prasad Mandal for giving me love and showing me the right path at times when I needed his support. My dad is a professor in Law. We are four sisters. My mom is a housewife.
He had a very hectic schedule. He used to take tuitions from 7 am to 9 am and then leave for classes at a college at 9:30 am. He returned home at 1:30 pm and then rested and studied for evening tuitions. In the meanwhile he also left all of us to school at 6:30 am and used to come to school to pick all of us up. He used to drop us for tuitions and purchase groceries on his way back. I never felt that my dad did something less for us than mom. He worked hard and gave all of us a good education in English medium schools, so that we had a bright future ahead. He struggled at times to make both ends meet but he never gave up. He mentored me during failures and showed me the right path.
He taught me the importance of working hard and how to remain cool and calm at tough times. He taught me to have a look ahead and never cry during failures. I prepared for medicals for three consecutive years but failed. Dad suggested I try MBA and I cleared it. I got admission in a reputed college. He supported me when I had lost all hope of clearing any entrance exam. He had faith in me and he used to tell me "Beta, I know one day you will make me proud."
These words are a great driving force in my life. Currently I am managing my own software development firm. I want to say what ever I am today is just because of my dad's faith. Thank you Papa.
-- Rashmi Priya
Share your story with us. Simply write in to getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: 'My dad, my hero') and we'll publish the best entries right here on rediff.com
If you can, do send in a photograph of you and your dad too, to publish alongside your story!
What better way of showing your dad how much you love him this Father's Day?
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