DADDY

For most of my growing years there was no Father’s Day marked in India. Father’s Day came about due to the desire of a US civil war veteran’s daughter who wanted to honour him. A very noble desire indeed! Well, some good deeds tend to go viral, as they say these days. Soon that day, I think it was 5th June, was celebrated as Father’s Day. I do not know how and why it got shifted to 18th June subsequently. It does not matter anyway as any day would do. Fathers do not mind if they are remembered! 
The day started gaining attention and was promoted by the marketing companies, I for one, generally ignored it unless my dear kids felt it necessary to follow the norm and remind me of it.
Today, I happened to notice a few people I know recollecting their dear Father's memories.  It left me thinking. And here  are some bits of my memory of him.

Not being one so lucky to experience the presence, love, and learnings of a father, having lost him at the age of eleven, I would often dwell on what would have happened if he was there for me during my growing years and how he would have shaped my character, how he would have influenced my thoughts, my interests. Such thoughts would end up with a realisation that a part, probably a substantial one at that, of all these was imbibed in me, anyway, by my mother. On the other hand, his presence would have surely added to that and made me a better character than what I am today.  In addition, it would have provided for a more confident and a less uncertain environment during the formative years.
Thus the sum and substance of the situation is that one’s character and one’s values would need the wholesome presence of a mother and a father. So, the lucky ones who have both, may make the best of it. 
Now about daddy, as I recall the way my sis and I addressed him. Very little is known to me about what kind of a man he was, his knowledge, his political leanings, his likes, and dislikes.  I believe, from faint memories, that he had a good value system. A man of few words. I did gather later, from various anecdotes, that he cared for his family and his own parents and siblings.  He was a dedicated central government employee, ever ready to handle new assignments. He worked for the Directorate of cotton development, Ministry of agriculture. He always wore a neat white shirt and a white trouser, while socks and a shining black leather shoes to go with it.   I later felt that he had the Englishman’s influence.

What influence did he leave on me, even if it was for a brief period of, say 4 to 5 years, at an age when such factors start impacting you.  For one he would insist that I read the English newspaper every day, even at that age when (despite studying in an American school in the early stage and then two convent schools later) reading itself, leave alone understanding, was a tough ask. But I did. Why? Out of fear or interest, I do not know. It did make a difference in life for me.  Secondly, he ensured I took an interest in and worked hard at Maths (Arithmetic to be precise when it comes to primary school those days). I recall quite a few reprimands and a few tweaking of the ears on the way. This emphasis had a lasting effect in me and the interest survives!!  Next was his way of making me take an interest in Cricket. He would make me hear the commentary and he would ask questions on the game- simple ones but that ensured I paid attention. It also trained me well on how to tune in to various radio stations, including short wave ones, on the radio.
Mom had clear political leanings and good knowledge of history and politics. She never did mention what was daddy's political leanings. All I can recall was a time when he took me to attend an election rally held by V K Krishna Menon in Sion, from where he was contesting as an independent MP.
His after dinner walk for the essential puff, the brands like Passing show and Panama comes to mind.
Memories of  few days of his hospitalisation, his holding my hand and the day of his demise are stuck in my mind. Even this matterw when all that I had was a few years of him.
So let me too, on this day, say Hi daddy, Love you.