An ode to my dad : who passed away on 11-Feb-2013

(This is a poem addressing my daughters & my

Nephews on the passing away

of “aNNa” ie. their grandfather)

Every time I pass an unsolicited advise,

Comment, or turn on the preachy voice,

You may, in all sincerity, question mentally

Did your dad lecture you similarly?

Now that “aNNa” is no more,

I can do a bit of heart-pour

And admit that he never lectured,

Or argued a point beleaguered

He let his actions do the talking,

No quotes, no grandstanding

He’d prove his point silently,

Quashing my counters convincingly

So, what did he teach me?

Did he teach me mechanical engineering

Or my love for just tinkering ?

Did he teach me his electrical stuff

Or to play childhood card games like bluff ?

Did he teach me how to sketch

Or tie knots like a clove-hitch?

Did he teach me how to ride,

Or dive head first from the pool-side ?

No, these I learnt from other sources

Like friends, peers, books & teachers.

What I learned from him was greater,

More fundamental, though wider & deeper.

I learnt about dignity of labour

When he’d shake hands with local barber

With a genuine smile on his face

And a respectful “appa” in his voice.

I learnt about an honest days work

When he’d toil without a shirk

At the factory – hours on end

Or in the garden, plant-tend.

I learnt about loyalty

Never having heard him say a word faulty

Against any of his employer

In his over 30 year career.

I learnt about patience

When, in situations tense

His would be the measured voice

Heard over the din & noise.

I learnt about discipline

his diaries describe what I mean

or for a different kind of proof

you should see the garden on the roof

You say, Learnt, learnt, learnt  ?

Nothing taught – everything learnt ?

No, he did teach me a few things

Things that make us better beings.

He taught these by his actions,

Not mere intonations

He taught me that even a man could,

On situations shed a tear or two

He taught me not to be narrow-minded,

To graduate from being broad to open minded

He taught me the value of money,

Appreciate nature & hold a disposition sunny

He taught me that drive comes from passion,

But, this also needs to be mellowed with compassion

For the generation that follows us,

Please do remember these words

For we can make the world proud

Just by following the footsteps trod.

Ravi.