When we are kids everything we do: be it winning a competition or looking pretty, everybody gives the credit to our parents and tell them how smart their kid is or how well they have inculcated discipline in the child. I would like to tell you all about Poorvi, my niece, my little colouring champion. Every coloring competition she wins, everybody congratulates her parents. I understand there are two reasons to it, the first one that Poorvi is too small to understand what congratulations means and after all it is her parents who have been instrumental in creating this little artist.
As Poorvi grows up and starts understanding the world around her, things will change. At college level if she wins a competition or is appreciated for some quality she possesses, all the compliments she gets will be for her and her alone. I again see two reasons here, the first being that Poorvi will be mature enough to understand the appreciation and also, most people, would see Poorvi for who she is today and believe she is instrumental to what she is today. Very few would think of parents or teachers at this point - they will say, "Woow, Poorvi you are truly a talented artist" forgetting all those people along the way who have created and nurtured this young artist. Even if there are some people who understand that the parents and the teachers play their role in creating the person we are, very few would acknowledge these roles, which have created us.
Once this little one, grows and achieves her success and is known for all the good things and all what she becomes, the world will know only her name, "Poorvi". People forget to even think about who has been instrumental in creating this wonder. Don't most of do that, we may get introduced to our role model's parents, and in our mind we may think, "Oh he is so lucky to have such a talented son" or "Wow, what it must be to be such a legends mother". However, have we stopped to think that if not for the parents - the son may never have become a legend. If not for the teacher - the student may never have become exceptional. We all know Sachin Tendulkar - but how many of us know of the coach who created him? We know of a Kiran Bedi - but do we even know her parents names? Undoubdetdly to become something in life, an individual would have put in tremendous efforts. It is their personal efforts - but shouldn't some credit go to the parents, mentors, teachers of these exceptional humans who helped them realise their own extra-ordinariness?
Let's do something - lets not just look at the fruit and say, "Wow, so sweet". Lets go to the root level and understand what has made this person what he is. This will not only make us look at his or her seemingly ordinary parents and teachers in a new light but also help us realise how many people, in how many ways are helping us become what we want to. We too are being shaped. And moulded. And we shouldnt forget, at the time of our greatness, that if not for that helping hand, if not for that encouraging smile, if not for that "I love you", we may never have come where we have.
Thank your best friend's parents for your friend. Feel grateful to your guru's wife, children and parents and realise how much they must be sacrificing so that your guru can focus on your growth. In fact, if you are a married woman, please do start seeing you in laws in a new light and realise that your husband, who means so much to you, is what he is because of his parents. It would mean so much to any of these people to be recognized for creating a wonder. It would mean so much to them, if they are told that someone, at least someone, realises their role in creating this legend.
How wonderful it would be if we could thank parents and teachers, not only ours, but of all those who are making such a significant difference to our lives. Let's not wait for any particular day, any day can become special if we can make a difference to at least one person. Let's create a few special days to all the special parents and teachers.
This is a dedication to my parents and teachers. And also to Megha Bajaj's parents - who gave me a precious friend and teacher who helps me in writing. Without her parents, and her, I would not be speaking and sharing my innermost feelings and profound realizations through this article with you.
As Poorvi grows up and starts understanding the world around her, things will change. At college level if she wins a competition or is appreciated for some quality she possesses, all the compliments she gets will be for her and her alone. I again see two reasons here, the first being that Poorvi will be mature enough to understand the appreciation and also, most people, would see Poorvi for who she is today and believe she is instrumental to what she is today. Very few would think of parents or teachers at this point - they will say, "Woow, Poorvi you are truly a talented artist" forgetting all those people along the way who have created and nurtured this young artist. Even if there are some people who understand that the parents and the teachers play their role in creating the person we are, very few would acknowledge these roles, which have created us.
Once this little one, grows and achieves her success and is known for all the good things and all what she becomes, the world will know only her name, "Poorvi". People forget to even think about who has been instrumental in creating this wonder. Don't most of do that, we may get introduced to our role model's parents, and in our mind we may think, "Oh he is so lucky to have such a talented son" or "Wow, what it must be to be such a legends mother". However, have we stopped to think that if not for the parents - the son may never have become a legend. If not for the teacher - the student may never have become exceptional. We all know Sachin Tendulkar - but how many of us know of the coach who created him? We know of a Kiran Bedi - but do we even know her parents names? Undoubdetdly to become something in life, an individual would have put in tremendous efforts. It is their personal efforts - but shouldn't some credit go to the parents, mentors, teachers of these exceptional humans who helped them realise their own extra-ordinariness?
Let's do something - lets not just look at the fruit and say, "Wow, so sweet". Lets go to the root level and understand what has made this person what he is. This will not only make us look at his or her seemingly ordinary parents and teachers in a new light but also help us realise how many people, in how many ways are helping us become what we want to. We too are being shaped. And moulded. And we shouldnt forget, at the time of our greatness, that if not for that helping hand, if not for that encouraging smile, if not for that "I love you", we may never have come where we have.
Thank your best friend's parents for your friend. Feel grateful to your guru's wife, children and parents and realise how much they must be sacrificing so that your guru can focus on your growth. In fact, if you are a married woman, please do start seeing you in laws in a new light and realise that your husband, who means so much to you, is what he is because of his parents. It would mean so much to any of these people to be recognized for creating a wonder. It would mean so much to them, if they are told that someone, at least someone, realises their role in creating this legend.
How wonderful it would be if we could thank parents and teachers, not only ours, but of all those who are making such a significant difference to our lives. Let's not wait for any particular day, any day can become special if we can make a difference to at least one person. Let's create a few special days to all the special parents and teachers.
This is a dedication to my parents and teachers. And also to Megha Bajaj's parents - who gave me a precious friend and teacher who helps me in writing. Without her parents, and her, I would not be speaking and sharing my innermost feelings and profound realizations through this article with you.
