To Dad, with love

'Any man can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad', said Anne Geddes, the famous professional photographer. On the occasion of Father’s Day. Suruchi Sharma tries to reflect upon the special bond between the father and child

“Like a friend you are always there by my side,
Guiding me how to take life in each stride.
And now when I look back At the years when I was small,
I fantasise how you taught me to crawl,
Holding my hands and making me walk
And now after so many years
You are always there to talk...”

This is what comes to my mind when I think about my father. Father’s day may sound like yet another western import on the lines of Valentine’s Day that many just brush aside owing to its commercialised value. Yet the day holds immense importance. It makes us reflect on the gentle, caring, loving yet an authoritative figure, which we just take for granted.

The connection between a child and his or her father is unique from other relationships. It is even more special than the bond we share with our mothers. We all tend to shower our love on our mother, often forgetting the irreplaceable role the opposite sex plays in our lives. He is the one who spends hours working, but tucks you in at night and scares off the boogie men from the closet. The one who holds the seat of your bike when you are trying to learn to ride, who bowls 50 thousand balls to you so that you can hit the winning runs. The person who is there consoling you when you strike out. How can one forget the carefree childhood days, when you craved for his attention as and when he walked through the door at the end of a long day! How great is the feeling of jumping right into his strong grip and wrapping arms around his neck. To lie on floor and play games, those shrieks of joy, after winning the game.

Freud rightly described this feeling of protection and security when he said, “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection.” Such is the significance of a father’s presence that the difference he makes in the life of a child can determine the difference he will make in the life of a whole community.

They say that a father is someone who replaces the currency in his wallet with the snapshots of his kids. Well, even grown ups can vouch for that as hardly anyone can deny chanting 'Dad I want this' everytime something caught his/her fancy. A father is supposed to know our choices, our tastes, our most wanted lists and our favourite flavours. He is not supposed to return from travel empty handed and he is not allowed to miss the weekend outings. Thankfully, Father's Day brings us an occasion to say that we too know his choices and likes.
The concept of celebrating Father's Day is very new in India. However, it is remarkable to note that the idea of observing a day in honour of fathers has been appreciated by Indians to a large extent. Today, millions of people in India observe Father's Day by expressing gratitude for their father or men who are like father.

It is true that a day is not enough to thank your father for being that someone special, but Father’s day is an occasion to make him feel special and tell him how much he means to you. So brace yourself and make this day special for him. Prepare a wish list of things he likes. Shop together, watch movies or play games together, write a poem. But most importantly give him a tight hug. He needs that more than anything else in this whole wide world.

Happy Father’s day Dad.