My father’s story is perhaps representative of his generation
in India – story of a small-town boy moving out at an early age to figure out
life in bigger city, humongous efforts to set up a family in the big city while
still remaining in touch with the roots ……
My father grew up in a place called Kolhapur – a city that
has been traditionally known for its art, culture and love for food but not
much for its industry. He started his career in Indian Postal Department at an
early age … gave his examination to get selected for a central government job
through an all-India exam …
In the year 1952, at the age of 20, he set out to New Delhi
for his job. Well, going from Kolhapur to New Delhi was a big deal … actually
had a little article published about his departure to Delhi in local
newspaper!! Going so far away, though within the country, was quite challenging
… the only way for his family to know that he reached was through a letter ..
the snail-mail – phones were rare and telegrams were premium – generally reserved
for breaking bad news urgently ….No one told him that it is quite cold up-north
so finally he had to cover himself with the bedding in the train to fight the
biting cold!
Many twists and turns in life which were perhaps a common theme
for his generation … a generation that migrated to big city … bought their own
house …. Started family … invested in kids’ education –all starting from
scratch!
In true sense Vasudeo is a ‘self-made’ man. There is lot of
pride in self-made men, many times crossing a thin line into the area of
vanity! Many a times the self-made people take themselves too seriously –
prefer to live in the nostalgia and there is always certainty of what is right
and what is not. My father has no such pretence – even now he continuous to
live life with a lot of curiosity – embracing new things with ease. For example,
he had never used T-shirts and Jeans till the age of about 65 – may be because
of his job as government officer and then a banker of his time. But when he
decided to visit my siblings in the US for the first time – he just changed his
wardrobe to jeans and T-shirts and changed his diet habits to whatever vegetarian
food that was available in US. Traveling abroad to places like US may cause
some discomfort for senior citizens who have lived life in a particular way –
not my father. He along with my mother just freaked out for a few months he
spent there! Now, far the past two decades he still enjoys his jeans and
T-shirts. Was he a rebel? Not at all … he followed a perfect dress code during
his employment and then easily came out
of it to put it behind and enjoy a new life – no pretence of either “our times
or good old days” … or “breaking the shackles” … just living life as it unfolds….
taking into stride the changes that life brings….. easily accepting that there
are many ways to lead one’s life ….. unflappable when your son decides to test
your patience (more about that later)…
In spite of being a ‘self-made
man’ he does not follow that stereotype or any stereotype for that matter …. Always
happy with what life presents…. inquisitive about change …. Living with him is
a joy-ride …. I will take you through some of it as I go along and hopefully
you will enjoy the ride J
