Remembering My Dad



The waves of Ganges lapped on the shore softly and rhythmically. Our feet soaked in the coolness.  The touch of water was calming and comforting. Blaring music spewed by the loudspeakers just passed by and did not enter the system. There was a lull inside – an emptiness, a void. A barrage of memories stormed every now and then,   flooding the mind, heart and eyes. The crowd and the chaos outside was ineffective in causing perturbation of any kind. Glow of a clay lamp sitting atop flowers in a handmade leaf bowl broke the trance. It had been released in the river in memory of some dear departed. The man looked sad and somber as he folded his hands in obeisance and watched it bobble up and down in the waves till it disappeared. The truth hit once again. Our dear dad had left…..forever.


Losing my father was my worst nightmare. I had woken up in the midst of the night many a times -sweaty and shivering by the very thought of it. And when it happened, we were cataleptic, frozen - a weird state of indescribable nature. Slowly, the truth seeped in, the reality was accepted. Through misty eyes, we looked at his serene face. This is the way he had always been - in life and now in death- calm, peaceful, tranquil and unruffled – in words, thoughts and action. 

An ardent nature lover, gardener, writer, sitar player, and an avid reader, simple, non-egoistic, unpretentious, humble, compassionate, humane, down to earth, ever smiling, saintly and above all a great human being,  he was loved by all those who knew him. A true follower of Gita, he led a Spartan life with few needs and fewer desires.


He was a wonderful father. Together, we had great fun making food table for birds and buying clay pots to keep water. Together, we spotted birds during the morning walks and fed strays on the way. We tended the garden together and together we grew seasonal vegetables. The swing on the mango tree and the bridge on the brook that he made for our amusement every summer are the beautiful memories to cherish. The first cake in our home was made by dad on sand in a pressure cooker. The aroma of the cake still lingers. Jam was made from every seasonal fruit growing in our orchard. Guava jelly and Guava cheese were his favourite. Every winter he made boxfuls of chikki (brittle) for us. He played sitar to unwind and we had music sittings at home very weekend. Such beautiful memories is the stuff our childhood is made of.


The wheel of time moves on …..Dad has completed the journey of life. His favourite chair is now empty. So is his bed. His Sitar is silent forever and his pen ceases to write.  Wish we could have spent more time together, wish we had hugged him more told him more often how much we loved him. Wish we could have served him more………

 Forgetting your loved ones is not easy. They come in your thoughts, in your dreams, you feel them around you feel them everywhere. 


“For one who has taken birth, death is certain and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore you ought not to lament for an inevitable situation”, says Gita Chapter 2 verse 25.
Goodbye Dad…..till we meet in heaven.







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20 comments:

  1. I am so sorry for you Namita. I now how much your dad meant to you and how very much you loved him and he loved you. It is incredibly hard to say goodbye to people that are so very close to you and my heart goes out to you now.

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    1. Fran, He was a big influence in my life.
      Thank you for your kind words.

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  2. A touching post...it filled my eyes with tears...may his soul rest in peace and pray to God you get enough strength to bare the loss

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    1. Hello Amrita, losing a parent is a great loss...perhaps the greatest. You never seem to have enough of them. Thank you for your kind words.

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  3. Abha Mehrotra5/11/2016 9:02 pm

    I am so sorry to know about you loss Namita.Having been through this pain I can well understand your feelings but be assured that our parents never leave us.They walk with us through thick and thin in spirit and their deeds and words always guide us in all situations.My sympathies again.

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    1. Thank you for your healing words Abha. I also believe that somewhere up there they are watching us and guiding us.

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  4. Sorry to read about your loss, Namita...your dad seems to have been a big influence in every aspect your life. In a way, his presence seems to be there always. Take care.

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    1. Hello Prathima, thank you for your kind words. Yes, Prothima, I was really close to him. Trying to come to terms with the loss.

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  5. May your Dad rest in your love for him !

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    1. Hello Neet, Thank You for your kind words.

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  6. Such contented life he lived and such beautiful memories he created...May his soul rest in peace ....fathers and daughters share a matchless bond, may you find the strength to cope with your loss.....

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    1. Thank you for your comforting words Sheetal. You are right, fathers and daughters share a matchless bond. Trying to come to terms with the loss Sheetal.

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  7. Rashmi Kamath5/19/2016 2:56 am

    Heartfelt condolences on your recent loss. May your father's soul rest in peace. Hope you find the courage to bear this irreplaceable loss. God bless.

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    1. Thank you Rashmi for your kind words.

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  8. So sorry to hear about your loss Namita.I visited your blog quite after sometime and was really saddened to read this..What a beautiful tribute you have written!I could not help being teary eyed.I am sure your dad must be watching over you always from the place where he is..Much love n prayers for u..

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  9. Hello Meenal, Thank You for your kind words. It has almost been three months since he left us. We miss him every moment. Memories abound.Wish God gave hime some more time to live!

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  10. Dear Namita,
    I feel so very sad after reading your post. I can relate to this after losing my husband. The memories will be cherished always never forget, love and hugs to you my lovely XX

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    1. Hello Ratna, I am so sorry to know about your loss. Life goes on and memories become a part of our being. You must be really brave to face it all and move ahead. May God give you strength and power. My love and regards to you!

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