Sunday, September 17, 2006

Appa

Like every daughter I do believe that my father is one of a kind. He is all and more than any father can ever be. He is a walking encyclopedia with a photographic memory. A casual outing to the park would turn out to be a National Geographic expedition. Naming the different kinds of butterflies, quizzing us about the botanical names of trees (that me and my brother were young kids of 8 and 4 years did not deter him), forcing our minds to think beyond the obvious are memories that I cherish everyday. His curiosity for life and his infectious zest for knowledge has more than influenced me. Perhaps this is obvious in my quest for solving the computing problems of the world (well nothing quite so dramatic, but surely I can indulge in some theatrics in my own blog !).

I try to recall a single day when appa has been morose or gloomy. He is the bright and dazzling sunshine that lights up a dull day. Always smiling, a quality I so dearly wish the eternally-sorrowful lot would try and imbibe. At times, I wonder if I have chosen my advisor just because he so reminded me of my father. :-)

On my recent trip to India I got to witness first-hand his fantastic leadership and bedazzling charisma. He was a Chief Guest for a function and was asked to speak. And with little notice he spoke extempore in literate Tamil. His unscripted speech was bejewelled with funny anecdotes, warm reminiscences and brought him a thunderous ovation. Soon after the function, people flocked him, to see him, talk to him, just feel his charisma. It almost seemed like the underlings of the earth knew they were in the presence of a higher being and wanted to be a part of it. Such is my father, inspiring loyal followers where ever he treads.

How do you write about a man who is perhaps the epitome of what every man should strive to be. Well, he does have his faults but even they are endearing. For example, he suffers from the foot-in-mouth syndrome. And ironically, he never sets out to embarrass anyone. In his own goodnatured way, he sometimes gets carried away with the moment leading to oh-no moments.
He has a tendency to confuse facts and as his family we have quite a time drumming them into his head. Like no funny jokes about hair-dye, not to the aunty who is so obviously dyeing her hair in weird burgundy! We know he means well, lighten the moment with his humor, but sometimes (only sometimes) it is misplaced. :-) And his other short-coming is in constantly talking about his daughter to anyone who would listen. For some weird reason he believes I can change the world, a phenomenon I have repeatedly assured him will not happen.

If there is one quality that I can inherit from my dad I would choose his love for life. Every minute feels alive in his company. I am grateful for being his daughter. He has taught me life's lessons well and they will remain with me forever.