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Daddy and me: 'Proud to be your son'

Readers share memorable pictures of their dads. Share yours too!

With Father's Day coming up on June 19, we invited readers to send in special 'Daddy and Me' pics. Here's the next set of responses!

First up we have this pic from Lokesh Rajendran. Lokesh sent in this poem to dedicate to his dad N Rajendran:

Eyes close sleep
But saw you and mom weep
You thought that I was asleep
Couldn't explain what I felt in my heart deep
The time ahead was so steep
You were always there for me to creep
I knew you will give the struggle a clean sweep
Even today I give the past a peep
When I do so, without my knowledge I weep
You are my HERO DAD!
PROUD TO BE YOUR SON.

For Father's Day, we're inviting our readers to send in 'Daddy and me' pics -- memorable moments captured on camera. What better way to show your dad you care than re-living your memories?

Simply write in to getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: 'Daddy and Me') with the photograph attached and the little story behind your contribution. We'll be posting the best entries right here on rediff.com all through the week!

'My Papa had to swim the Ganges River to get to his school, but adversities made him stronger'

Next we have this one from Vandana Ojha, of her mehendi ceremony in Michigan, USA, 2008. Here's what she has to say about her father:

My father has been the biggest support of my life. He went through a lot of hardships to make sure that my brothers and I got the best education and upbringing. Although he comes from a small village in Ballia (UP), he never let it be a hindrance. Through sheer will and determination he went from studying in a Hindi medium school to becoming an engineer from IT BHU and retired as GM from SAIL.

Living in the US, I sometimes forget how easy it is for children here where parents drop and pick them up from school in SUVs. My Papa had to swim the Ganges River to get to his school, which consisted of a few huts and trees. His adversities only made him stronger. However, he never forgot his humble beginnings and till date contributes to the village in some way or the other.

My earliest memories are of the times when I would wait for him to come back from work every evening. As soon as I would see his scooter at the end of the street, I would run towards it, climb in front and stand at the foot pedestal; and we would come home together. Come rain or sunshine I loved those short rides together. From those days when I would wait for him to come home, to just a few months ago when he was waiting at the airport at midnight for me and my husband to come home, the joy of seeing him has never abated. Older and wiser, my papa has always been there for me.

This Father's Day is also his birthday and therefore even more special.

Wish you a very happy Father's Day and loads of love from across the oceans. Have fun and see you soon!

'I was horrified with those pressures, but you gave me the strength to move forward'

Richa Chaturvedi sent in this sweet photo and dedication:

My father is my heartbeat, the sweetest, dearest and most adorable person. Love you, Pa.

All I am today is all your effort, sacrifices, love and prayer -- you have laid a very strong foundation in me, and I cherish all those principles and ethics which bind us together and make me a better human being each day. I love you so much Dad...

When I look back at the days of my engineering , I was horrified with those pressures. It was you who gave me strength to move forward, to survive and to grow and each day I strove harder. I miss those days. Living in Germany is no charm, I would rather stay back at my small place Ranchi, in Rama Ramaya.

I miss you Papa...I miss you as a partner in my drink, I remember those days when we use to share just 60 ml of Bacardi EQUALLY...

I can't thank you for what you have given to me, but I thank God for making me so special and giving me a father like you...

'He had to fend for a family of seven with a monthly salary of Rs 500'

Here's Rajalakshmi Krishnakumar's story:

I am a 28-year-old, single, self-made independent woman working in London. I was born and raised in the small town of Trichy in Tamil Nadu and generally come from a lower middleclass family. My father (the hero of the story, Mr Krishnakumar), an employee of the Southern Rilways, sent me to the best school and college (I studied in NIT Trichy), although he knew he was biting off more than he could chew (he had to fend for a family of seven with a monthly salary of Rs 500 in the late '80s) and his 'extended' family discouraged him from doing so. Little did he realise the very education which he didn't get and wanted me to have, had the potential of turning his only daughter (and his only child) against him.

As a teenager I was exposed to kids from a well-to-do family which had a very heavy influence on me. I soon realised that I am so different from Father (whom I still remember calling a 'frog-in-the-well'), I hated his ideology of conservative/traditional culture, I couldn't understand why he wouldn't let me go out with boys or to the occasional school parties. I hated the fact that he never gave me pocket money (except for the money required for a bus ticket, in case I missed the school/college bus) and advised me almost every day to spend wisely. I thought I never learnt anything from him and I couldn't wait to get out of my family and make a living on my own, where I would be 'free' to do what I want and live as I wish to.

It's been seven years since I left my home to make a living of my own and in my journey so far (living in an alien country and culture), though I get the chance to party every single day, I don't find the compelling need for it -- that's because of the pride I have for my culture and thanks goes to my father's upbringing. My inability to find a job for six months after my MBA (in 2009) made me more vulnerable (luckily, my father showed me how to manage tight finances!), which is when I truly understood the need to save money for rainy day and more importantly, the need to be brave and swim against all odd tides. I had to see life for what it truly was to understand my father's words.

The biggest life lessons I have learnt so far are from my father, who unlike me learnt from his life experience and not through education. My education taught me to be modern but it was my father who taught me to be modest, courageous, independent, and to show extraordinary will power when the need arises. I possibly don't have the guts to say these words to my father aloud, so here it goes -- Dad you are my superhero, the best thing that ever happened in my life and God's true gift to me.

'To my husband from his sons'

Here's a pic from Pooja Sharma who explains:

This pic was taken on our visit to Goa this summer. These are my sons Kunal (8) and Rishabh (5) enjoying Palolim Beach with their dad, Shashikant Sharma.

They idolise their dad in every sense of the word and for him, Kunal and Rishabh are his world. This pic would be the best Father's Day gift from them to him.

'A shoulder to sleep on'

Shabnam Desai also sent in a snapshot echoing the same sentiment:

On behalf of my son Kabir, who is only 18 months old. His daddy is the most wanted person in his life, one who makes him enjoy bike and car rides, lets him win all sorts of games, who is a shoulder to sleep on and provides encouragement and love always. Yes, a big surprise for Dada Ulhas.

'My father works for a big IT company'

Eleven-year-old Anmol Gutty of New Delhi sent in this cute pic and write-up:

I am Anmol. I am 11 years old. I am studying in Class VI now. My father works for a big IT company. My father is my world. Me and my father went on a holiday trip to Hongkong and Macau last August. This was a gift my father received from his company. So there were five other colleagues of his along with their families.

This was the first trip abroad for me. We had lot of fun. We went to Hongkong Disneyland and had lots of fun there. The best part of our trip was in Macau. We did the sky walk on the Macau Skywalk Tower. Out of the total group of 14 people, only 5 ventured for this skywalk. I was the only kid.

We have a tee-shirt and a certificate to boast of this.

'He never ate anything if I was ill'

And finally, Geeta Subramanian of Chennai has this to say about her dad:

Today all I am is due to my father. I can't imagine a day without him. The best thing I inherited from him is his nature, which has helped me through everything in my life. Calmness, patience, adjustment, compromise, changing with time, affection, concern -- all these good qualities are well woven into the character of my father.

He fulfilled all my requirements with his small income, encouraging me to do everything. I have found him beside me through all my ups and downs. He has a solution for every problem. I still remember, he never went to the office without seeing my face; I remember how he used to get worried if I was late; he never ate anything if I was ill; and how can I forget those examination days, when he used to sit under the tree from Class I till I graduated?

I am too small a creature to return anything. Now I understand, as the mother of a daughter, what pain he went through when I was married. The most pathetic thing about our relationship is I never called him 'Papa', I call him Dada. I feel sorry that despite being such a nice father, he is deprived of being called Papa or Appa. I am ashamed of myself for not being able to change Dada to Appa, but whatever it is, Baba, thank you for always being there, love you.