I've Learnt To Live Fearlessly And Never Compromise, Thanks To My Dad

When Amrish Puri dug his heels in and refused to reconsider the love of Raj and Simran, a shiver ran down the spine of the audience in the theatre. It was the afternoon of 1995 where I vividly remember how the straw was neatly stuck in and my fingers were groping for popcorn, the mind was engaged with just one question: Will he give his approval or will he not? Deep down we all knew that he would because first and foremost, the wicked, bloodthirsty villain is a father and a father’s heart beats differently for their daughters.

Dads And Daughters

Only a few of life's relationships compare to that of a father and daughter. From the first time she grasps his hand and says her first words, to the day she moves out on her own, the bond between them is ever-evolving: Dad goes from childhood hero to feared inspector of boyfriends and finally graduates as a sage friend of adulthood.

When I look around, I see some difficult people becoming brilliant Dads. I wonder what the secret of affection for the youngest women in their lives is. I have realized over the years that one need not have any specific qualifications to become a great dad. From ordinary to not-so-ordinary men all share an extraordinary relationship with their daughters. Being your daughter’s first love is quite a natural thing to happen. The book Letters from a Father to his daughter is reflective of an aristocratic dad’s desire to introduce his daughter to the wonders of the world. The letters in this book are not just letters to be read and put away, they are life lessons and are also exemplary of the bond father and daughter share.

The role of father involvement in the perceived psychological well-being of young adults has emphasized how nurturant fathering correlates with life satisfaction, self-concept and self-esteem. From the psychological perspective, a father-daughter relationship has the potential to shape interaction patterns that surface women as they enter adult relationships. For example, if a woman has learned patterns of relating through a father who has infantilized and weakened her, life could be problematic; and it’s difficult to keep together the pieces of her fragile confidence because she keeps doubting every man in her life.  

For me, my dad is the wind beneath my wings

He is the confidence running in my veins. Words alone cannot describe my love, my gratitude and fondness for him. He is our sense of pride, vigour, vitality and vanity. I’m at an age where I can tell impartially the difference he has made to my existence. It’s only when you walk out from the cosy, amniotic safety of home into the icy, shark-infested waters of the real world you realize the warmth of your father’s home.  

From my father, I have learnt to live fearlessly and never compromise. He is a self-made man in the profoundest sense of the term, and I firmly feel that your work ethics come from your parents. It’s the father who teaches you how to hold your chin up, head high and take the world in your stride without being evasive. My heart fills with pride when I see my father getting deeper into a subject and passionately studying till the wee hours even at the age of 75. Not many people his age have the fire to learn, to accomplish and to perform.

In any stressful situation, my inner voice tells me to act like my dad. It softly prompts that I am his daughter, and I should conduct myself in that way. I have started to believe that parents are not only the people you come from; they are the people you eventually become. The most important lesson that I have learnt from my dad is to love unconditionally. He has taught us to build core relationships and nurture them with care.

For any daughter, her boisterous, charming, warm-hearted, lovable father tends to become our staunch supporter and fairest critique. The years of togetherness make them much meatier and more tactile. Our endless discussions and arguments with them help us develop a vision. Dad, our best friend, always beams and opens his arms for the warmest hug. Today, Dad and daughter understand that they are caught in a web of love, that the fibres that connect them have been too tightly wrapped. There’s nothing as precious as a father’s love.

A big thanks to all the dads of the world. Thanks for making the world of your Princess so special by just being there in her orbit. Mothers’ contribution has always been talked about openly and unabashedly but here’s a note to the father’s unwavering love and support that form the strongest foundation for any girl to view and withstand the world.