Tej Bahadur Verma is no great man. His achievements are humble, just like him. But, he is a #GreatDad. He has done much more than a girl could ever expect from her father in India. His teachings are simple - inculcating morals and imbibing strong family values in his children. As a father, he has invested both his time and money wisely. Time - to bring joy in their lives and to create memories. And, money - to educate them. What’s great about it, you ask? Don’t fathers do all this for their children? Plus, it’s their duty.
Right! What if I say...he is a daily laborer who earns less than 200 Rupees a day and has a family of six to feed. And he sold his land, the only financial security he ever had, to fund one of his daughters’ tuition fees. His 15 year old daughter Sushma Verma wanted to pursue Masters in Microbiology. In 2013, to give shape to his daughter’s dream, he sold off his ancestral land. How often we see a father supporting his daughter like this in India? And that too someone from a humble background. This is a great act on the part of someone with his economic status and obligations. Not only he backed his daughter but he has also set an example for many others around him. In a country where female infanticide is on the rise, men like Tej Bahadur Verma serves as a beacon of hope. He made a sensible investment; he invested in the education of his daughter and secured her life. He paved a way for her growth, independence and prosperous life. I believe -
‘A good father prepares his child for future’
Tej Bahadur Verma broke the rudimentary mindsets of a society where money is either spent on boys or saved for girl’s dowry. A man who never went to school himself knew the value of education and nurtured the talent of his daughter. But financing his daughter’s education is just a part of what touched me. Like a good father, he took his daughter to college whenever he had time. How blessed a girl feels when her father wholeheartedly support her dreams! He showered his love and stood by her daughter throughout. Isn’t this inspiring!
A great dad is someone who recoups what he misses, gently pushes his child when they need a nudge of confidence and above everything else, he sets the stones for their secure future - exactly what Tej Bahadur has done for his children. He has made them self-sufficient and made sure that they can face the world when he won’t be around. And we can’t undermine the role of financial security when it comes to supporting our children. Savings for their college fees or for their marriage, investing in a property or buying an insurance policy for their security - all this is very important. I love the tagline of the commercial above - taiyaar rahiye, zindagi haske bitayenge. It’s so true - if we are ready, we can face everything and live a stress-free life, smiling throughout. Saving and investing for future; and buying an insurance policy - like the ones from SBI Life Insurance, seems so important to secure peace of mind in today’s fast paced uncertain life. I feel every parent will nod in approval to this. And, in the end I would share what my father says - A #GreatDad always manages to put a smile on his child’s face.
This is truly inspiring. A father from low economic strata,uneducated probably, doing so much to help his daughter fulfill her dream. Reminds me of a very educated Engineer father and post graduate mother who sent their daughter to a Telugu medium school and their son to an English medium, even though they were no where poor! Such contrasts do exist i guess.
ReplyDeleteWhat, this is not fair! People should learn from men like - Tej Bahadur Verma.
DeleteThanks for reading.
Yup much to be learned from him.
DeleteI concur!
DeleteThis one is an extraordinary dad, an amazing Indian who can put many or should I say most Indians to shame !
ReplyDeleteI agree, Sir. He is an extraordinary father.
DeleteHow true and inspirational. Such a great tribute to all the good dads out there.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, thanks for reading.
Deletetouching :)
ReplyDeleteWonderfully expressed thoughts Saru..Dad's are real heroes.. :)
ReplyDeleteThey are... :)
DeleteSo true! A touching post.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteVery well written and so inspiring. Nice post Saru:)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Disha!
DeleteBeautiful post Saru! Wish every girl gets a dad like this!
ReplyDeleteTrue that, Sir.
DeleteThis is so inspiring and touching. I was expecting a poem from you Saru. Love your poetry.
ReplyDeleteI am moving on. I wrote a poem about him a long time back. I hope you like my articles too.
DeleteAn inspiring tale, Saru. Haven't you written about him earlier as well?
ReplyDeleteYeah, a poem.
DeleteTruly inspirational.. very well written!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Zahida! :)
DeleteI am glad people like him exist in this country! Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMe too, as I said - He is a beacon of hope.
DeleteThe number of such dads (parents) who teach values to their children are very very less in our country now-a-days.
ReplyDeleteHats off to all such parents who help in the building of a good country.
http://popular-opinion.blogspot.in/
Hats off to them!
DeleteWhat a great dad! :'-) <3 A touching story. Thanks so much for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteHe is indeed and thank you very much for reading.
DeleteYes investment to children's education is the best thing for any father to do. But your mention that female infanticide is on rise is wrong. In fact there is no infanticide if we go by the census data. Check the census data you will know - here's a post to show that -
ReplyDeletehttp://themalefactor.com/2015/02/12/is-indias-census-data-deliberately-fudged-to-show-skewed-gender-ratio/
Ok, I will read it. Thank you!
DeleteSuch people are inspiring and foster courage.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading.
True....
ReplyDeleteA dad is someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail...
Beautifully said! Thanks for writing this, Vishal.
DeleteWell Written post, enjoyed reading it !
ReplyDeleteI am following u on GFC :)
Do follow back if u like my blog ;)
AnanyaTales
Facebook
Twitter
Sure, Ananya!
DeleteTouching as well as inspiring. :)
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
DeleteInspiring read Saru. We need more of such people here.
ReplyDeleteTrue that, Somali.
DeleteA great dad is someone who recoups what he misses, gently pushes his child when they need a nudge of confidence and above everything else, he sets the stones for their secure future. Inspirational post saru ji . I am father of two but dont think that I m like Tej bahadur .
ReplyDeleteI think you are a great dad. Taj Bahadur Verma is an inspiration for those who treat their girl child with less care.
DeleteThanks for reading.
Beautifully written Saru. there is no one that can replace a father in a girl's life. Not even husband or her own child.
ReplyDeletewww.hautekutir.com
www.numerounity.com
I agree, Ekta.
DeleteInspiring post. A great Dad must support his children, when the children need support... :)
ReplyDeleteWell said, Arpita.
DeleteSo inspiring and heart-warming Saru! I remember a poem about him..you wrote earlier...
ReplyDeleteYes, I did. Glad you acknowledged it. :)
Deletethat is a great dad :)
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteInspiring
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Sir.
DeleteLovely post Saru.. enjoyed reading it
ReplyDeleteBikram's
Thanks! :)
DeleteWhat makes a person great is not merely what he does but what difficulty he had to overcome to do what he did
ReplyDeleteWell said, Sir. Rising above your misery defines us.
DeleteI found this post to be a warm one. I am proud as I too can say that my dad is a great dad. Certainly, a great dad plans for the future of his children. The story you shared makes me salute that great father. I am deeply touched.
ReplyDeleteTrue, a #GreatDad plans for future of his child and supports him. Glad you know how you feel about your dad. We are blessed to have loving fathers.
DeleteNot every person can do that , only a father can ! A heart warming post dear ! Ancestral lands are very close to men and parting ways with it so his children can fulfill their dreams just shows how much a father cares for his children!
ReplyDeleteVery true, Najma. You pointed a very important fact. Thank you so much!
Deletewe are in need of such positive stories... that too from a veteran hands... let this become contagious..
ReplyDeleteYeah, let this become contagious. :)
DeleteThanks for reading!
So very heart warming! When a man becomes a Dad, he really transforms!
ReplyDeleteYeah, many say that. Thanks for sharing, Sweety. :)
DeleteIt is not easy to break the mindsets set in the society. Perhaps, that is one reason why God made Dads. Dads are the best!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful way to put it. Thanks, Arti.
DeleteWonderful post, Saru. If I remember correctly,earlier, you had written a poem about him.
ReplyDeleteDads are the best!
Yup, I did. And yes, dads are great! :)
DeleteWow! soulful post. No wonder, Dads are always the best!
ReplyDeleteThank you. :)
DeleteTej is an inspiration how fathers should be. A beacon of hope for a society where many fathers even today treat girl children or children in general as objects which can be tortured and troubled. Beautifully post :).
ReplyDeleteI agree, thanks for reading Aseem.
DeleteWonderful post Saru :-) Inspiring one.. This story depicts an incredible value..
ReplyDeleteIt surely does. Thanks for reading, Sushmitha.
DeleteFaboulous After a long time found this kinda writing @saru must admire your work :) keep spreading keep thinking keep writing !
ReplyDeleteThanks Apoorv and welcome here!
DeleteWonderful one Saru!
ReplyDeleteThis is what it really means to be a dad.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree!
Delete