People and stories
Father’s Day Contest: The Friend, The Guide
Vinita writes about her father AN Suryanarayanan and how he has always been part of everything important in her life. This is one of our Top 5 entries. Enjoy this beautiful piece.
A writer,
A cook,
A friend,
A teacher,
A driver,
A moral compass
A guide
and more than anything-
A father
How do I pick only certain happy memories with my father, when my whole lifetime is intertwined with him?!
Where do I begin?
The detailed letters he wrote us while posted away from home – that arrived without fail every week for over 5 years; with a cutting of the week’s Word-Jumble for us to do and the ‘Mutt and Jeff’ cartoon strip to read and enjoy.
Do I talk about the time he made a different variety of souffle for as a Friday surprise
Or when he dished out gajar halwa and flavoured rice for a community picnic, one summer holiday; cooking for the first time!
How can I not mention the evening he taught my sister and me the entire Tamil alphabet – making sure we learnt it overnight so that we didn’t end up in the wrong bus in the Nilgiris!
What about the various occasions his colleagues and friends remark about his brutal honesty or his elephant-like memory that leaves everyone amazed, every time…One can’t keep up with that so we just try not to slip up!
His meticulous filing and indexing of hundreds of recipes collected from my mother and the newspapers– which I continue to dig into!
His various trips abroad post retirement– exploring and discovering for himself different cultures and countries.
The fact that he’s more of a friend to his children’s friends and his friends’ children…
His doing an MBA and topping the University when he was almost 50
His love for crosswords and numbers that he has passed on to my daughter. The values and memories of his childhood, youth and army life that he continues to share with her so that she may listen, laugh and learn.
His insatiable interest in learning and sharing interesting anecdotes, experiences and facts with friends and family; all while keeping up with social media and new technology.
Long before Father’s Day became a ‘Day’, my father shared with us the joys of exchanging personal notes, handmade cards, little everyday gifts as a way of showing how we care and value the other… So while we will continue to do that…Happy Father’s Day !
Vinita is 41 and lives in Bangalore.
Comments
Gazal
15 Aug, 2016
I had the pleasure of meeting your father and was amazed at how lively and full of ideas he, is...!
Brig A N Suryanarayanan
19 Jul, 2016
Dear Vaithy, Wonder how I missed your comment. Sorry, found it now in the middle of many. Of course Vini read all today when she was here. Thank you, Suri
Brig An Suryanarayanan
18 Jul, 2016
Thank you all: Bala, Chari, Shweta and Swagi, I am ack your views,as I had sent you the link! I am sure, Vinita will respond direct to all whom she knows..or even doesn't!
Swagata Mody
18 Jul, 2016
I was nodding and smiling right through..didnt know about the teaching you written Tamil in an evening bit!!!! but can definitely believe that..:) I want to read more vini..must write more..love and hugs
Shweta
16 Jul, 2016
Awesome article mam, indeed the skill is running in the blood. Hope to read more your articles.
Rr Chari
16 Jul, 2016
Vinita, Well written. It shows how much you love your father. He will be always proud of you.So am I knowing you both. God Bless you. Love, Chari Uncle
Vaidyanathan
15 Jul, 2016
Vini, A wonderful piece on my Suri mama. Great keep the good work of writing / typing / Keying in. Love Vaithy
Brig A N Suryanarayanan
15 Jul, 2016
Thank you, Murthy-Lalitha, Viji and Dahul. I am sure, Vini will be reading them over the weekend. I sometimes wonder, where do girls so much energy, when my wife was there (Now this girl beats her!) . Without a servant, she works from about 6 AM to 9 PM, besides teaching and working at a NGO and taking her daughter for various events every day !
Rahul Naidu
14 Jul, 2016
Vini - awesome article, great writing runs in the family :) I can't wait to read your next one.
Viji Nagaraj
14 Jul, 2016
A lovely daughter's love for her father . My compliments to Vinita .
Lalitha Murthy
14 Jul, 2016
Vini -A fantastic write up about your father. Heartiest congratulations to you on this talent which has surfaced here. Every word you have written, I can vouchsafe, is true; and it has emanated from your heart with apt words being used for every quality of Suri. You have said it all. We are all proud of you. Mama and Mami
Brig R S Murthy(Retd)
14 Jul, 2016
Vini -A fantastic write up about your father. Heartiest congratulations to you on this talent which has surfaced here. Every word you have written, I can vouchsafe, is true; and it has emanated from your heart with apt words being used for every quality of Suri. You have said it all. We are all proud of you.
Brig A N Suryanarayanan
14 Jul, 2016
Thank you, all: Rahul, Ram, Vidya, Girish, Dr Usha and Brig Prabir. I am sure Vinita will read all and would be ack. Surya
Prabirgoswami@Gmail.Com
14 Jul, 2016
Dear Vinita, I do not know you. I got in touch with your father, well after retirement. He shares some of what he writes with me and I am deeply impressed. As an old but younger than your Dad soldier, I understand and can gauge all he has been through. Your brief but well constructed 'Father's Day' description is your heart and love upfront - with respect and admiration. Well done. Your Dad has every reason to be very proud of you.
Usha
14 Jul, 2016
Read Vinita's piece on her father Brig. Suryanarayan. This is the finest gift anyone can give one's father--the gift of love and gratitude.So beautifully written, extremely touching . The author has given a fine voice to memory and emotion. Hope to read more from her! Usha Mahadevan
Girish
14 Jul, 2016
Who else could write about him other than you.. for those who have had the opportunity to have known you both from close quarters know what each words mean. Keep it up vini. You should write more often.
Vidya
14 Jul, 2016
What a beautiful note Vini! Such a lovely piece to celebrate Father's Day with Chitappa!! I can picture everything so clearly from your note - it's is a beautiful reflection of him :-).
Rahul Gowardhan
14 Jul, 2016
Veenita, Very nicely written and expressed gratitude. Keep it up.
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