moms, our dads also occupy a very special place in our lives. A mother nourishes a child to adulthood with her love and care and a dad shields him from the ugliness and crudeness of the world. Thus, as a day is dedicated to all mothers, justly enough, a day is also dedicated to all the fathers of the world. In fact, if you come to think of it, these two people, namely our mum and dad, do deserve more than one special day dedicated to them, considering the amount of effort and sacrifice they put in for their child’s bright and secure future. Therefore, this is one occasion when we get to show them how much they mean to us and how much we value them in our lives.A father has always been a person who provides the much needed emotional and physical security to a child. He is one figure every child knows he can fall back on in times of happiness and in times of crises. Hence, Father’s Day is the day of commemoration and celebration for that one person in our life, who has been there with us all throughout. He is the one who was there when we took the first steps of life, when we had the first fall, when we first went to school, when we first got a prize, when we first learnt to ride a cycle and when we first passed a major exam. Thus, this day is an occasion to recall, recognise and remember those endless pains he has taken for our growth and upbringing; that very special icon, our father or our dad.
Father’s Day is celebrated every year on the third Sunday of June. The idea for creating a day for children to honour their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father who made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and a loving man. Sonora’s father was born in June, so, she chose to hold the first Father’s Day in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.
At about the same time, in various towns and cities across America, other people were also beginning to celebrate “Father’s Day”. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Roses are the Father’s Day flowers: red to be worn for a living father and white if the father has died.
Thus, since then, celebrating the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day has become a tradition the world over. Every father is special to his child. Our dads are our heroes. They come to our rescue when we least expect them, and no matter how much we quarrel with them, they always seem to forgive us. No matter how much they may admonish us, at the end of the day they always give in to our wishes and demands. That’s how dads are .... I guess, that is why it is said that one cannot understand the heart of a parent, unless a person becomes one.
So, let us see what significance Father’s Day holds for different individuals from different walks of life, and how they intend to make their dads feel special on this Father’s Day.
Bidisha Sarma, a student of class nine of Holy Child School, Guwahati, says: “My dad is the most special person for me. He has been there for me at every step of my life. I can never repay back his love and sacrifice for me, but, on this Father’s Day, I would just like to give him a small gift as a token of my love for him. I will also say a special prayer to the Almighty for blessing me with such a lovely parent.”
Then, Stuti Goswami, a post graduate student of English at Cotton College, Guwahati, reveals – “Father’s Day is significant for me because it reminds me of that dear friend of mine whom I address as ‘Deutamoni’ – my father. Trust me guys, he is one of the coolest guys to hang around with(!) True, we do not always share the same wavelength, but still, he is the reason why I am here and why I want to be up there – amongst the brightest stars. A stalwart in his own right, my father has always been an inspiration for me, since the time I remember. Therefore, Deutamoni being a foodie, on Father’s Day, I intend to cook something very special for him. However, personally, I do not feel that one needs a certain day to celebrate a relationship as special as this one. It is each day and every moment that ultimately matters.”
Radha Phukan, an associate director with a production house in Chennai, says, “My dad and I have a very special relationship. We fight like mindless teenagers. We never share the same perspective. We always support rival cricket teams. We have never believed in the same political ideology or faith. We can’t even agree on a restaurant!! When I feel like listening to Nirvana, he prefers The Beatles. And when I want to listen to The Beatles, he will certainly ask me to play Nirvana!! I have rebelled over everything he has ever asked me to do... studies, love, career, every day things... I have broken each and every rule of his and done what I felt was right... and... that is why I love my dad so much... because he has given me the freedom to be me... to make my own mistakes... to stand up for my beliefs, even if they contradict his. He has given me the freedom to chase my passion... to fall in love a million times... to be a self-reliant individual... to frame my own set of ethics and morals. For me, every day is a Father’s Day because my dad is a wonderful person and I want to celebrate the person he is every day... Love you, Dad!!”
According to Professor Shantanu Chakravarty, who teaches Political Science in Cotton College, Guwahati, “To speak the truth, I do not wish my dad on Father’s Day, for I may not even know when it comes and goes. But deep within me, in my heart, I know how much my dad means to me and what position he holds in my life. He has always been an umbrella which has shielded me from every harm. I am indebted to him in every possible way for helping me be the man I am today”.
Then again, sisters Juliana Hazarika and Monalisa Hazarika, a matriculation candidate and a student of class nine of Holy Child School, Guwahati say, “Our dad is someone we always look up to. For us, he has always been a great man with a great mind, someone who always comes to our rescue just when we need him the most. He is the person who fulfils every wish of ours even before we utter them. Therefore, on this Father’s Day, we would like to make him feel special not only by giving material gifts, but also by reassuring him that we will put our hearts and souls together to fulfil all the dreams and expectations that he holds for us. We love you, Dad. Happy Father’s Day!”
Saif Mashique Muiz, a project engineer with Thermax Limited, Pune, also says: “To be honest, Father’s Day for me is just like any other day... however, that does not undermine the fact that my father has been the most important person in my life. Even though I have never celebrated Father’s Day as a special occasion, but he will always remain for me my dear Abba. So, on this special day, I would just pray to Allah that He grants him good health and a long life. And I will also make sure to spend some extra time with him, just to let him know how special he is to me, and how much I love him.”
Lastly, Sanghamitra Sarma, a post graduate student of Political Science at Gauhati University, says, “For me, Father’s Day is not just a day to show how much I adore my dad, but a day when I truly feel indebted to the Almighty for making me feel so privileged, to be a daughter of such a loving father. My dad is an epitome of dedication and success. And I am so proud of him.”
So, we see that for every child, his or her dad is special in his own unique way. I just simply cannot express in words how good I felt while writing this piece dedicated to fathers. Our dads have always done more than they could, to ensure that we are happy and that we have a good night’s sleep. So, on this special day dedicated to fathers, let’s just say a small prayer to the Almighty for having blessed us all with such an extraordinary person in our lives. And as for me and the likes of me, who have unfortunately lost this pillar of strength, we pray that Dad, wherever you are, we hope, and wish that you are well. We really want you to know that we miss you... Happy Father’s Day!
Sabrina Iqbal Sircar