Amit Sharma
We may have heard about simplicity, patience, self-respect, divinity or truthfulness but the same if found in a human being these days, we can term him or her as a living legend. Such are the attributes which I have always discovered in my father Shri Baldev Sharma who has touched 80th year of his existence today. While expressing gratitude to my creator, it is indeed my honour and great fortune to find my biggest inspiration of life within the four walls of my home boundaries only. Whenever somebody is asked about inspiration in life, he or she talks either about a world leader or some iconic figure, but since childhood, I was fortunate to find same in my father itself. And the biggest thing is that he is not only my ideal but an ideal to many successful people who equally attribute their success, name and fame towards following the foot-steps of my father, either directly or indirectly.
A man of indomitable will, strength of character, life full of principles, charismatic personality, always willing to help even at this age of 80 (irrespective of personal health conditions), sharing sorrows and joys of everybody around, an example of socialization even in today’s materialistic world, support, guide and philosopher for many; really, it is almost impossible to find a replica of my father in the present era.
Although this world is full of criticism and competitors who always try to undermine others goodness or want to prove that all are wrong except for themselves, yet, I always learnt this lesson from my father that before criticizing others, see your own faults first and then raise fingers on others. This lesson of life I have learnt from him since my childhood and he does not even spare me telling the same thing if ever I dare to talk negative about anybody else at home.
The word honesty and integrity flows like a river when we talk about him. Numerous examples and highest standards of honesty he has set which are really difficult for anybody to follow in today’s world. I myself saw few things since childhood in his character like returning gifts back, selfless efforts for getting jobs to numerous people, never accepting any nominations to highest seats of power, strictly following the law of the land, choosing democratic elections as the sole medium, sermonizing only those attributes which he himself follows and practices, etc.
He got through many rough phases of life like many people, in terms of betrayals or sabotages from so called ‘friends’ or people around, be it public life or otherwise, but he never gave-up, never kept a feeling of revenge, never ever found him talking ill about them but simply keeps treading his pathways of life, simply believing in the ultimate philosophy of Shreemad Bhagvad Gita and acting like a true “Karmath Yogi”. He always believes in the theory that Truth always prevails and never gives-up fighting for it with the belief that ultimately, the success will touch feet one day provided one does give-up till the last. He hardly believes in preaching or quoting his own examples but he sets examples by his real-time actions for others to follow if they can.
An epitome of success in public life, my father Shri Baldev Sharma started his career as a young student leader who rose to serve as Member of Legislative Assembly even before I was born, saw him contributing a co-operative man since childhood, being a globe-trotter, big contributor for Red Cross activities, exchanging cross-cultural attributes, raising and founding lot of successful co-operative sector models of the present day, heading and chairing apex co-operative bodies, representing a lone director from state in apex cooperative body i.e., NAFED for consecutively 15 long years, he touched almost all kinds of social contribution peaks since his early years of life without any influence, lobbying or support of anybody, I believe, it is almost impossible to find a success story like this if we talk of the present era.
What gives me biggest pride is visible in the fact that he never vouched to support even a single thing regarding me nor went to use any kind of his influence to help me ever. At the same time, he neither stopped me from experiencing anything or taking my independent decisions nor did he force anything upon me, be it in terms of career building or education or travel or exposure to outside world. And whatever or wherever I have reached today, it is all attributed his open-ended approach towards me and my decision-making.
In nutshell, I would sum up with this words that it’s a real privilege and honour to have a father like Shri Baldev Sharma whose 80th birthday we are celebrating today with unlimited prayers from all his well-wishers to give him long life, prosperity and happiness so that his blessings can always be showered upon us in times to come. Lastly, I wish if all of us can imitate his divine qualities, temperament, simplicity, honesty and integrity in today’s world when we have to play roles of father at different stages. God Bless him, always and thanks to him for being the best father in the world.
(The author is a senior KAS Officer and an e-Governance expert of J&K Government who has recently specialized through Post-Graduation in e-Governance at IIM Indore. He can be reached at amit1kas@gmail.com or amit1kas (Facebook ID))
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