Dear Moms,

How can I be away...When the blog contest is about Father.

My father - The only backbone of our family.

I am writing this blog....ofcourse not for competing in the blog..though I win or not...leave it apart.
I just wanted to share my feelings about my Dad...the precious gift for me....more precious than my mom,my daughter and anybody else.
I am lucky that I have been blessed to be his daughter (Ofcourse each one feels the same to their father)

Just to begin with , we are from a normal middle class family...my father being the only son to my grandma.
Father's native place is cheyyar...near kanchipuram.
Grandpa died when he was 5 months old...grandma sent out of in-laws house...named as Rasiketava.
From that day..started the struggle for my father...He had to work hard to make his living.
He had to roll the so called ....Beedies along with my grandma even when he was 10 yrs old..so that he gets 15 paise per day.
Ofcourse that was a big thing those days....
He used to spin and wove during his college days to pay the term fees.
With all these struggle..he passed out D.EEE....and got a Govt job in electricity board as a writer.(dunno what exactly it meant)
He used to write in late nights also..still have those marks in hands ( In tamil they say ....Kaapu kachi poradhu)
He joined the service and his first salary was Rs.75.
He married my mom...without getting a single dowry from my mom's house.
He made all the arrangements for marriage...and the 5 savaran chain which they had put to amma was returned back to Paati..soon after their marriage.
All these qualities made him the superstar of my mom's house...all have respect towards his words and decision.
We three daughters...came in to his life...
Father had managed to get a loan in office and he built such a big house (Ofcourse it is a big one)....it was  like a palace for us.
He bought the house,then followed the mixie,grinder,the first TV in our entire street(EC TV...have anyone heard abt it)...to which till date he says...Velu porandha appuram thaan ellam

vanginom nu...For which my sisters comment...appa nangalum andha time la porandhutom nu...

He was posted in Singara chennai...when I was in L.K.G.
We all moved to chennai when I was in 2nd std.
He made all of us to study in English medium that too in private school.
After 5th std both my sisters where put in to Govt school.Except me....I am the makku of all the three..so I was put in Prince Matriculation school @ Nanganallur.
But never my sisters had asked this to my Dad...why he was so partial to me...There stood my sisters...
As a matric shool u know....we have monthly fees,uniform,shoes,socks,pen,books nu...all to be new..
But my sisters..used the bound notes of last year's notes...left over pages....That too stitched by my Dad himself.
They are too good in academics....they both were the first in their class....to make him proud.

After my 12th....I got low marks in 12th std ...only 1040 out of 1200 ....both my sis marks were more....Uma(1115) and Savi (1128)....Never he said a word.But I was adamant..Both the sisters are

doing professional course..I wanted to do the same.He made me join in B.Sc Physics @ Meenakshi college...and then to my college Dr.NNCE.I did not get his permission nor took him inside for

counselling...Though I had colleges in Chennai...I took this college..as I wanted to enjoy my hostelhood.He agreed...when I showed him the fee structure..He was  shocked..but again said

something...Since it is a Dote - II college...tuition fees,hostel fees altogether comes around 25-30k per year...for which he needs to save money every month admist all the other expenses.
Apart from that monthly mess fees...everytime he visits me @ college..he gives me 2000-3000 which we spend uselessly..I did not realise how hard to earn money at that time.
He used to come to college hostel..carrying the food prepared by amma...sleep in our room (special permission for our parents to come inside the hostel)...My eyes still hold those scenes.

By the time ,I joined college,my elder sis was doing her P.G in Mpharm...she passed out of GATE exam with all Indian second Rank (99.96 percentile...first is 99.97)....she did everything with her

stipend....though appa used to send money to her everytime...she saved it and end of 2 yrs along with some stipend money ...she gave 50 k to appa....For which really he felt happy.
He opened an acct in my sisters name and put the same 50k in it and gifted it on her Bday day.My second sis joined in HCL and her salary was 13k at that time...she never took a single money

from it....as soon as the salary was credited...she took the same from ATM and gave it to appa....appa never used it...Appa kaasu la thaan ponunga irkanum..not vice versa...goes his mantra.
Namma thaan thani thericha vita case...Soon after my college...I did not get any job...was roaming worthless spending his money for posting resumes...Then after 6 month got an offer in Photon

infotech..thru Savi's frens reference...for which I was paid 5k only....I gave only my first salary to him....he said nee pudhu dress eduthukama..ini office lam poganum la....I felt as though I was earning lakhs...I spent it on my own...apart from that demanded from appa also.....

After one year of completing my college...I was married...it was a kanikagadhana kalyanam for all 3 of us...That is ponnu veetu side thaan marriage and reception pannanum.He did his best.Ofcourse my second sis reduced his burden..since her's was a love cum arranged marriage...marriage mattum appa pannar...reception akka and mama arranged.After marriage I joined in HCL...with salary of 13K...then also I cud afford him nothing..nor he expected....He is a diabetic patient...But forcefully I used to get him the medical benefits ....he gets medicines for 1400...I used to claim the amount for him and give it..adha mattum thaan vangitar..This Mphasis had no such medical facility to support parents...panalam we need pay 7500....I asked appa..he said no need.Now am making good money...but I ninachalum appa ku koduthu help panna mudiyadhu as it needs permission from Jai and MIL too....

I had been in my appa's house for almost 2.5 yrs....after my delivery when Jai was in UK.He used to care of my lil one...and till date she remains close to him...he was the one who admitted her in playschool....he makes her ready for school,give her food,leave her in school,picks her up..takes her to playground in evng,to temple....he was like her own father.Now also he always waits for our next arrival in September..since my sis are away..they are of less concern.The only thing he asks us is to get the sugar test strips...from US...that too not from me.

He has done everything for us....especially whatever I had asked for...I still remember...chinna vayasula bday ku cake ketu adam pidipen..appa cud afford me only creamless cakes..adhukum kochikuven..later on..kekardha niruthiten.Have never seen him wearing Bata slippers or anything of that good quality...it was a Hawai slipper...later on now it is that diabetic shoes.Atleast i get chance to get him new pair...when he comes to Pune....Till date ....he never have a single tea when he is away from house.I remember....during this trip...he went to Tambaram on some work...he called me to come and pick him up in the station..at that time...he told me bring one bottle water ....once I reached there...he drank the full bottle...I told him.."Yenpa ivalo thagama irukula ....oru bisleri vangi kudicha enna.."....he replied...nee verama ...edhuku 15 rs ...thandama spend pannanum".He is not a miser....but a good saver....not for him...but for us..

He has opened  RD account for all the kids,the next month after their birth - Achchu,Anu,Niha and Supree...and deposit 1000 every month....and he is waiting for another kids arrival.....All this amount are paid out of his pension.He says...I will be paying this till my death and it will be a gift to them from Thatha....Ippa kooda when he visits Pune..he brings all those things...whatever I need...but when I pay him in turn...he refuses to get the money..."Ennala mudiyara varaikum seiyaren...mudiyalana ungala kekaren....poma" nu soluvar....He is 63 yrs old...till date...he had not scolded or bet us....we received nothiing from him apart from love ...love...love...3 ponunganu....ellarum kindala pesinalum....Ellarum illa nalla nilamaila irukardhu...avaruku thaan perumai..
Ippa Sowmi sonna madhiri..he is chatter box...avaroda ella frens kittayum..."2 daughters abroad la irukanga....1 daughter Pune la iruka...."where we are working..ellathayum solli mudipar.
Savi...always wanted to take amma and appa in flight..they had refused it ...considering it as waste of money...or her third official trip to US...she had booked tickets for them till mumbai ..to see her off...They were overwhelmed with joy...for it was their first flight..Now they had been to US - for savi's delivery and UK on the way to meet Uma....he has become a all rounder...

I can add up more and more to him....but it will continue for pages...winding up with this...Just to summarise...He was so patient,kind and a lovable person.
Atlast ...All our thanks goes to the GOD...for he has given us the best father.
And ofcourse our prayers to keep him hale and healthy.

Note: I would also like to cite a few father...who have inspired me...It is Srividya's father (Ragavarshini),GG's father and Lakshmi's father.I know abt vidya's family also...avanga appa thaan rendu ponungalaiyum evalo nalla padika vechar..sakhtiku meerinadhu thaan..and GG's father avanga veetlayum 3 daughters....ponungala appadi thanguvar.Not to leave Lakshmi appa...he is too good.....Then I realised....Not only my appa...all appa are special.

Wanna see my father....here he is ...not only in our hearts..but also in the pic below.

LOVE YOU APPA

Happy Father's Day...

From,

Uma,Savi,Velu.