Around Father’s Day, I reflect on the tradition of Godfathers, and mentors and remember some lessons on the family that these relations taught me.

Remembering Dear Mentors

Last year, I lost mentors who helped shape my life, one in Tripoli, Libya (Feb 2023) and the other in Toronto/Nova Scotia Canada (March 2023).

Love of Hills-The Sabbatical and Retreats

In Dehradun- August 2022- Surendra Mamaji passed away. He introduced us to the Sabbatical ways of life- amongst other things- and we remember and imbibe the spirit of Mahabaleshwar temples of Sahyadris, Mahakal temples of Ujjain and the spiritual energies of the hills which he helped us appreciate.

Priti told on a visit to Dehradun (Feb 2023) how we helped him in his last days. “The doctor had feared that there will be lots of pain due to the metastases, but the end was peaceful.” Those discussions led to a better more whole understanding of life and living, our identities as families and how our generation looks at meanings.

Love of words: He helped me see Rushdie in a different way

While visiting the hills- also met the family of Umesh Mamaji -Shyampur. I remembered first reading the works of Salman Rushdie sitting on the trees of the farms in Shyampur. He was an avid reader and helped me refine my reading.

My Son-Sagar- Moved to New York City-July-2022: Imbibing the positive spirit-Dr.Peale

Last year-July 2022- Sagar, my elder son moved to New York City, which marked a different stage in the life of our family. 

We went together to the church where Dr.Norman Vincent Peale used to preach. I had told my sons about how reading “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Dr.NVP had helped me in my college days- of Maulana Azad Medical College-Delhi. In a particularly difficult phase – after finishing the course and not getting any proper placement, at the end of each day of study and revision- I would go through the affirmations which I had copied from the books of Dr.NVP.

Graydon Memorial Rock-Mississauga

Around Father’s day-June 2023- Our educational journeys together

ANNAPRASHAN-He was like my Godfather

One of my father’s godchildren told me an aspect of her life, which I did not know. 

My father had done the Grain Initiation ceremony for her. Annaprashan- First rice eating- or grain initiation- Also known as bhaatkhulai in the Garhwal Himalayas of India, is a popular Hindu custom which marks the initiation of solid food in the person’s life. It can be made more nuanced and creative by also adding objects which symbolize wisdom (pen), learning (books), property (clay), wealth (jewels), and food (love for food) in the ceremony.

“ My mother believed that your father was one of the wise persons she knew, so she told him to do the Annaprashan”, she wrote to me.

THE LOVE OF KNOWLEDGE

Around this Father’s Day, we went for the graduation ceremony of Mamta to Fredericton New Brunswick. These words of Dr.Hughes, the Vice Chancellor of Yorkville University were one of the learning moments.

My father imbibed in me the love of knowledge, the written word and work ethic with application in me. Before I went to primary school, we had a home library in our house, and I started reading from the encyclopedia my parents gifted me when I was around 3 years old. Memories of Pune in the early 1970s bring to me the flashcards my father would keep, in preparation for his exams.

Application by making notes, flashcards, journals, and albums helped me develop a home library which was more meaningful and personalized.

PORT CREDIT WALKS- RICHARD MEMORIAL PARK 

After a prayer at Gordon Graydon Memorial rock, we went to J C Saddington and Richard memorial and said prayers by Lake Ontario. Remembering my mother- and all the sayings which imbibed in us, we felt her spirit. 

EARILER PERSPECTIVES

2022: Bronte Creek-Oakville– remembering walks at Niagara, Valletta-Malta, Aksa-Mumbai-India

https://prashantbhatt.com/2022/08/17/walks-at-bronte-creek-again/

Meditations around Binghamton-New York State-2022-October: Last year, my son Sagar, shifting to New York city was one of the pivotal moments in the life of our family.

2018: Graydon Rock and Related memories-Remembering my son Sahil’s schools and educational journeys as he graduated from high school

https://prashantbhatt.com/2018/06/30/a-few-moments-more/

Niagara walks- Fall-2021- My father introduced me to the gifts and joys of walks

2017-Museums as Thinking Places- My father taught me to go deeper by 

When one goes into a group experience, one goes in as an individual but the impact and growth are immense if one tries to imbibe the group personality and lessons learned.

Retelling the Stories of our Community-Museums as Thinking places

Azure Window- Gozo- Malta- 2010- Our Journeys together.

With my Mentor-Brother and Friend..Dear Guddu Bhai (Shri Yogendra Dobhal)- Lodhi gardens- Delhi-India…many intimate discussions on these steps and gardens in and around the Garden tombs of Delhi. He taught me many aspects of my family and our journeys from Shimla, Garhwal, Delhi of the 1930s to 60s when our family first started staying here..and the backstories and between-the-lines which go into families …