My father

 My father was born in 1885. He lost his father at a tender age of seven. My grandfather, Shreedhar, was a headmaster of a School. My grandfather died due to Plague at a young age of 34-35. My grand mother along with her young children had no choice but to live with Nanaji kaka, at his good will. All the kids, specially my father, grew up in tremendous mental and financial constraints.

‘Don’t ask for anything, don’t expect anything… stitch your torn clothes… borough books…return them soon…’ this was the way my father grew up, very shy, coward, with no self-confidence. He had realised at a very young age that he has to study hard, get educated and start earning as soon he can. That was the only way he could earn a self-respect and overcome the curse of poverty for him and his family.

He passed BA in 1917. Very few people graduated to college those days, since one could easily get a job after matriculation. There was no University in Indore, hence, he took his BA examination from Allahabad and passed in First class. My father was extremely happy to reach his goal of Graduation like his father. His widowed mother and loving uncle too showered their blessings on his stupendous success. My father, Pralhad, got a job. Being a son of a widowed mother who was dependant on uncle…. Was not an attractive prospect for a groom. However he found his partner, ‘Triveni’, in daughter of a deputy collector. She was my mother.