Father, the Bass Guitar: Making of a Dasharath

Father, the Bass Guitar: Making of a Dasharath

In my college days, my musician friend once told me, that Bass Guitar is an instrument which won’t be loud in performance, absolutely not noteworthy. But when present, makes the music worthwhile and it is realised only when the bass guitar is absent. So is a father.

That is why most/some mothers who walk out of the marriage along with their kid(s), later remember the bass guitar (father), but they won’t muster the courage to admire and admit its role. Rather she would reprimand it (him) to be played (paid) else makes him to play (pay) through the Honorable Courts, and that too unconditionally with thanklessness (where father only gives but gets nothing in return). But a child supported by his father is only told that (Bass Guitar) father is a cacophony.

What Fathers want in return? Answer is 'Love' rather opportunity to again GIVE LOVE.  If  father and child are lucky, then they are allowed to meet only 2 hours in a fortnight, which may not be necessarily at a comfortable location for meeting, and under civil proceeding codes of the Hon Courts. That makes 48 hours in an year (that too if the mother turns up with the kid). How will that father sculptor sculpt his creation with his noble intent in this short time?

Nothing has changed in Father’s Love and concern even today. It was always there. Searching for citations ? Well it is in every house since ages, as Raja Dasharath pined for his Son Rama centuries back because of a condition laid down by his wife. It was the same, with parents of Sharavana, whose father also cursed Dasharath. Wasn’t that a Father’s Love that cursed Dasharatha ?

Why is it, that courts want a modern day father to be a Dashrath ? That is, wanting him to continue living without his kid(s). (Well Dashrath would be called lucky as he had Bharat and Shatrughna, it was pre hindu code bill era. However he pined for Shri Ram and died) But imagine a modern day father who has no such options. Still Hon courts want a father to be righteous in providing food and shelter to the estranged family and also abstain from loving the family and being loved.

Again, one viewpoint is this, that the father is not a good man, so keep him away from the kids. Well, it may be one exceptional case, but please note in most such cases - however unethical, unsuccessful, a person may be, but as a father, he would have a father’s heart for his offspring. Need citations? Dritrashtra – his blind 'putra-moh' was equally responsible for Mahabharat. The bigger point we are discussing is a father's LOVE. And significance of a father in life of his child.

And no one talks about the epitome of super sacrifice Bheesma (but in the modern context), this Modern Bhishma loves his kids so much that he does not want them to be born in this ugly struggling world. As there is nothing worthy apart from struggles. Not many will understand the height of this love. If they don’t, then it is not their cup of tea.The grapes are really sour here.

Father’s Day is like Dashera and Laxmi Pujan, where we worship our tools that give us prosperity. Similarly, we acknowledge our father’s sacrifice and love, which the Hon. Courts and estranged wives understand in form of money transfer from the ATM Dad, but alas has no appreciation for the tool. However, no mother has Right to deprive her kids from their father's access, as she is depriving 'the sculpting of a good creation from the co-sculptor'. 

Fathers in courts are Significant Materialistically (that is only to Give) and Insignificant at the give and take of LOVE with his Loved ones (kids in this context).

For the remaining lucky audience as on date, I suggest, they should cherish all the notes in the orchestra, because offsprings at any age needs BOTH their PARENTS.

Happy Fathers Day.

Jinesh Zaveri.