Elders who have deep love for young ones do leave a life time impression in the minds of children. I had seen my grandpa when I was very young. He was not rich. But he had deep- seated love for me. He used to walk three kilometers to just spend a few hours with me. He would not use the money my dad gave him for bus. He would walk back and save the money to buy either toys or books for me. The first book he presented me while I was in Std. VII hooked me on to the joy of reading. The book had short stories of endearing value.
For the first time, I realized, that printed book can transport one to a world of fantasy and indefinable joy. The thrill of identifying myself with warriors, pilgrims, fishermen and great souls of the past kindled a spark in me. Now, I go to the book fair every year and buy books. I have started reading for specific purposes. I owe my reading habit to my grandpa. In the life of Mahatma Gandhi also, his mom’s influence was great. She told him many moral stories.
Dr. Ambedkar who shared a small room with his dad, learnt to lead a simple life all through his life. Unnikrishnan’s daughter Uthra Unnikrishnan has got influenced by her father and taken to singing even for films at a very young age. Her singing of “Kaiveesum Katrai” in the movie ‘Straberry’ and Azhage in “Saivam” Tamil movies has got her national level reputation. In this story also grandma’s influence on Khushwant Singh was so great that he made her immortal in his biographical story “The Portrait of a Lady”. Her love for simple life, street dogs and sparrows made an indelible mark in Khushwant Singh’s boyhood memories. “Grandmothers create memories that the heart holds forever. ”
