Today is father’s day, a day to celebrate and say thank you to our dad. A dad is a very special person in our life, especially so for a daughter. A daughter adores her father. He considers her to be his little angel and dotes on her. This relationship helps daughters in shaping their personality.  It also influences her ideas of the world. The father-daughter bond  is  very precious and I cherish my bond with my dad. As a little girl, I was in awe of Dad. He was my hero and still is!

My Dad, an army officer, spent most of his growing up years in the verdant hills of Coorg in Southern India. Coorg, known as the Scotland of India, is a veritable heaven with rolling meadows, lush green forests, clear blue skies, fresh air and dew kissed mountains. Dad had the good fortune of spending his childhood and some of his adult life in nature’s lap. Dad knew the jungles of Coorg like the back of his hand. He had spent his childhood walking through those jungles to school and anywhere else he needed to get to. He knew most of the plants, the trees and the shrubs. He kindled in me a love for nature.

Our morning walks were wonderful excursions, which I would so look forward to. During my childhood, Dad would keep pace with me and walk slowly. After I grew up, he would walk at his usual pace and I found it very hard to keep up with him. I had to run quite a distance to catch up with him and then walk beside him only to be left behind again in no time!

Every walk through the fields and hills of Coorg would mean identifying the various shrubs and trees. I would admire the fruit laden Jamun tree and the wild Banana   tree. I learnt about the wild Mango tree and the Rose Apple tree with its beautiful flowers. I would crane my neck to look at the top of the tall Rosewood tree and admire the flowers of the Jacaranda and the Lantana. I thought how lucky we were to have such abundance.  Dad taught me to respect nature and be one with it.

On our walks through the hills in Coorg, we would collect and sample the berries and fruits that we picked, taking only as much as we needed. We would also gather the edible greens and mushrooms, which would be used later to prepare a tasty meal. Sometimes, in the rainy season, we would also find crabs and tiny fish that would be caught in the traps set in the paddy fields. Dad taught me to have gratitude for all that Mother Nature provides us.

Dad could identify most birds by their call. He kindled in me a love for birds. He taught me to identify many different birds. He had an illustrated book of birds written by the famous Ornithologist, Salim Ali.  This used to be and still is my guide to birds. On our morning walks, we would spot many birds. It was such a joy to be able to hear or see a bird and be able to identify it. I learnt the joy of birding from Dad.

On each of our walks, through the forests or busy city roads, we would take in all the smells, sights and sounds. We could hear the Myna and the buzzing of the bees on a nectar gathering spree. We would listen to the symphony of the Cicadas and the honking of the motorists. We would listen to the rustling leaves and call of the Barbets. We would take in the fragrance of the Champa flowers and the Jasmine. Dad taught me to be mindful of everything that was happening around us.

All of these experiences have shaped me and helped me be who I am today. Thank you Dad!