By G. Manickam
G. Manickam is one of our columnists who is also a lecturer from Taylor’s University shares with TVS , reminiscing fond memories of Father’s Day and how it was celebrated then and now.
“Ma, tomorrow is Father’s Day. What are our plans?” asked my daughter excitedly. Such joy, such enthusiasm to celebrate her appa on Father’s Day. My son walked in a little later and popped the same question. We discussed and threw some suggestions around and finally settled with the itinerary without missing the ‘surprise’ elements. We had some help, of course, from “Googleananda” (Google).
I resumed my daily chores from where it was left after completing the plans with my children. Somehow, my children’s amusement and anticipation of how they wanted to celebrate their appa lingered in my thoughts. Did I go through such rituals to celebrate Father’s Day or Mother’s Day? Not that I can recall.
Nowadays, almost everyone can plan and celebrate their loved ones for Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and they have mobile phones and Internet to supply ideas. When I was growing up, the celebrations were limited to birthdays, Teacher’s Day, Children’s Day, Independent Day, not including the religious plus cultural festivals.
I do not remember celebrating neither Father’s Day nor Mother’s Day when I was schooling nor even know of their existence until much later. I suppose media played an important role in creating awareness of all these celebrations through mediated messages on celebrations for people and occasions.
A brief search on Father’s Day landed me on some interesting research articles that touch upon history, experience, gender roles, celebration, greeting cards, fact and fictions, tributes and many more areas. As someone who has keen interest in history, I usually check on historical facts of subject matters that intrigues me. I found the following while reading on Father’s Day.
The origin of Father’s Day traced back to church services organised by two daughters who lost their respective fathers. The first Father’s Day worship service was celebrated in 1908 at Fairmont’s Central United Methodist Church, West Virginia, commemorating the death of 361 men, mostly fathers, in America’s worst coal mine blast near Monogah on December 6, 1907. This service was carried out by Grace Golden Clayton as her late father’s birthday was drawing near.
The second one took place in 1910 at the West Coast city of Spokane when Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd, the daughter of a late civil veteran, Mr. Wiiliam Smart, decided to remember her father who sacrificed his life to bring up six children upon his wife’s death during childbirth. Father’s Day sermons were delivered for the first time in Spokane on June 19, 1910, for him.
After slightly more than 60 years of petitions, Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge passed a law to endorse Father’s Day as a national holiday on April 24, 1972, which designates the third day in June of each year as Father’s Day. Later, the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled and resolved that the third Sunday in June of each year as a designated ‘Father’s Day.’ Governments of the States, communities and the people of the United States were encouraged to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies, offer public and private expressions of love and gratitude they bear for their respective fathers.
This tradition of recognizing and endorsing a father’s role later travelled to other countries and nations that it has become a global celebration for the first ‘hero’ in many people’s lives. Thanks to media, Father’s Day celebration has become universal now.
I recall my relationship with my late father today after all the readings. I remember him every day, but my conversation with my children and a little reading today made me remember special moments with my father. I do not have much recollection of things that we gave each other, but it is the time we spent with each other. Precious moments that I spent as a child with my father are etched in my memory.
I still remember the times when I was a little girl. Perhaps I four or five years old. My father would cycle home for lunch everyday and feed me lunch as my mother would be away at work. He practiced this without missing even a day until I started schooling. When I went to primary school, my father would wait by the roadside when I get off the school bus and walked me home.
My father was a very loving man that my siblings and I could talk about almost everything from food, movies, football, badminton, and very importantly books and stories with him. The best time would be during dinner as we would all sit together to eat. This was mandatory and all of us looked forward to it. It was our chatty time! He never once stopped us from talking and sharing stories from school during this time. It was such a merry time for us.
Top: Author’s father, second from right with Tunku Abdul Rahman
He always emphasized on education and motivated us to do better. I still remember when my parents decided to purchase The Young Children’s Encyclopedia and Children’s Britannica book sets from an agent who came to our house. Those sets were very expensive considering my father was only a van driver working at Johnson & Johnson in Penang. My father didn’t think twice and agreed for the purchase and paid on installment basis. Books had always been a good investment for both my parents. I am fortunate now that I have inherited many of his book collections including the Encyclopaedia which hold fond memories especially to me.
I lost my father four years ago; two weeks shy from Father’s Day and not a day passes without his memories. I was lucky to have had such fond memories that I can cherish forever, but not everyone can claim so. Time creates memories. Communicating and listening leave a lasting impact and never fails. My father showed us this through his actions. He allowed us to talk, he listened when we spoke without stopping or being judgmental. That boosted our confidence. That exercise requires investment of time. Many claim that they do not have time to listen. Well, we must make the time if we do not wish to regret in future.
Let us use the time spared to us to work towards creating beautiful relationships and memories that brings smiles to many faces. Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful fathers out there. You are a hero to your children and family. I can say for certain that my children’s hero is their father, and they are blessed to have such a wonderful father.
“We grieve our lost loved ones, yet we are always being reunited” (Dr. Brian Weiss).
Happy Father’s Day appa. I will always miss you and thank you for the beautiful memories. Till we meet again!
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of TVS.
