If your father is a great man, then the children are expected to become greater. This is the general understanding and expectation of every parent and the society. But history tells a different story. Consider the following examples:
- The Ramayana – Lord Rama was one of the greatest mythical personalities. King Dasarath is known as the father of Lord Rama. After Lord Rama, his ‘Raghu Vansh’ vanished. His children are Luv and Kush. Their greatness is nothing compared to their father; nothing much is known of them. And no one in India knows whether Luv and Kush had any children.
- The Mahabharata – Heros of Mahabharat are Pandavas. They had five children, known as the Upa-pandavas. They are almost nothing compared to their parents. Nothing is known about them.
- The Bhagavat – Lord Krishna had many sons, including ten sons from each of his eight queens. None of them became worthy of their father’s greatness. It is better not to discuss the grand children of Lord Krishna.
- King Ashoka – His son could not achieve the greatness of his father.
- Mahatma Gandhi is the father of our nation. He had four sons. It is a known fact that his children lived their lives in the name of their father.
- Mukesh Ambani’s children are often considered over-pampered, fat and high-headed. They can never reach their father’s heights.
- know nothing of Bill Gates sons/children.
The following phrase is from Sanskrit Subhashiksha: “Sarvatra Jayam Anvicchet, Putrat Shishyat Parajayam.”. Sometimes it is also phrased as: Putrat icchet parajayam or Shishyat icchet parajayam. A parent or teacher should train their child or student so well that they surpass them. It is a call for nurturing the next generation. This is the most desirable thing. But usually, it is never the case. A star is born; it shines and dies. That is all. Expecting a star is to be born every time is like expecting the sun to rise in the west! All children are facing the threat of their father’s greatness. Every father expects his child to out shine him.
About the Author
Dr. K. Raja Gopal Reddy is a seasoned internationally qualified Insurance professional. What you are reading here, may not answer all the questions we have, but has the absolute power of asking unsettling questions which increase the interest in the strange world, and show the contradictory wonders lying just below the surface of the commonest things of life. Look at this disturbing but beautiful thought of Friedrich Nietzsche “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him”. Dr. Reddy can be reached at: raja66gopal@gmail.com
