MB#48: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩: 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙖 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙞-𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙈𝙮 𝙁𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙂𝙞𝙛𝙩.

[MemoirBlogthon#48] In 1973, a casual interview with a newspaper chief reporter led to the publication of my life philosophies in the Andhra Patrika. This memoir talks about how proud my father was when he gave me a typewritten translation of the article for my birthday. The piece, which declared my intent to marry by parental choice and my aim to become an engineer, served as a lasting blueprint of my character—a treasure that remains a touchstone today, despite the career path destiny ultimately chose for me.

MB#48: My Father’s Gift: The Blueprint of My Teenage Values.

Seeing Myself in Print

My father called my mother and the rest of the family on Sunday morning, August 19, 1973, and showed them the Andhra Patrika, a Telugu newspaper that comes out every day.

"Today's newspaper has wonderfully published your mini-interview article," he announced. "When did you conduct this interview, and how did you manage to have it published?"

I had met the chief reporter, Mr. Veeraji, at the Vijayawada Gandhinagar printing press. He had casually interviewed me, stating they were starting a new column to "spotlight young people." He made it clear there would be no remuneration, only visibility among the newspaper's readers.

The Philosophy of a 17-Year-Old

Later that year, for my birthday on November 22, 1973, my father gave me a singular, precious gift: a single-page, double-lined typewritten script on foolscap paper. It was his own English translation of my Telugu mini-interview.

The text, a time capsule of my teenage self, declared my guiding principles:

• Simplicity and Modesty: "I like the college boys and girls who are clad in simple and modest dress... I use a pair of clothes for at least three days by protecting it from its usual wrinkling."

• Passion and Diligence: "I prefer to work rigorously. I would never like to be idle for a moment." My main hobby was photography—not just snapping photos but having a darkroom to process them, giving more concern to the photographical aspects of cinema than anything else.

• Aspirations: "My aim is to become an engineer. I therefore wish to go for an engineering course."

Validation, Contrast, and Legacy

My parents’ reactions to the published piece defined its lasting legacy.

My father was immensely pleased because I had concluded the interview by reaffirming his ultimate desire for me: to become an engineer.

My mother, however, was jubilant over my statement about marriage: "I am averse to the pomp and gaiety associated with marriages. I do not even like love marriage. I pursue the decision of my parents regarding my marriage matter." Due to my social activities, my parents had been apprehensive that I might pursue a love marriage. My mother often said I stood by what I published when I ultimately married a girl selected by them.

The crucial contrast is the difference between my stated ambition and my eventual destiny. Though I declared my aim was to be an engineer, destiny decided I should become a professional Company Secretary.

My father's reason for gifting me the English script was likely two-fold: to provide a ready document to showcase my character in future job interviews and to serve as a constant reminder to keep up what I had declared in the mini-interview. This typewritten page remains a treasure that I recollect on my birthday every year, a testament to the enduring power of early values.

MB#48: Quiz

MB48: Question: What gift did the father give the author on his birthday that served as a lasting blueprint of his character?

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• A. The original newspaper clipping.
• B. His own typewritten translation of the article.
• C. A subscription to the paper.
• D. A new typewriter.

MB#48: Quote

"The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice." – Peggy O'Mara