MANASVI SHARMA BAWA

First things first, happy 100th birthday to my Nana, a man who I never had the fortune to meet but whose youngest one and a true reflection is my mother.

Now, it truely is strange to be writing about someone who I never had the chance to interact with and yet feel as though I know his thought process, his love for his family and the sense of duty he had for his country – yet its not.

My first memory of Nanaji is mumma telling me about his love for her. She is afterall the baby of the family and when I was growing up, she saw her in me. Sitting in my Nani’s lap, eating cashews she distributed after her daily pooja, I remember mumma talking about Nana Ji sitting his “Gol Kamra” (literally a round den he relaxed in) sharing a story or two with people he loved.

Barkat, aptly named by his parents, had a life unlike any other. He lived life like each day were his last, he made friends for life, he ate well and traveled to gain knowledge but most importantly he was a man of pride with the most human heart full of love for the small and big things life had to offer.

Tales of his big heart still are retold in family catch ups and his personality still trickles down and inspires a whole generation that never even had the chance to meet him. Even though I never knew him, I know him – you know?!

He passed away at the age of 60 but today as we celebrate his 100th birthday, I reflect back on a life well lived albeit shorter than others. It makes me think that the length of life you live does not matter but the quality of it, the love you spread and the smiles you bring do.

I wish I had the opportunity to understand who you were, what your insecurities in life were, what shaped you into this absolute legend of a man, what drove you to achieve all that you did in life …I wish.

40 years on, this man aptly named Barkat, still lives on in our memories and brings ‘Barkat’ in our lives – we know you are watching and keeping tabs on your youngest one.

Happy Birthday, you star! You’d be so proud of your youngest one, your daughter and how much she has taken after you. Mum, I see him in you.

Stay Tangled x