SPECIALLY FOR ASHIS,AND MANNA

While flipping through some magazines,during my stay in S'Pore,2010, I came across this poem,which was your father's favourite.And subsequently,he wrote it out, in his own handwriting,(computers didn't substitute human feelings then!),and I still have it,welll preserved, amongst my very personal,and precious possessions.But I'm putting it here, so it will occupy pride of place,and maybe,IF,when you read it,you will think of the person,and what he wished for you. Here it is----

IF, BY RUDYARD KIPLING

If you can keep your head,when all about you
Are losing theirs,and blaming it,on you,
If you can trust yourself,when all men doubt you.
But make allowance for their doubting too.


If you can wait,and not be tired of waiting,
Or being lied about,don't deal in lies,
Or being hated,don't give way to hating.
And yet don't look too good,nor talk too wise,


If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think,and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with triumph,and disaster,
And treat those two imposters just the same.


If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken,
Twisted by knaves, to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to,broken,
And stoop,and build them up, with worn out tools,

If you can make a heap of all your winnings,
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and -toss,
And lose,and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss.

If you can force your heart,and nerve,and sinew
To serve your turn,long after they are gone,
And so hold on,when there is nothing in you,
Except the Will,which says to them,'Hold on'!

If you can talk with crowds,and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings-nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes,nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you,but none too much.

If you can fill the unforgiving minute,
With sixty seconds worth of distance run,
Yours is the earth,and everything that's in it,
And which is more--you'll be a man,my son!

It would be a fitting tribute to a wonderful person,a great scholar,and a very loving father,if you showed this to your children,and they understood its inner meaning.They will learn about their grand father,my son!