A daughter’s heartwarming and poignant tribute to her father Datta Damodar Naik and also her mother, Sushanta Naik …

WHAT is the greatest gift parents can give their children? It’s not the ideas, beliefs or dogmas passed down from generation to generation. Rather it is the ability and freedom to think independently. This is precisely what my father gave me. In an age where the ability to think critically seems to be diminishing, I find this gift increasingly invaluable.
Some of my fondest childhood memories are those spent in conversation with my father. Despite his demanding schedule, he always made time for us. No subject was off-limits and he encouraged us from a young age to voice our opinions freely.
I often saw him surrounded by piles of books, or engaging in intense conversations with others, covering everything from politics to philosophy to literature. His thirst for knowledge remains unquenchable and perhaps it’s fair to say his quest has only just begun. He encouraged us to read books in Konkani, Marathi and English. To this day, he sends us recommendations for the latest books in all three languages.

WHAT IS AN ATHIEST?
FROM an early age, I knew my father’s beliefs and opinions were different than others. Most of my school friends came from traditionally religious families. They would go to temples on weekends and their homes would host pooja and observe various fasts. I knew my father was an atheist although I didn’t fully understand what that meant in the beginning. Over the years, he has probably taken us to more temples, churches and mosques in India than most children have had the privilege of visiting. His atheism is a personal choice and he has never imposed it on anyone, nor has he sought to change anyone’s beliefs. He respects places of worship and religious texts and views them as an integral part of our cultural fabric.
I remember once asking him as a child whether I was an atheist too? His answer was simple — I could decide what I wanted to believe in the day I crossed my 18th birthday in life! He advised me to read widely, listen more than speak and observe the world around me. That advice given at such a young age empowered me beyond measure. The idea that I had the freedom to choose my beliefs and opinions was revolutionary.

DR BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR IT IS!
ONE early memory that stands out is when a teacher asked me to change the topic of my speech, suggesting I choose a leader “better” than Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. At the time, I didn’t quite understand what she meant but I told my father about the incident. The very next day, he was at my school questioning the teacher about her definition of a great leader. That year I won first place in the competition for my speech on Babasaheb Ambedkar.
My father encouraged me to spend my summer holidays doing something productive. I spent many summers attending Dr Narendra Dabolkar’s anti-superstition camps, where he showed us experiments revealing how easily people are deceived under the guise of religion. Dr Dabolkar taught us how superstitions are like termites eroding logic, science and reason. I also participated in sadhana camps where I had the opportunity to listen to a wide range of teachers offering diverse viewpoints.
I accompanied my father to Konkani sammelans, joined activists protesting through street plays in quaint villages of Goa and listened to his discussions with politicians and leaders from different parties in our living room. Reading, travelling and participating in these programs with him expanded my horizons in ways nothing else could.

MY SIMPLE WEDDING
WHEN it came time for me to choose my life partner, my father trusted my decision, refusing to let societal pressure influence either of us. My wedding had no rituals, it was simply a celebration with friends and family.
I have watched my father live his principles in every aspect of his life. His blunt opinions often get him into trouble but he is my father, a man of loving integrity above all. He has never and will never bow to pressure when it comes to speaking his mind.
Being in the public eye has never been easy. My mother has always stood like a rock behind my father. When you hold beliefs that differ from the norm, you often face backlash from society’s self-appointed gatekeepers — more often than not from online trolls. But over time, the family learns to be courageous. You train your mind to look beyond trivial matters and focus on the bigger picture.
My mother Sushanta has witnessed the highs and lows of my father’s life more than anyone else, from when he was a young 21-year-old student leader to the most recent controversy surrounding his interview. In that interview, a few words unintentionally hurt the sentiments of many. Yet, most people overlooked the many valuable suggestions he offered in the same conversation — as armchair warriors, it’s easier to criticize than to roll up your sleeves for real change!
On my father’s 70th birthday, I would like to thank him for the greatest gift he has given me –the power to think for myself, to distinguish right from wrong and to stand firm against the tide when necessary!