Tribute to Appa - My Children

 A Tribute to my coach - My Dad - A Legacy of Leadership, Empowerment & Equity. 

Many have spoken of my dad as a forerunner of women’s empowerment and rightfully so.  He was the embodiment of strength, compassion, and integrity. He did not just believe in  ideals. He lived them, every single day. 

He encouraged my mother to complete her graduation when it was far from common to  pursue education post marriage. He ensured that my sister and I went beyond basic  degree, guiding us into engineering specializations and motivating us to build professional  careers. When I had my twin girls and was ready to draw a full stop to employment, with his  vision & wisdom he energized me to bounce back from a three-year career break. He taught  me how to balance home and work by building a strong support system, hiring good  helpers and uplifting them & their families too. He treated my battalion of domestic helpers  as extended family, making sure their dignity and welfare were always protected. 

His influence did not end with his immediate or extended family. He was a true leader; one  whose impact rippled through many lives. As a respected union leader in LIC, he fought for  justice with unwavering resolve to win cases for employees unjustly suspended or  dismissed and ensured continuity of employment for families who had lost their  breadwinners. Beyond LIC, he extended his support to employee associations of Avery and  Mercury Travels too, negotiating effectively with employers to institutionalize annual bonus  schemes & employee incentives - standing tall for fairness, always. 

My dad's dynamism was not limited to formal roles only. His outgoing nature and warmth  left an imprint everywhere he went, even across countries. During his visit to meet us in the  USA, he quickly became a popular figure in our apartment complex. Through him, we  discovered an entire network of Indian service providers from cooks to hairstylists to  helpers — simply because he took the time to connect, converse, and care. He even struck  up a friendship with an entrepreneur in our building and voluntarily helped him with legal  consultations for his company. That is my Hero - always giving, always helping, never  hesitating to extend his hand and his heart. 

I take pride in having inherited his looks — but I know I carry only a fraction of his courage,  clarity, and drive. If I could even do half of what he did for us, for my children, I would have honored his legacy well. 

He adorned multiple hats flawlessly - good husband, exceptional father, grandfather, uncle,  inspiring leader, faithful friend, exemplary coach, efficient lawyer, whistleblower, activist  and so on…. His legacy is not just in the lives he influenced, but also in the spirit he left  behind - one of enthusiasm, empowerment, fearlessness, and magnanimity.