It's Not Fair, Daddy

  •   Thu, Jul 29 2010
  •   by Vittal N. Poojary, Dubai

Jul 30, 2010

Two months ago I had taken my daughter to the court premises for submitting an application for a certificate for her which is a must for higher education in Mumbai. We had to stand in queue to enter the room where the applications were being submitted. And there were two queues – for the ‘natives’ of the state and for the ‘others’.  We were standing in the ‘others’ queue which was almost ¼ km long. 

The place was very congested as the queue was passing through a passage and then through narrow staircases to the ground floor. All the visitors / lawyers were to use the same staircase and so there was not enough space even to stand. And since there was no one to control the queue many people were jumping the line and trying to get their work done.

The queue for the ‘natives’ was very short and they were getting their turn on preferential basis. At times there were no applicants in this queue. We noticed that some of the ‘others'  started standing in the queue meant for the ‘natives’.  We were in the line since 11 am and at 2.30 pm we were still at some distance from the room.

I was very frustrated at the slow movement of our queue. And when I noticed that there were none in the ‘natives’ line, I decided to be smart.  Holding my daughter’s hand I simply crossed over to the other side and in the next moment I was inside the room to submit my application. It hardly took three minutes to submit our application once inside the room.

As soon as we came out of the court premises, my daughter asked me

“Daddy, why did you jump the queue when so many persons are still waiting?

“Arre, otherwise it would have taken another two hours”

“ So what, we could have waited till our turn."

“Why waste so much time"? Besides, many others also jumped the queue."

“It’s not fair daddy,”  and what she said next really shook me,  “I never expected this from you daddy, I always thought you were a gentleman.”

It took me a few moments to understand her feelings, and I admitted my mistake, “I am sorry beta, I should not have done that.”

“It is all right, but don't do it again please...  you know how bad I felt when I looked at the faces of people who were waiting behind us patiently?

At that moment I felt so small in front of her, but I felt proud of my little daughter!
by Vittal N. Poojary, Dubai
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Comment on this article

  • Langoolacharya, Belman/USA

    Tue, Aug 03 2010

    Vittal N. Poojary, Dubai,

    If 50% of children of India are like your child, India will be a great country in near future.

    I congratualte you for raising such a sweet child.

    Jai Hooooooo0000ooo

  • ASHOK, Udupi/Dubai

    Tue, Aug 03 2010

    Short , Nice & touching article.

  • Deepa Jagannath, Mangalore/Dubai

    Sun, Aug 01 2010

    very sweet & nice.

  • Deepa Jagannath, Mangalore/Dubai

    Sun, Aug 01 2010

    very sweet & nice.

  • yogeesh kumar, padubidri/dubai

    Sun, Aug 01 2010

    short and sweet article.

  • Anil John Karvallo, Basrur/Abu Dhabi

    Sun, Aug 01 2010

    Very Good article. So all parents shouls know that their childrens were always watching and observing them.

  • FAT BOY, Dubai

    Sun, Aug 01 2010

    Dear Old Boy... Be a gentleman. Thr are so many things as adults we can learn from the younger ones. Next time atleast make sure there's no one or known person around when you jump lines. Very good and touching article.

  • umesh, abu dhabi / udupi

    Sat, Jul 31 2010

    daddy cool!!!

  • Jimmy Noronha, Bellore, Lucknow

    Sat, Jul 31 2010

    Mr. Vittal, it is very nice advice from your daughter. No wonder they say, "The child is the father of may.". Please give her a pat on the back on my behalf.

  • Felcy Menezes, Mangalore/Dubai

    Sat, Jul 31 2010

    Rightly said by your daughter. We all try and instill values such as this in our children too BUT unfortunate the irony of life for turning up successful in life is working smart and not hard - i.e. hard worker keep working and working and land no where but the one's who bark of their achievement and work are the onces noticed. The new generation is realising this and their values too will change when they the life in reality.

  • A.S.Mathew, U.S.A.

    Sat, Jul 31 2010

    Our normal instinct and mentality is that the older people are  the custodians of wisdom and
    whatever the old people utter is straight from heaven.

    But indeed, our children and  grandchildren are greatly imparted with wisdom they
    will not try to command us to do like the elders with a frown face. But the children and grandchildren
    will be telling us like a question with a smiling face. I regret that I have failed to listen to my
    children's advice about some people who have misused me and caused me debt.

    Mr. Poojary, it was a nice article: listen to your precious child, and it will bless you with some
    wise instructions of life at the right time.

  • Koni Prakash Naik, Kundapur - Oman

    Sat, Jul 31 2010

    Mr. Poojary. Better late than never..The process of learning is neither limited to any age group nor to any particular subject. Good eye operner for impatient people.

    Nonetheless, I hope the authorites read this article too, as I can't understand why there should be two lines.. one for natives and one for others? Natives don't consider themselves as Indians or what. Moreover, why noone is available to administer the lines. This is an indication of how good our administrative system works.
    What can I say "Mera Bharat Mahan".

  • kishore, Gundmi, sasthan

    Sat, Jul 31 2010

    we need not to learn anything from this story instead we need to bring into the practise which we know already. am i correct??????

  • Anand, Karkala/Dubai

    Fri, Jul 30 2010

    Kannadigas are lazy people compared to Tamilians and Andhrites. Mr. Vittal, jumping the queue was there in your mind once you entered the others line if I am not wrong. This is where Kannadigas are lagging and you could have jumped immediately once it flashed to your mind.
    Nice article short and sweet.

  • alison, dubai

    Fri, Jul 30 2010

    dil tho bachcha hi jee

  • Nithyannda Beskoor, Udupi,Dubai

    Fri, Jul 30 2010

    Good article.Yes, at times children talk what is right.But as they grow older like us they tend to change with the times.Otherwise this place would have been wonderful to live in.

  • Clara Lewis, Kemmannu/Dubai

    Fri, Jul 30 2010

    Good article, we can learn so much from our little children. Admitting the mistake, apologize and assurance, very good lesson to learn from you.

  • Neena Shetty, Mangalore/Kumpala

    Fri, Jul 30 2010

    So nice of ur daughter, hope my child would grow with the same mentality.

  • Rj Avinash , 92.7Bigfm , Mangalore, Udupi/Kundapur/Mangalore

    Fri, Jul 30 2010

    This article reminded me of a recent super hit movie "Naanu Nanna Kanasu" starring Prakash Rai.Nice article.Children are much much more matured and Mr. Vittal ...lots of love to your daughter..

    "Sanna Makkala DODDA gunagalu".. Indina makkale nalina bhavya bharathada prajegalu....

    Best,

    Avinash:):)

  • NAZMATHNISA LAIZ, SURATHKAL/ABUDHABI

    Thu, Jul 29 2010

    Very good.

  • M.J.Desoza, Chitrap, Mulki 574154

    Thu, Jul 29 2010

    Excellent article to read and correct ourselves.


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