As kids, we don't always understand what and how much our fathers do for us. They make sacrifices we don't see, express emotions in a way we don't necessarily get and are brave in ways we might never be able to comprehend. A lot of the time, we do not appreciate his presence in our lives, and Father's Day is probably a day to remind us to do so.
However, being a father means a lot more than just being related by blood. 20-year-old Wali Rahmani, for instance, is a father to 23 kids who were not fortunate enough to be blessed with their parents' love.
A law student studying in Jamia Hamdard, he is also a political activist who started his political journey in April 2017. Over the years, as he became a fearless voice against injustice, he found his calling.
?
While speaking to Indiatimes he said, ¡°In the whole process of raising my voice against all the injustice in the society, I felt that I was alone in this whole country. I realised that the kids of my age (class 12th) were busy partying but I was motivated that I want to do something for the society."
¡°I thought why not take up 10 children and make them leaders who preach humanity and love. My definition of a leader is not someone who is born a leader and die a leader but someone who creates leaders before he dies. My idea was the same to create leaders before I die."
He took a year off after completing class 12 and visited every slum in Kolkata. Finally, on April 1, 2018 he founded an organisation called Umeed (Hope). The vision of the organisation was its name itself. He said, he hoped the kids from the slum will become the hope of this country.
Rahmani also told Indiatimes that he first adopted 3 kids, and in just a span of 1 year there were 23 kids in the orphanage. Out of the 23, 11 kids are orphans and 12 are less fortunate with no roof over their head - until Umeed took them in.
He also said, ¡°At first, when the children came they were malnourished, underweight and now in the span of 1 year if you look at them they look so healthy. We have given them the best dietician, best of foods like Chawanprash, best education.¡±
¡°The concept ?was that I want to be a father of 10 kids before I turn 20 and I made it come true. I treat these 23 kids as my children, they all call me Abba ji. The orphanage has a beautiful environment and I call Umeed as Production House of Leaders.¡±
"We at Umeed make sure that the kids learn a lot. We provide them home schooling and their time table is set - 7 am to 7 pm. There are two teachers for every kid."
¡°It should not be called social work, it should be called social duty. Ye hamara samajik kaam nahi hai, ye hamara samajik farz hai. Agar kaam bolenge to kaam ki tarah karenge par farz bolenge to farz ki tarah karenge. Money is the last thing that matters to me,¡± he said.
When asked what kind of relationship he shared with the kids, he said, ¡°It is the most beautiful feeling to be a father of 23 children before 20. Whenever I am sad or in a problem I just look at the pictures of these kids and I feel better."
"It feels so good when I close my eyes and realise that 10 years down the line these kids will become engineers, doctors, IAS officers, someone will also be leading Umeed tomorrow. All the children will be serving the nation and giving back to the society because we have taken enough. It is a different feeling.¡±
His message to the youth of India on the occasion?of Father¡¯s Day was, ¡°I have two things to say- First, we have stopped respecting our parents, stop giving them time thinking that parents are a burden on us - forgetting how we have been a burden on them for so many years of our lives. They truly deserve all the respect in the world."
"Secondly, time is the most precious thing and every second counts. I think 24 hours is also less for me. So, the youth should learn the art of saying no - no for partying, for going out and utilise their time in making the society better."
"I feel every individual can become a leader and all of us are leaders of tomorrow, if we channelize?our time in the right direction.¡±
Sometimes parents of the underprivileged kids are unable to care for them because of economic reasons, but people like Wali Rahmani,? make sure they do not feel alone in this vast and confusing world. His story is also proof that fatherhood is an emotion that goes beyond biology - it nurtures and uplifts, irrespective of whether or not it's a bond of blood.