Father’s Day will be celebrated in many countries, including India, tomorrow, Sunday 21st June, 2026
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https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/fathers-day-2026-all-you-need-to-know-about-date-history-and-significance-11656647
In this article I will not talk of one’s biological father and his duties towards his children. To me it is more important at this critical moment of Indian history, and the huge problems our country is facing, to consider and deal with the Father of the Indian Nation, who will guide us and show our people the correct path to progress and prosperity.In the past we had 3 such Fathers of India. These were :(1) Lord Rama
In Valmiki’s Ramayan (the original Ramayan in Sanskrit, written perhaps 2,500 years ago), it is mentioned that when Ayodhya’s King Dashrath became old, he intended to hand over his throne to his eldest son Ram. Before doing so, however, he invited Ayodhya’s citizens to his palace, and asked them to tell him truthfully whether Ram was fit to be their next king.
The citizens replied:
Gunan gunavato deva devakalpasya dhimata|
We shall now describe all the dear ones that give joy, and listen to them today 2-2-27
i.e.
“Oh king! We shall tell you the various virtues of your wise son, listen to them. His qualities are excellent. He is liked by all. He gives happiness to all.
He always asks the citizens how they are doing like his relatives
sons, fires, wives, messengers and disciples||
and by the whole in succession, the father as his sons and daughters|
ie
“O king, your son Ram is indeed fit to be our next king. He goes to citizens and asks about their well-being as though they were his own kinsmen, like a father does to his sons. He asks about their wives and children, and about their welfare.”
He added :
In the addictions of men he is greatly distressed ||
and he will be pleased with all the festivals like a father
ie
“He consoles the people in their sorrows, and is delighted when they celebrate festivals”
and
truthful, great archer, servant of the elderly, and self-controlled ||
He smiled and spoke beforehand and relied on righteousness with all his heart
ie
“Ram speaks only the truth. He is a great man. He serves the elders. He keeps his senses under control. He speaks smilingly, and protects righteousness in all ways.”
Thus, far from being an oppressor, Ram was like a father to the people. A good father takes care of all his children. He is not selective. He does not take care of only some of his children, while oppressing others. So also, a Father of the Nation takes care of people of all communities and sects in the country, and does not take care of only some community or sect, while oppressing others.
If Ram had been the king of India today, he would have taken care of not only Hindus, but also Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and others, and he would have severely punished those who tried to polarize society, and incite hatred, oppressed or committed atrocities on minorities.
Recently, some bigoted people forced some members of the minority community to say ‘Jai Shri Ram’, and beat up those who refused. These people have defamed Ram, who would never have approved or tolerated such misdeeds, and would instead have severely punished the culprits.
The misfortune is that most of these votaries of Lord Ram have not even read the original Ramayan of Valmiki, and they know little of his great qualities.
https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-a-tale-of-two-rams/(2) Emperor AshokaEmperor Ashoka, who ruled from 268 to 232 B.C. said in his 12th Major Rock Edict ( found in Girnar, Junagadh, Gujarat, which I have seen ) :” All religions should be honoured. Whoever praises his own religion due to excessive devotion to his own religion, and condemns other religions, with the thought ‘Let me glorify my own religion’ only harms his own religion.Therefore one should listen to and respect the doctrines professed by others. ”The full Edict reads :
” Thus, saith his Sacred and Gracious Majesty the King:
The beloved of the Gods (Devanaam Priya) King Piyadassi, honours all religions. Religions other than one’s own should also be honoured, and the essentials of all religions should be promoted. If one acts thus, he promotes his own religion and benefits other religions too. If one acts otherwise, he hurts his own religion and hurts other religions too. One should not extol and glorify his own religion while disparaging the religion of others, for by doing so he diminishes the value of his own religion. Whoever disparages the religion of others while extolling and glorifying his own, harms his own religion grievously. Therefore, concord is commendable.”
This Edict of the great Emperor Ashoka (304-232 B.C. ) was found in Girnar, Junagarh, Gujarat.
https://www.peepultree.world/livehistoryindia/story/monuments/girnar-rock-inscriptions
The edict is very relevant in India today when some people are trying to spread religious hatred and polarise society in our country of great diversity, for political gains.
(3) Emperor Akbar
Mughal Emperor Akbar ( 1542-1605 ) is a true Father of the Indian Nation, who laid the solid foundation for a unified, secular India long before modern times. He realized that in our country of such great diversity, the only policy which can keep India united and take us on the path of progress, was the policy of suleh-e-kul, or giving equal respect to all religions and communities.
https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-emperor-akbar-is-the-father-of-the-indian-nation
https://www.dailyo.in/voices/emperor-akbar-father-of-nation-mahatma-gandhi-india-history-26898
https://www.hastakshepnews. com/2023/11/why-does-justice- katju-consider-mughal.html
So tomorrow, when we pay respect to our biological father, we must also remember and pay tribute to the abovementioned 3 Fathers of Indian Nation.
What will be the qualities of our future Father of the Indian Nation ?
Firstly, he will unite, and not divide our people, as the abovementioned 3 Fathers of our Nation did, for without unity we can never resolve our huge socio-economic problems of massive poverty, massive unemployment, appalling level of child malnutrition ( every second child in India is malnourished, according to Global Hunger Index ), skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, almost total lack of proper healthcare and good education for our masses, etc.
Secondly, he will be genuinely patriotic, selfless, and prepared to make great personal sacrifices.
Thirdly, he will have a modern scientific mind, free from casteism and communalism.
Fourthly, he must be absolutely determined to transform India from a relatively backward country, to a modern industrial giant, like another China, for only then can we abolish poverty, unemployment, and the other huge socio-economic problems we are facing today.
And lastly, he will know that this historical transformation cannot be achieved without a mighty, united, and protracted people’s struggle ( jan sangharsh ), rising above caste and communal lines, in which tremendous sacrifices will have to be made. This people’s struggle, led by modern minded leaders, which may take upto 15-20 years ( because there will be powerful internal and external forces opposing it ), will culminate in a genuine historical people’s revolution ( jan kranti ) after which a new political and social order will be set up under which there is rapid industrialization, and steady rise in the standard of living of the people.
Who that person will be is impossible to presently predict, but all historical experience shows he is bound to appear one day, like a Cromwell, George Washington, Robespierre, or Lenin
