Words, beyond words

Whether of utility or not, innumerable heirlooms pass on from one generation to another. Wooden cupboards, grandfather clocks, hats, holdalls, steel trunks, paintings8230; the list may be endless. A strong emotional attachment to such sundry items makes them inseparable from their inheritors. They are timeless treasures of priceless value.

I sometimes regret that I have not been able to preserve any such objects of pride. Some items made by my grandmother on religious functions were with me. I inherited a gramophone that was passed on from grandfather to my father and then to me. I also possessed a 8216;kalamdaan8217; a wooden box with various compartments for keeping writing materials, letters and documents. I had to do away with most items of this kind due to my frequent transfers.

Yet I am left with the most precious heirloom of all. A bunch of letters from my father posted to me while I was in the hostel. Those were my teen years. Every letter would convey a father8217;s wisdom on manhood, life and love. In my solitary moments, the letters would come alive, speaking to me as if he was sitting beside me, inspiring and encouraging me. I still have all his quotes in my memory.

8220;Don8217;t remain a spectator in the game of life, be a participant8221;. 8220;Always be confident and assert yourself8221;. 8220;Inculcate values of compassion8221;. 8220;As elephants are needed to capture elephants, so does one require knowledge to acquire more knowledge8221;. 8220;They say the sky should be the limit, I say never be bound by any limits in your march8221;. There was hardly an edifying thought that he left uncommunicated.

Time has paled those letters. Haphazard perforations and stains have made their contents unreadable. The collection has turned into scrap. This, nevertheless, does not bother me. The teachings have already made their indelible mark on my psyche. Whatever human values I have grown up with, I owe entirely to him, my father. A treasured heirloom, in words.