This is a real story about a lower-middle-class father whose vision and determination saved his children from the clutches of poverty he himself suffered throughout his life. This is a story of a father who was determined to push his child out of poverty with one single weapon: higher education.

My father, whom we called Babuji owned a small shop selling tea and milk. He worked from early dawn until late in night. He used to make up his loss of sleep during daytime when the business was slow. I saw him following the same routine until his health gave in and he went bedridden with a multitude of illnesses. Today when I think of his total assets in his shop I wonder how he could have managed to make ends meet with those meagre resources. He worked a minimum of 14 hours a day. He had not seen inside the school. He could hardly read Urdu but not write it. Howsoever poor or uneducated, he had a vision and determination for me. Babuji knew very well that best things to break the clutches of poverty is education and he was determined that he would not let his son suffer the pains of poverty and illiteracy. For someone with those meagre resources, planning an education journey for his child was not easy. It required a long gestation period. A fourteen-year journey in school, then 3 years of college and an uncertain journey for qualifying as Chartered Account. So, a long resilience for almost 25 years. But he was resolved and determined. The time I started my schooling in 1^st standard, I remember his constant efforts in preparing my mind to reach until the last education level. For example, he would say that I would be known as Arshad Ali Javed MBBS. At that time an MBBS was such a coveted title. So, from the beginning of my school days I had somewhere in my mind where I have to reach. He was himself uneducated, but he kept the company of educated people. All his friends were surprisingly well educated, and he also talked to them about guiding me in my education. I remember many of his friends will enquire about my progress and also provide me valuable advice. Me taking up the CA course was also result of this counselling. Though initially my father was obsessed with the medical profession but because he was able to realize the changes with time and it was him who wanted me to take CA course. Though I had no interest in finance, but he was the one directly or indirectly influencing my decision.

By the time I cleared my exams and started earning, his health started giving away. One after another ailment enveloped him. This is a common tragedy for most middle-class fathers. The reason is obvious, in their quest to generate more and more resources with limited means for their family, they toil their youth to the extent that by the time they reach old age their body parts, tired and exhausted, start to give in. He left us 14 years ago to eternal abode. I always pray that may Allah shower His mercy on him and give him a nice place in Jannah.

It was my father who pushed me out of poverty, making my life easier than anyone else in my family. I owe him everything. No one lives forever. Neither our father nor will we do. But we all need to strive to bring a generation gap. Investment in children is the best investment. This is how nations are built.

Looking back. There were many shops near my father’s shop. These shops do not command any big business. Just a small business enough for a living. Those shops are still there and like my father all of them have passed away. When I visit my native place during vacation, all those shops are being run by their sons. I meet and greet them. They meet me with great respect. They want to talk with me. I see their condition and I also listen to their woes and I realize if it was not for the determination and vision of my father, I would be one of them, doing some small business, struggling to make ends meet. It was dedication of one man who caused his next generation to lead a respectful life. He brought a generation gap.
I miss you Babuji.