One of my first heroes as a child was my grandfather. He was a railway contractor selling cigarettes at the Jalandhar railway station, with a flair that could put any showman to shame. During my summer holidays he used to take me to the station with him. Watching the steady rhythm of trains and his team’s lively hustle was an unforgettable spectacle..
On our way back, after seeing off the last train, we would celebrate our achievement of the day with the one and only cold Bante Wali bottle. He carried this ritual of working hard and then celebrating each day through to his last days, walking into the sunset as if it were just another train to catch.
Emulating him at the station was my earliest ambition, which I joyfully displayed in a school fancy dress competition—complete with a mock cigarette to the horror of my teachers.
My grandfather’s spirited journey through life showed me the power of finding joy in the mundane and purpose in every action. To me, his life proved that to inspire and to be inspired are the cornerstones of a life well-lived, and this is a tune I’ve been whistling ever since.