On Sunday, 21 June, South Africans across the country will celebrate the fathers and father figures whose love, guidance and sacrifices shape families and communities every day.
Father’s Day is a secular holiday dedicated to honouring fathers, fatherhood, parental bonds and the significant influence of father figures in society. It serves as a global occasion for children and families to express gratitude, love and appreciation for the men who provide guidance, care and support in their lives.
The modern Father’s Day celebration is believed to have started in the United States of America. Sonora Smart Dodd, a woman raised by a widowed Civil War veteran, campaigned for a holiday to honour fathers just as mothers were being celebrated on Mother’s Day. The first state-wide Father’s Day was celebrated in Washington on 19 June 1910.
The deepest hope for a father is to raise a happy, healthy child. Nandlal Sukhla managed to achieve this, raising three doctors and a CEO.
Speaking on how fatherhood has changed him as a person, Sukhla said: “It gave me purpose in life. It motivated me to work hard and improve myself in order to provide for my four boys. My sons showed great potential from an early age and one of the most rewarding experiences of parenthood is when my wife and I are complimented on their success. The most challenging part of fatherhood is taking responsibility for educating your children. It would have destroyed me to have to tell them I do not have the resources for their education. One of the lessons I have passed on to my children is to take responsibility for your life and not to make excuses for your failures, a lesson they have taken to heart and made me proud, each achieving so much from such humble beginnings.”
With Nandlal focused on educating his children, each of them were able to excel.
He said: “Being a father is one of the most difficult roles a man has, it is a great responsibility and must not be taken lightly, however it is also the most rewarding thing a man can do. If you do a good job you will be rewarded with the greatest joy in life. This Father’s Day I intend to enjoy my reward, spending the day at home with my children and grandchildren.”
The Nandlal family joins the management and staff of the Tongaat and Verulam Tabloid in wishing all readers and advertisers a happy Father’s Day.
