My Grandfather | Teen Ink

My Grandfather

October 9, 2013
By Ace_of_Aces BRONZE, Alappuzha, Other
Ace_of_Aces BRONZE, Alappuzha, Other
3 articles 0 photos 1 comment

My grandfather is a retired veteran from the old British Indian Army. He fought many battles and survived. I call him ‘Tata’ and I don’t know why! He is very strict but at the same time, caring too. He always wants me to get up early in the morning and to do some exercises. He firmly believes in the proverb “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” He says that early in the morning, from about 4 O' clock to 6 O' clock, there's a special gas which comes down to the earth's surface. If we do some inhaling and exhaling in this fresh air, it will replace the dirty air in our body with the pure air present outside. He also mentioned that after 6 O' clock the sunlight reaches the earth and this gas disappears.

My grandfather was hardworking and always wanted to help others. He has never punished me for anything and that is why I love him. His skin is dark. He has spectacles and need a stick to walk. Many other people of his age are either dead or hospitalized but my grandpa can still walk because he was also an athlete. He got prizes in Bombay Provincial Olympics and many other sports meets.

His lightning speed in running also made him a good football player. He was in the Indian Football team during the British rule and that team consisted of ten Englishmen and one Indian and that Indian was my grandpa. He was known as the iron defense of his team.

At his young age he trained by himself on sandy river banks which improved his running speed. He had no coach or any teacher. I would like to tell you about one of his experiences from his archives

One day when he was in Kashmir, India, heavy snowfall occurred. At that time, one of his soldier's fell sick. His fever was severe. My grandfather told the camp commander about the situation. The camp commander said, "It is almost midnight, there is nothing we can do." my grandfather asked the camp commander if he would give him permission to carry that soldier on his back to the main base camp. The commander said that it was his pleasure to grant him permission. My grandpa took that soldier on his shoulders and carried him to the base camp. At the time of my grandpa's retirement the camp commander said to his fellow soldiers that they will not find a soldier like my grandpa in the whole of India.

He still lives in our home and is 93 years old. He was a good soldier and athlete who is still unknown to the world. I pray that men like him will be remembered by us in the future.


The author's comments:
My grandfather was a great man. The fact that he is still unknown to the world makes me sick and that's why I wrote this Essay.

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