Dear Daughter Shanaya,

I want to tell you that when I came to know that you are on your way, I was overjoyed and was so much looking forward to the new beginnings and a lot of first times.

Let me also tell you that as you took your time, I also was bit unconvinced and anxious about the kind of world that I am bringing you into. I think I was just being this first time inexperienced father that I still am anyways. I was and at times, still am worried when I see something wrong not only because that the thing happened but more for, however selfish it may sound, the fact that I brought you to a place where it exists.

However I have to tell you that this discomfort altered since you came to this world. Not that I started believing that you will change everything. You will but not just that. It was a shift in the perspective and I started being more hopeful without any reasons. And I have to thank you for that.

I still remember the night over about a year ago when your mother started feeling the pain. It took about over 12 hours of struggle not to mention those odd hours when you started kicking. I was very disturbed at all this happening to her.  For a moment I felt helpless and thought If I had studied to become a surgeon, I’d have ensured to reduce her pain. I always knew and still believe that your mother is very strong woman and will never give up which made it worse to see her restless due to pain. It felt bad as I never wanted anything like that to happen to her ever.

However all the turmoil completely vanished when I held you in my arms for the first time.  I skipped a heartbeat and breathed heavily out of the galaxy of emotions that I went through at that time. It still happens if I try to remember that moment in the hospital. It is a moment I will always cherish and still makes me smile and giggle.  The moment I took you in my arms I felt lighter and better. I was like –Is that it, is she mine? Something of the sort ‘All is well’ which was so much needed especially after that happening night that you prepared us for your welcome. Everything was clear.  Clearer.  Suddenly I started feeling that the world is a much better place. I started seeing things with a different perspective.

Like most of parents, I wanted you to come to the perfect world but I realized with time that the concept of perfect world is just in one’s mind and no degree of proximity, odds or luxuries can ensure or negate it.

I want you to know that you are in this world for a reason but never limit yourself to that. Seek while you believe. Your name, gender, religion etc. are all identities that you have not contributed to or had no choice on. Choose to have an identity that you have created. Something that you not only would possess and but also would be your creation.

Remember the world has been created by the God and the borders by humans like you and me. While having your love and preferences, always be a part of something that the God has created first. Being good is a virtue in itself, not because others are bad. Love is what would help you rise, focus on that alone and, if the need be, leave the rest aside. Evil can be managed but lack of love and empathy cannot.

This letter to you has nothing to do with your gender. I’d have written something very similar if you were a guy. I had disliked predictions about your gender, even if they were meant to be on a lighter note. I was like- ‘The baby is not even in this world yet, leave her alone.’  There is so much talks about your gender being less in numbers but you need to understand that the In the power pyramid, the powerful ones are always less. Do we have as many Gods as humans? I want you to know and strongly believe that being of either gender doesn’t limit or empower you in any way.  Won’t write much about it as I don’t want this to sound like some feminist letter.  I want you to know that the entire concept women empowerment is a hoax. You ARE powerful.

This world is much different than it was when I was as little as you. It will tend to change when you are grown up. And I look forward to it positively. There ought to be a lot of changes as the world transform itself digitally. I would probably have been writing this with a piece of pen and paper before few decades. There ought to be many more changes further In coming times and for good. While you should cherish each of these innovations, I also want to know that nothing can take over the human experience. I would have never ever felt how it feels to hold you for the first time if not in person. Or a like/love on your pic can never replace time spent playing with you. While technology has shrunk and benefitted the world, it’s the human values that lie behind this charm and ought not to be forgotten ever. No algorithm would know what liking/loving/sharing is if it was not for human. Never give up anything for an experience.

It goes without saying that I want you to be happy. But happiness is not a goal but the result of a life well lived. I’d want you to cherish to be able to create some music, pursue art, and play a sport.  Travel as much as you can and learn about more and more cultures.  I want you to have a positive acceptance for everything and everyone that is different that what you’ve seen or know.  Hope and patience goes a long way and it doesn’t cost a dime. Faith is the greatest virtues of all time. There can be no compensation for lack of tolerance.

Remember the real power of money is not in being able to earn it but to be able to spend it comfortably. It is important to have money only for having the facility to spend it. I want you to spend as much as possible on stuff only in order to realize that it is the experiences that actually give us pleasure. As you grow up, I want you to know that difference between value, price and worth. Never not do anything just because it has not been done yet.

I also want you to be healthy. You may not be the fittest person, but try to be active and fit. It would automatically add to your strength. Eat healthy too as It would pay in long run.  If there’s one person you should know you need to conquer, it is yourself. For only when one wins over oneself, one eliminates the undue necessity of winning over.  Respect yourself and take no shit from anyone. Practice meditation as I believe you would get most of the answers from within. Be strong with the body, stable with the mind and tolerant with the heart.

As a considerate father, I would like you to go beyond what both of your parents have done. While I have mentioned a whole bunch of things that I aspire, I still want you to make mistakes as I can take you to the path but you have to travel it yourself. And believe me, You’ll have fun in it eventually.  What defines one is not how quickly one falls, but how strongly one rises. The only way to conquer fear is by facing it. Failures are an opportunity to try again with new experience.  Acceptance is the first step to improvement and moving ahead. It doesn’t matter where you come from as long as you are going somewhere.  Never ever allow yourself to think that you won’t be able to do something only because you should not be doing it.

On day, let me assure you that this world is full of magical things, waiting for your wits to grow sharper.

Albeit late, Welcome to this world.

– Himanshu Chauhan —

Reading this now you are thinking that Himanshu is such a loving father, then wait just check out how wonderful the mother is. Krinzal has combined artistry and imagination with photography and created captivating photos of her baby. Read it here.