Fathers Day: "We do not care"

KANPUR:�Be kind to thy father, for when thou wert young, Who loved thee so fondly as he?
He caught the first accents that fell from thy tongue, And joined in thy innocent glee.� Those famous words of Margaret Courtney do not appeal to youngsters for they prefer Valentines Day and other of that ilk instead of Fathers Day.
Surprisingly, on the eve of Fathers Day (June 15), the Gen-ex gang responded in one-liners: “I do not know, really!�; and “I care a damn.� The poor sale of cards in all major books, gift shops and card galleries proved the day’s losing appeal.A staffer of Heart-to-Heart, a card shop in Swaroopnagar, said, “We have been utterly disappointed by the poor sale of cards.�
Confabulating with city youngsters at Rave 3 also proved that they had no idea that June 15 was celebrated as Fathers Day.
Ankita candidly admitted having forgotten the occasion and to buy a gift for her father.
She said, “As children are closer to their mothers, they never forget Mothers Day.�
Vanita Mehrotra, principal of a local school, who always remembered June 15, said, “For me, he was never just a bread earner for the family but a friend on whom I could depend for ever. I am falling short of words in recalling the moments we spent together.�
Vivek Kumar, a fourth year student at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur who also forgot the day said, “He is special to me in many ways: the way he looked after me without failing to sent small messages was very moving. It was so special.�
But youngsters have failed to show their love for their fathers. J August Strindberg’s words: “That is the thankless position of the father in the family - the provider for all, and the enemy of all,� were so very prophetic.