नातवंडांस पत्र Natvandans Patr (A Letter to My Grandchildren)

आजोबा सांगतात की त्यांना नातवंडांशी प्रत्यक्ष भेटून मनसोक्त गप्पा मारायला, आपले बालपण, शाळा-कॉलेजचे दिवस आणि आई-वडिलांकडून शिकलेल्या गोष्टी सांगायला आवडेल. पण प्रत्यक्ष बोलताना तितक्या मोकळेपणाने बोलणे होत नाही, म्हणून त्यांनी हे पत्र लिहायचे ठरवले, असे ते सांगतात.

At the start of the letter, the grandfather blesses his four grandchildren, Uddhav, Megha, Mihika and Janhavi, and says he often wishes he could sit with them and chat freely about his childhood, his school and college days, and all he learned from his own parents. Since he cannot always speak as openly in person, he explains that he decided to write this letter instead.

आजोबा सांगतात की ते सांगली या गावी शिकत होते, जिथे त्यांच्या शाळेला मोठे मैदान आणि जवळच एक बाग होती. तिथे ते मनसोक्त खेळायचे, धावपळ करायचे, झाडांवर चढायचे आणि पाऊस आला की भिजायचे. नातवंडांनीही सुट्टीत मोठ्या शहरांतून बाहेर पडून थंड हवेच्या ठिकाणी किंवा छोट्या गावी जावे, तिथला निसर्ग अनुभवावा असा सल्ला ते देतात.

The grandfather recalls that he studied in Sangli, a town in Maharashtra, where his school had a very large ground with a garden nearby. There he played freely, roamed about, climbed trees, and got thoroughly soaked whenever it rained. He advises his grandchildren that at least during their holidays they should get away from the big cities and visit hill stations or small towns, and enjoy the chirping of birds, the sounds of animals in the forest, the open sky and a flowing river.

आजोबा सांगतात की ते अभ्यासात फारसे हुशार नव्हते, पण त्यांना खेळायला खूप आवडायचे आणि लहानपणीच त्यांना बॅडमिंटनची आवड लागली. सातत्याने सराव व मेहनत केल्यामुळेच ते विजेते खेळाडू बनू शकले आणि आंतरराष्ट्रीय स्पर्धांत भारताचे प्रतिनिधित्व करून त्यांना अर्जुन पुरस्कारही मिळाला, हे ते नातवंडांना अभिमानाने सांगतात.

The grandfather admits he was not particularly good at academics, but he loved playing games and developed a passion for badminton at a young age. Reminding the grandchildren that they have seen his photographs holding various cups and trophies, he tells them it was only through sustained, consistent effort that he became a champion player, went on to represent India in international matches, and eventually received the Arjuna Award.

आजोबा नातवंडांना सांगतात की क्रिकेट, टेनिस, बॅडमिंटन यांपैकी कोणताही एक खेळ त्यांनी खेळलाच पाहिजे, कारण खेळामुळे आयुष्यात शिस्त येते आणि कोणत्याही प्रसंगाला सामोरे कसे जायचे हे शिकायला मिळते. तसेच रोज थोडा तरी व्यायाम केलाच पाहिजे, वेळ नाही ही सबब चालणार नाही, असे ते ठामपणे सांगतात. वयाच्या ६६ व्या वर्षीही व्यायामाशिवाय आपल्याला जेवावेसे वाटत नाही, असे ते नमूद करतात.

The grandfather insists that his grandchildren must play some sport, be it cricket, tennis or badminton, because sport brings discipline into life and teaches how to face any situation, including how to lose gracefully. He firmly states that everyone must exercise a little every day and should not use the excuse of having no time, just as one does not skip meals for lack of time. He shares that even at the age of sixty-six he does not feel like eating without having exercised, and he urges them to always make time for exercise as they grow older.

आजोबा सांगतात की आयुष्यातील प्रत्येक गोष्ट शाळा-कॉलेजमध्ये शिकवली जात नाही, त्यामुळे नातवंडांनी मोठे होताना स्वतःचे स्वतःच शिक्षक बनावे. टेनिसमध्ये चेंडू रेषेच्या आत आहे की बाहेर हे जसे आपणच ठरवतो, तसेच खरे आयुष्यातही काय चांगले आणि काय वाईट हे स्वतःलाच कळले पाहिजे आणि स्वतःवर अवलंबून राहायला शिकले पाहिजे, असा सल्ला ते देतात.

The grandfather points out that not everything in life is taught in school or college, so his grandchildren must become their own teachers as they grow up. Just as in tennis a player must judge for himself whether the ball landed inside or outside the line and decide accordingly, in real life too one must learn to judge for oneself what is good and what is bad. This, he says, is how one learns to depend on oneself and become self-reliant.

पत्राच्या शेवटी आजोबा सांगतात की आता तिसऱ्या सहस्रकात संपर्क माध्यमे व इंटरनेटमुळे हवी ती माहिती घरबसल्या मिळू शकते. तरीही मित्र व कुटुंबियांशी असलेला वैयक्तिक संपर्क तुटू देऊ नये, असा सल्ला ते देतात. शेवटी ते नातवंडांना या नव्या सहस्रकासाठी शुभेच्छा देऊन प्रेमाने पत्र संपवतात.

Towards the end of the letter, the grandfather notes that they have now entered the third millennium, and communication and information technology have expanded enormously - any information can now be obtained at home through email and the internet. Even so, he urges his grandchildren never to let their personal, face-to-face connection with friends and family break down. He closes the letter with warm wishes for the new millennium, signing off affectionately as their loving grandfather.