A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People
13
My Family
I
was lucky to have been born in a family which welcomed my birth as its eldest child. I grew up in Shimla where Papa was posted. A family which believed in me, loved me unconditionally. My parents, Shri Puran Anand Sharma and Shrimati Prabha Rani Sharma and my brothers Anand and Ashok treated me with love, protected my dignity everyday. The family was special for me as I felt emotionally comfortable with my parents and brothers. Papa and Mummy took extra steps to allow our childhood to be happy and beautiful, taking care of our sense of wonder. I don’t think families allowed so much of space to children to be happy, to enjoy, to innovate and to dream then, and, even now! For me, my parents and my brothers were my world. There was no fear. I learnt to be bold along with my brothers. Most of my cousins grew up with restrictions on their freedom, with inhibitions and a lot of responsibility were imposed on them by my paternal and maternal sides of the family. I did not face any of those impositions and restrictions. My brothers loved me and made me a part of their team. We laughed, fought, cried, wiped each other’s tears and got back together. My parents encouraged us to enjoy, explore, to spend time with each other and also to be on our own when we needed to. Relationship with siblings is special in terms of growing up together with parents, protecting each other, teasing, covering up
