Khalil Gibran (Kahlil Gibran), one of the most brilliant writers/poets of modern era writes in ‘The Madman’:
One day, I woke from a deep sleep and found all my masks were stolen,–the seven masks I have fashioned and worn in seven lives,–I ran maskless through the crowded streets shouting, “Thieves, thieves, the cursed thieves.”
Men and women laughed at me and some ran to their houses in fear of me. And when I reached the market place, a youth standing on a house-top cried, “He is a madman.” I looked up to behold him; the sun kissed my own naked face for the first time. For the first time the sun kissed my own naked face and my soul was inflamed with love for the sun, and I wanted my masks no more. And as if in a trance I cried, “Blessed, blessed are the thieves who stole my masks.”
Thus I became a madman.
It’s good to be different; in fact, it is always better to be original. However, we ofen sacrifice the originality and the independent thinking, so that we can conform to the social norms. Many of our actions are based on NOT what we like or what we think is right, but what others approve of, or what others like.
The Indian culture, home or abroad, is bound too tightly by the social boundaries and social norms. And, as a result, we are often the puppets in the hands of the social circumstances. Our actions tend to follow what others approve of, and sometimes at the cost of our own good, or the good of our own family.
You may have your own masks fashioned to hide your own agenda, or you may go around maskless. Whatever the case maybe, we should never have to wear any masks especially when with our family. The family is where you should always tread without any mask, so that they can see real you, so that the family can appreciate the real you. The kids learn the most from our honesty and sincerity. Most of us, especially the kids, appreciate openness and honesty more than fake bravery or fake ‘cool’.
To all the fathers out there – those with mask and those without, Happy Father’s Day!!
May you love and lead your family with sincerity, honesty and openness – just like the Madman! 
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