A Tribute to my Father

TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER
Today, 8 years ago, my Father went to be with the Lord at 78 years of age. The last few years of his life were not easy due to paralysis on his right side. My Father had an great personality and was known for his wit and leadership. Whether it was at work, home or Church he was the life of the party. As I think of him today, I‘d like to recall some of the things he contributed to Nation transformation.
As a little boy I used to take pride in the fact that my Father served our nation by being in the war field for 5 years and 104 days. Much of that was at the prime of his youth. He was very young when he joined the Indian Air Force during the second world-war. To join the IAF during history’s worst nightmare is indeed commendable. I salute my Father for his selfless spirit of not only serving his family but also for the families of our nation. As an adult today, I am quite involved in motivating young people in becoming change agents in society and often find myself talking about being ‘Nation changers. ’ I am not hesitant to say that God our Heavenly Father used my Fathering what it means to give up our youth for national transformation.
I was very young when my Father started to preach about Jesus Christ. He pioneered Churches and cycled quite a bit to share the life changing message of Jesus Christ. I was told he also faced opposition in as much as people trying to stone him in a particular village – now, that is quite an experience. I was in Lucknow in 2002 November (9 months after my Father had passed away) where I met a friend of mine whose wife was a senior Nurse in the Indian Air Force Hospital. They invited me to spend the weekend with them and preach in a Church there. I was glad to accept the invitation. On Sunday morning I was introduced and after the service an older person came to me and asked me if I knew P.D.Bogi – I had goose pimples all over me and at the same time smiled and said, ‘Yes, he is my Father.’ This man went on to say how my Father held the Church fellowships with dedication and passion. Now, this made my day and I was proud of my Father again. Recently, a Church my Father started in Hyderabad celebrated their anniversary where my Mother was honoured as she and her husband pioneered that Church at age 62. Our Bogi family is a small one but filled with amazing pioneers – currently 5 of us. My oldest brother who is in the market place pioneered an English service in Hyderabad, My Sisters are rock-solid pioneers and my other brother is an amazing pioneer too. In all humility the Lord has enabled me to be a pioneer too. I realise it again that my Heavenly Father used my Father to model a pioneering spirit and I salute my Dad for this legacy.

The last few years of his life were quite difficult and painful mostly for him as he was not used to being in one place all the time - He was used to travelling the length and breadth of the nation. He was not used to being helpless; he was not used to being served. It was difficult for him. But he held his dignity high, captured all of us with his wit and humour and persevered all those years with patience, silent hope and a charming face. I salute him today not just because he is my Father but because he was truly a nation transformer and his legacy remains. My Father was an ordinary person with his share of weaknesses but he demonstrated to us what God can do with a simple person. Nation Transformation is a big word and a multi-generational phenomenon. And I can confidently say that we are a second generation that is carrying the torch after my Dad carried it for 78 years – may our children follow that great path of becoming Nation Changers in every sense of the word! Yes, he died but he died a death of faith, yes he died but his labour is not in vain, yes he died but he is alive in Christ!

I salute my Father!