There are times when a person’s story seems to have come out straight from fiction. Packed with elements of conflict, turmoil, stress, happy times, as well as moments of sorrow, their life seems to come to a complete circle and become an example for many. Sri Burugapalli’s “A Father’s Cry For Meaning” is far more than the title conveys. It resonates with the human condition for the search for meaning in every human’s life, more in the existential sense. In his memoir, the author pens a poignant dialogue between himself, the readers and sometimes an internal monologue to decode and understand all that happened in his life.

At the outset, “A Father’s Cry For Meaning” begins simply, with the narrator explaining his bonds with his family and how situations change them. As times change, he faces different situations. But what remains constant is his desire to be with his family to have a normal, happy childhood. The innocence of the young author remains intact here, despite the fact that he writes it as a grown-up. This pure emotion becomes the salient feature of the book and is maintained consistently. At the same time, his deep sense of responsibility towards his family, with the right balance, shines throughout the memoir. His craving and orientation towards his family highlight the sacrifices many like him would have made in that generation. 

For various reasons, the author had to grow up much before he had to. But the manner in which he accepts responsibility and honours the promise he made to his father is not just remarkable but praiseworthy. In addition to his faithful portrayal of different people who came into his life, Burugapalli’s mother stands out as an exception, much ahead of her time in terms of thoughts and becomes one of the powerful figures to influence him in his life. Through her, he highlights the power of having the right role models while a child is growing up. Other people like Krishna uncle and Satya auntie stand as different sides of a person. Their presence impacts Burugapalli in the sense that he becomes a perfect mix of the two. On the one hand, he is a tough decision maker under circumstances of pressure, and simultaneously, he also has the qualities of compassion and empathy.

The careful division of “A Father’s Cry For Meaning” into different phases shows the ups and downs that Burugapalli has seen in his life. From having a carefree childhood to becoming an adolescent facing responsibilities no one prepared him for, to becoming a passionate youth and going on to mature into a wise, settled, sorted and clear-headed man, the memoir crafts him as an example of a classic hero from any movie that has seen it all and lived it all. Despite every challenge he faces, his determination to never give up and face every situation with the right presence of mind comes across as a highlighting feature of his own personality. He may have written this book to share his life with the readers, but it becomes a representative of the many who lived through that generation. It also stands as an example of honesty, hard work, perseverance and dedication to turn your life around to impact generations, all of it in one lifetime. 

One of the pioneering features of the author's style of writing is the unfiltered form of expression, where he does not shy away from sharing a piece of his heart or even admitting his follies or faults. This quality of being true to himself and the readers significantly adds emotional weight to the memoir. His story sounds more like an unravelling of one episode after another, with little moments here and there of peace and joy. But that is the true fragment of human life, and the readers understand this without being said. 

The story of “A Father’s Cry For Meaning,” where the author comes from nothing, instead of a family mired with debt and rises to build not only a life of his own and his family, but also in a foreign land in a time when connectivity and communication were difficult, becomes an example for this and the many generations to follow. In its true sense, this book can be a source of motivation and inspiration for the readers who get inspired by real-life living examples. If it has to be cited as a story from rags to riches, there is much more than just a rise, and the memoir faithfully shows all that happens in this journey. 

The title, “A Father’s Cry For Meaning,” relates on different levels. While for once, it seems to be a search for meaning for Burugapalli himself as a father. It also suggests his father’s search for meaning and the painful fact that no one heard him or explained it to him. After his father, his mother becomes no less than a father figure for him in terms of the responsibilities she takes and takes care of him, too. As a giver throughout her life, the cry may also be her search for meaning. Going beyond, the title is suggestive of the mindsets of not just fathers but many others who grow up to make sense of life, its challenges and the meaning that they can interpret by it. It makes the readers introspect and endeavour to understand the existential crisis that entails life itself. 

Coming from the times when digitization had not taken over the world and letter writing was the mode for heart-to-heart, “A Father’s Cry For Meaning” carries a pervasive nostalgic air for the many readers who have lived through that time. For the readers of the next generation, it is like a lesson to explain how simple and easy life is in comparison to the times back then. It may, for once, make the readers refer to the changing times of the present, where life and people have different meanings altogether. But as a source of inspiration, the book stands out and remains much ahead of its time. 

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