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On Monday, 16th November, Amitabh Bachchan's grand daughter Aaradhya turned four. Known for penning down his thoughts on his blog, Amitabh Bachan took this occasiion to write about children; their years of wonderment that give life and living a more deeper and fulfilling meaning.

He writes...

‘They are the world … they are the ‘being’ that beckons for all that is known and unknown .. for all that needs attention and concern .. for all that has been looked upon as sensitive and of gift of nature .. they are the new born .. they are the toddlers … they are the frocked and panted little geniuses .. they are our future and our present … they are now .. we are then ..

And in its abundance has one seen them today – surprised and stony eyed, in disbelief and apprehensive … indoctrinated into some of the normal rituals of every home .. programmed for posterity, and for the present ..

Children ..

Whatever would we do without them .. freeze them at age four or maybe earlier .. allow them the freedom and liberty of any human .. give them the space of expression and you shall find that your attention span increases .. you find life just that little bit more exciting .. and your living, a living of immense meaning !!

And then they suddenly grow up .. beyond expectation and reward .. they mingle with them that teach and learn and guide and impress .. and they demonstrate their aptitude .. an aptitude which I believe they acquire between the age of 0 – 4 years – the most effective and influential period of their lives .. and they deliver .. at times good at times indifferent .. and one fine day they are no longer them that you imagined not so long ago .. tuned, administered and independent ..

They seek freedom and they seek path and distance and horizon ..

And then they submit .. to either of the modes that nature provides them ..

From followers they become the followed .. from learners they become the learned .. from the one that held, they become the one you hold .. And then you disappear .. into the wilds of the space which produced them and you .. and you wonder before, whether they shall continue in the spirit of their existence, or design fresh and new pathways, that would be reminders for the others on the way to them ..

And so does life move on ..’