Father’s Day is celebrated today in most countries. It’s a great day for fathers but a greater one for children and youth. 1 in 7 adolescents are said to suffer some form of mental disorder; the guidance, stability and values that a father imparts have never been more important. My brother and I were blessed that our father explained to us the importance of faith, integrity and kindness. More powerful than what he said though, was what he did.
Our father – Merrill J. Fernando – was disciplined, and he demanded discipline in us, because he knew that this was a key ingredient of success. He told us that we should never compromise our integrity; do what is right, because it is right, and regardless of expedience or profit, always do what is right. Powerful stuff. I didn’t know it then, but I do now. Those words have given me incredible clarity, and coupled with the parallel wisdom he embraced and passionately advocated – always be kind and always live purposefully – he equipped us with the tools to continue his mission after his lifetime.
There are more than a few life lessons in all that, and while it is hard to summarise a lifetime’s worth of wisdom, there is one more that is more important than any other success factor and yet not taught in business schools; humility. The higher you go, he would advise, the more humble you should be. Otherwise the people you meet on your way up, will see you on your way down too.
On May 6th, joined by our global Dilmah Family, we recognised the significance of the foundation that my father built, not just for my brother and I but for thousands around the world. In aligning his passion for tea with his belief in kindness and integrity, he changed the world of tea. Connecting this vision with his faith in God, he unlocked a legacy of purposeful kindness that grows even today, 2 years after he passed on.
In refreshing the emblem that is the identity of Dilmah, the brand our father named after my brother Malik and I, to which he devoted his life, we celebrate the value and values of our father. The video explains it all. Happy Father’s Day.
