My Shadow Turns 20

Tanjal,

Every year I sit down to write to you, and every year I wonder—how do I capture a whole year of your becoming in just a few words?

This year feels different.

Not because it was easy. But because it wasn’t.

You stepped into a space that didn’t just ask for your talent—it demanded your strength. Ashoka University wasn’t just classrooms and conversations this year. It was responsibility, expectations, people, emotions… and somewhere in the middle of all that, YOU.

And then came Banjaara.

Not just an event.

Not just a fest.

But something that carried your energy, your vision, your sleepless nights, your decisions, your doubts… and your courage.

To lead something of that scale… to execute one of the biggest fests at Ashoka at an unprecedented level…from bringing in Nikhil D'souza to Pranav Sharma.... to create milestones where none existed before—that’s not just leadership on paper. That’s leadership in spirit.

But what I admire most is not what the world saw.

It’s what you went through while doing it.

The difficult conversations.

The misunderstandings.

The moments where people didn’t meet your expectations—or where you questioned your own.

The silent lessons in trust, boundaries, communication… and sometimes, letting go.

These are not things any classroom teaches. These are the real subjects of life.

And you didn’t just pass through them—you absorbed them.

You learned that leadership is not about control, but about understanding.

That people are not projects—they are emotions.

That sometimes doing your best still won’t please everyone… and that’s okay.

That strength is not loud—it’s the ability to stay grounded when everything around feels uncertain.

I’ve seen you feel, struggle, reflect… and then rise again.

A little quieter.

A little wiser.

A lot stronger.

And somewhere in all this, I saw something beautiful.

You didn’t lose yourself.

You evolved.

For me, you have always been my shadow—walking beside me, reflecting parts of me I didn’t even know existed.

But this year, I saw you step out… not away from me, but into your own light, and that’s where you truly belong.

At 20, you don’t need to have everything figured out. But you’ve already learned what many take years to understand.

So today, I don’t just wish you success.

I wish you clarity in chaos.

Grace in relationships.

Courage in choices and the ability to always come back to yourself—no matter where life takes you.

Because that… is what will carry you through everything.

Always with you. Always proud.

Happy 20th, my shadow.

— Papa