A Father’s Pride: From Struggles of Life to Kabeer’s Victory

 A Father’s Pride: From Struggles of Life to Kabeer’s Victory | by Lenin Raghuvanshi | Aug, 2025 | Medium

When I opened the newspaper and saw the headline — “Varanasi’s Kabeer wins a thriller in state 6 ball snooker c’ship” — my heart swelled with joy. My son, Kabeer Karunik, had fought back in a nail-biting contest to clinch a 4–3 victory at the State 6 Ball Snooker Championship in Prayagraj. 🎱🏆

To the outside world, this was just another sports result. But for me, it was much more. It was the story of resilience, of carrying forward a legacy of struggle, and of hope reborn in the next generation.

Struggles that Shaped Us

Life has not been easy. I chose the path of the Buddha’s Right Livelihood and the Shiva essence of फक्कड़पन (candor), rejecting the lure of market-driven comforts. That decision meant living modestly, often with financial hardship.

I still remember how, in 2010, when I received the International Human Rights Award of the City of Weimar, Germany, I traveled abroad while my family lived simply in Varanasi, ensuring every rupee was spent on essentials, never luxuries. My son did not grow up in expensive schools, but in ordinary ones. What he carries today is not privilege, but perseverance.

The toughest test came during the COVID-19 pandemic. My entire family — Shruti, Kabeer, and I — tested positive. Coordinated by our guardian, late Pandit Shiv Prasad Chaubey Jee, we faced the storm together.

I became critical. My brave wife Shruti and my courageous son rushed me to Teen Murti Hospital in Varanasi. In those dark days, friends and comrades — Dr. Prabhat Thakur, R.P. Singh Jee, Abhishek Srivastava, Ajay Rai, Vijay Vineet, and countless others — stood by us with prayers, funds, and emotional support.

But what moved me most was my son’s role. Kabeer came every day to the hospital. He encouraged me to leave alcohol, pleading that I live longer and better. I listened. I quit. That was the turning point. Truly, “It is not flesh and blood, but heart which makes us fathers and sons.”

From Struggle to Triumph

And now, years later, when I see Kabeer holding the cue stick with calm determination, winning against the odds, I know that his resilience is born out of the fire of our shared struggles.

This victory in Prayagraj is not just a snooker win. It is proof that dreams do not require wealth, but courage. It is the affirmation that a boy raised amidst modesty can rise to shine on a national stage.

Passing the Torch

I was marching against child labour across Asia when Kabeer was born in 1998. A year later, Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi welcomed him at the Bachpan Bachao Andolan office in Delhi. That symbolized something larger — that every struggle for justice is ultimately about the children, about giving them a fairer and freer world.

Today, my son inspires me back. His victories remind me why we fought, why we endured. They remind me that father and son can strengthen each other in ways no award, no recognition, no hardship can measure.

Kabeer, I love you. Bravo. Keep chasing your dreams with passion and perseverance. May you continue to inspire others, just as you inspire me every single day. 🌟