This year marks a hundred years since my father, Dr. K. R. Saxena, was born.A hundred years is a long time, but when I think of my father, I don't think in years. I think of a lifetime of memories, of the things he taught me, the choices he guided me through, and the person he helped me become.Whatever I have achieved in my life, I owe to my parents, my father, Dr. K. R. Saxena, and my mother, Smt. Hemlata Saxena.

   My father took a deep interest in my education from the very beginning. He encouraged me to study, to work hard and to take my responsibilities seriously. He was there through my schooling and higher education, and later, when I began my professional life. When I joined the National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, he took pride in my work. My career was my own journey, but his encouragement and the values he had given me were very much a part of it.My mother was the other constant in our lives. She stood beside my father and all of us with her love, patience and quiet strength.

   Much of what parents do for their families becomes so much a part of everyday life that we don't always recognise it at the time. I understand and appreciate it much more today.They were also there for me when I made one of the most important decisions of my life. When I chose my wife, my parents accepted my decision and gave us their blessings. Their trust meant a lot to me, and I have always been grateful for it.My father's own life and work are an important part of what he leaves behind.

   He built his life through his work, his relationships, his principles and the way he treated people. He believed in education, hard work and integrity. These were not things he simply spoke about. We saw them in the way he lived.