“He used to pick up rice and put it in my mouth”: Sourav Ganguly shares a beautiful memory of his father feeding him every day before school; an important parenting lesson inside

August 19, 2026 - 03:16

For many modern parents, the morning rush means getting children ready for school, packing lunch boxes and making sure they leave on time. But Sourav Ganguly remembers his school mornings very differently. The former Indian cricket captain recently opened up about a deeply personal memory involving his late father, and it carries a simple parenting lesson that many might overlook.

Ganguly recalled how his father, a successful businessman, would sit with him every morning before school. The ritual was not about checking homework or rushing through breakfast. Instead, his father would personally feed him, picking up each bite of rice and placing it gently into his mouth. It was a quiet, patient act that happened daily without fail.

In a world where parents often multitask during breakfast, scrolling through phones or planning the day ahead, Ganguly's memory stands out for its deliberate slowness. He described it as a moment of pure attention. His father was not just providing food; he was offering presence. That small act of feeding a child by hand, rather than letting him eat alone or in a hurry, created a sense of safety and love that Ganguly still carries.

The lesson here is not about the food itself. It is about the value of unhurried connection. Children do not always need grand gestures or expensive outings. Sometimes, they simply need a parent who sits down, looks at them, and shows care in a physical, tangible way. That daily routine, repeated over years, builds a foundation of trust that lasts into adulthood.

Ganguly's story also reminds us that parenting is not about perfection. His father was not a celebrity or a sports coach. He was just a man who made time each morning to do one small thing with full attention. In today's busy world, that kind of focused presence is rare. But as Ganguly's memory proves, it is never wasted. The rice was eaten long ago, but the feeling of being cared for remains.