My grandfather left rural North Karnataka and moved to Mumbai in the 1950s. He had a large family, no place to stay, no job, and no particular skills.

However, he was imaginative and skilled with his hands. He received an order to create a large 3D model of a bee from the government apiary in Bengaluru. He went to the public library, made hundreds of drawings of bees, and was able to craft a marvelous model.

This endeavor with 3D modeling led him to construct to-scale 3D topographical models. He received orders from the defense and other government departments. One of his largest models of the Indian subcontinent can be seen at the Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar.

He risked his comfort zone to venture into the world. His initial steps enabled my father to become a professor at the university and allowed us to lead highly educated and fulfilling lives.

When we elevate our lives, not only does our family benefit, but all future generations do as well.