Grandparents’ Day:Rishabh Bajaj remembers grandparents; says they taught him humility and courage

Rishabh Bajaj, Vice President (Product – Chetak EV), remembered his grandparents on Grandparents’ Day, sharing some of the life lessons and childhood memories they gave him. In a heartfelt note, he said his four grandparents remained his “pole stars” and gave him the confidence to choose his own path in life. Recalling his grandfather Rahul Bajaj, Rishabh shared one of his favourite remarks: “If I had known I’d have such fantastic grandkids, I would have had them before the children!” He said that while reflecting on his paternal and maternal grandparents, he realised that one of the best things in his life was getting to learn from two completely different worlds. One was the Bajaj family, one of India’s prominent business families, while the other was the Jagtiani family, which created its own identity through hard work. Grandfather taught him to stay grounded Remembering his paternal grandparents, Rishabh said their room remained one of the most special places in his childhood. His grandfather would sit in his chair while his grandmother watched television on her bed. He said he later realised that some places are special because there is no need to prove anything there. “Just being there is enough,” he wrote. Rishabh said his grandfather taught him that no matter how successful a person becomes, they must remain humble enough to listen to others. At the same time, they must have the courage to speak up for what they believe is right. He said that despite his grandfather’s national-level recognition, he remained grounded and stood by his words. “I learnt both these things together from you,” Rishabh said. Grandparents became his four pole stars Rishabh said his four grandparents continued to guide him even after their passing. “Whenever the path in life feels a little hazy, I feel like I still have four pole stars,” he wrote, describing them as four lights that helped him find his way again. He said his grandparents did not give him a fixed formula for life. Instead, they gave him something more important the confidence to choose his own path. Childhood holidays were spent with maternal grandparents Remembering his maternal grandparents, Rishabh said his friends found it strange that he would wish for his parents to go away on a trip because that meant his holidays would begin. He recalled spending days with his maternal grandparents, eating at their favourite restaurant and watching new films on their first day, first show at the cinema. He also remembered travelling abroad with his maternal grandfather, who never made the grandchildren feel that he was decades older than them. “However far we hiked, you would go a little further ahead,” he recalled, adding that his grandfather was equally enthusiastic about every adventure, and often even more so. Grandmother’s food felt like a warm hug Rishabh said the food prepared by his maternal grandmother gave him a feeling of comfort and warmth. He described her cooking as feeling like “someone had wrapped us in a warm blanket and hugged us”. Reflecting on the role of grandparents, he said they do more than create childhood memories. They create a home that a person can return to throughout their life. Moving ahead does not mean forgetting Rishabh said that after losing all four grandparents, life taught him another important lesson life does not stop and continues to move forward. However, he said moving forward does not mean forgetting those who have been left behind. He concluded by saying that wherever he reaches in life and however he chooses to live, he hopes his four grandparents will be proud of him.