The Colored Cover of Gratitude

The Colored Cover of Gratitude

One day, I received a phone call. The voice was familiar and filled with respect—

“Sir, I’m Hemant Naik, a student from the 1990 batch. Could I get a copy of your book? I’ll make a Xerox and return it to you.”

I paused for a moment and asked, “Why so?”

“Sir, the Xerox shop owner is an acquaintance. He’ll do it for ₹90. That would be cheaper for me.”
I smiled.

“This Xerox won’t come cheap,” I replied. “Because it won’t have the colored cover designed with the help of Copilot. Its value far exceeds the price of the book. It’s not just paper—it’s a symbol of emotion, inspiration, and honor. The fact that you wish to own the book is precious to me. Come meet me. I’ll gift you the book. No need for a Xerox.”

Two days later, Hemant came to meet me. He held the book in his hands—he had ordered it from Amazon.

He had come to get my autograph. I wrote—

“To Dear Hemant Naik, with affection…”

He shared some memories from Government Polytechnic, Dhule. “We never saw you angry with students. You always encouraged us during cultural events and other programs. You traveled with our Kho-Kho team to Sangli and Kolhapur, boosting our morale. After we won competitions, you gave each of us a personal prize. We still talk about all these things whenever we meet,” he said.

After signing the book, he shared another memory—
“Sir, I still have a journal with your signature on it. The joy I felt when I received that signature is beyond words.”

Hearing this, I was deeply moved.

Whenever someone expresses gratitude toward me, my heart overflows.

Gratitude is an eternal value. To me, it holds extraordinary significance. It is not merely an emotion—it is an experience that touches the soul and creates divine vibrations in the heart!

Dr. Mahendra Ingale @ Pune on Nov 18, 2025