Today is a day for MEN… Happy Men’s Day Boys! International Men’s Day is celebrated every year on the 19th of November in over 75 countries. Backed by UNESCO, the objectives behind it are to raise awareness about men and boys’ health, promote better gender relationships and highlight positive male role models who contribute to careers, community, marriage and childcare. Here are some icons who define what it means to ‘be a man’ today.
If you think of career-orientation, the man arguably being the primary breadwinner, the first names that come to mind are Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Like Alexander, they dreamed big and built empires from scratch, giving object lessons in true grit, self-belief and tenacity.
Men have played prominent roles in building and improving communities throughout history. Many men, known and unknown, are actively engaged in making the world a better place. Actor George Clooney, football sensation Lionel Messi, singers Bob Dylan and our own Shehzad Roy are supporting charities making a difference. Abdul Sattar Edhi and Dr. Adeeb Rizvi are giants in the humanitarian field.
Audrey Hepburn once said, “If I get married, I want to be very married. In a world of disposable unions, many men do understand the importance of a steady marriage, and that’s what makes them champions. Roger Federer met Mirka Vavrinek at the 2000 Olympics, when both were competing for Switzerland. Roger has many things going for him (including the fact that no one looks better in Wimbledon Whites), and a happy marriage is one of the best triumphs he has accomplished.
But the most important role a man plays is that of father. Many celebrities set the tone for a stellar performance as Daddies. Brad Pitt, father of six with partner Angelina Jolie, says it’s the most satisfying job in his life. Sporting legend David Beckham takes extreme pride in his role as a family man. He’s taken it to another level altogether by having his four kids’ names tattooed on his back.
The creativity of men has shaped the world of today and tomorrow. From philosophers like Plato or Socrates, to scientists and inventors like Einstein and Edison, to poetic geniuses like Shakespeare and Faiz Ahmad Faiz, to educationists like Hussain Dawood and Sal Khan, innumerous men have left a permanent mark on history.
So here’s celebrating all men of the world, may we live long and significant lives. As Steve Jobs put it, ‘We’re here to put a dent in the universe, otherwise, why would we even be here?’