A hard act to follow

By Laila Nasry and Ruhanie Perera.

Be it Princes William or Harry, Enrique Iglesias, Priyanka Gandhi or Chelsea Clinton, they all have one thing in common, they are the children of famous and successful parents. Their parents have achieved much and excelled in their respective fields be it medicine, sports, politics, law, business or entertainment. The rest of the world watches and waits for their children to grow up, for them to show some sign that they have inherited their parents' genes. That's when the expectations are heaped on the kids of such parents. Can they make it to the top? Will they or won't they be as successful as their parents. Here we speak to children of some well-known Lankans to find out whether being a child of a successful parent is a pleasure or a pressure.

"My daddy is a great guy," says Habeeba Sheriff, the daughter of Dr. Rizvi Sheriff. So how does she live up to a parent who has excelled in his chosen field, has a string of letters at the end of his name and is today a Professor of Medicine, also a much sought after nephrologist? To Habeeba, it is not a question of measuring up to her father - "Everybody expects me to be a brain because my father is a brain but the fact is I am not a brain. My father understands that and he does not push me but I get the 'your father is a doctor so you should know' syndrome from other people. There were some people who were shocked that I got only 4 D's at my O/Levels instead of 8 D's. What they don't understand is that how I perform in life has got nothing to do with the fact that my father is a successful doctor. It depends on God's will."

Yet Dr. Rizvi Sheriff has been a role model, a guiding light and as Habeeba puts it "an inspiration" in his daughter's life.

"Daddy has never pushed me to become a doctor, but by watching him work I decided that I want to be a doctor. From the time I was small I've been in and out of hospitals and got used to the place. I used to put on daddy's coat, carry this little box which had Dettol and stuff like that and pretend I was a doctor. I see how much my father loves his work and how dedicated he is to his patients and I want to be just like that. I have learned a lot from him."

Dr. Rizvi Sheriff has many noteworthy successes- he was one of the youngest Professors in Sri Lanka, a member of the Royal College of Physicians, a one-time President of the Ceylon College of Physicians but to Habeeba his greatest success is the fact that he always makes time for his family no matter what his other obligations are. "It's fun being Dr. Rizvi Sheriff's daughter and at times it can be an asset," says Habeeba with a smile. "When people at the hospital figure out that I am Dr. Rizvi Sheriff's daughter, they treat me with awe and respect and I don't mind basking in my father's success once in awhile. But there are times when it's not so much an asset 'especially when I go out with my friends, if someone recognises me I feel like they are spying on me and thinking 'My, can you believe that is Proffessor Sheriff's daughter' - that gets on my nerves."

Someday Habeeba, who certainly is one determined girl who strongly believes in a person's individuality hopes to be known as Professor Habeeba Sheriff. Her dream is to become a paediatrician, but at the moment she is concentrating on enjoying life. "To me the most important thing is make my parents happy and proud of me."

One would think that the son of Roy Dias lives and breathes cricket, has an undying passion for the game and has an edge over everyone else because the former Coach of the National Team is his personal "Coach". Well, think again.

In Rishitha Dias' opinion cricket is just "okay", but he is "really not into it." " I never was totally into cricket and I didn't start playing until I was about 15 - that was last year. I played with friends but that was about it," says Rishitha, who at the moment is playing in the unde-17 cricket team in school. The fact that he is Roy Dias' son has not made much of a difference in Rishitha's life - "Our school caoch didn't even know that I was Roy Dias' son until long after I got into the team."

Of course there are times when Rishitha finds himself at the butt end of jokes, "especially when the cricket team didn't do too well all my friends kept on asking what my father was doing. But it was all in good fun and I enjoyed the jokes as much as they did." Though cricket does not interest him much, his father's success has certainly inspired this young man - not to the extent of propelling him into a fulltime career as a cricketer but, "I have learned that I should do the best in whatever field I choose. My father achieved the best in his field and I think that is his greatest success."

"I am considering a future in something like aeronautical engineering, though I have not decided yet," says Rishitha who at the moment is preparing for his O/Levels. It is obvious from the way Rishitha speaks about his father that the two are very close. "My father never pushed me to play cricket and he was never disappointed because I wasn't too keen on the game. He always supports the decisions I make and I know I can always talk to him about anything and know that he won't judge me, he'll just be there for me."

He is one of Sri Lanka's greatest entertainers. His songs are heard everywhere and all the time. Crowds at his concerts are unbelievable. How do Sajith Perera and Manisha Perera, son and daughter of Sunil Perera of "Gypsies" fame deal with having a father who's adored by Sri Lanka's music-loving public. "We are very lucky to have a father like him and we are happy for him and very proud of his achievements," say both Sajith and Manisha. His success is so great that 12-year-old Manisha very sweetly put it as "he goes to many countries and wins a lot of awards", but she values dad for the great father he is and all the support he gives his family.

Manisha is blessed with a sweet voice and takes part in many competitions in school. Recently she was placed second in the singing competition in school. Daddy's girl, Manisha says that "people tell me I look like my father and in school my friends and teachers tell me 'your father sings, so you should sing for us as well'." Her parents help her in her singing and her father listens to her before a competition. "But when all the time teachers force me to go for competitions I sometimes feel fed up."

Sajith on the other hand hasn't sung in competitions but is in the Young Christian Students movement in which he sings especially when they go on trips. Manisha too is asked to sing when they go on family trips. "Waiters in hotels ask me to sing and I don't mind because then I sing with all my cousins." She enjoys the recognition and doesn't mind being referred to as Sunil Perera's daughter though she prefers to be known by her own name. Her brother on the other hand values his individuality more and likes to only be known as Sajith. But both of them are unanimous in their choice of careers-"obviously I want to follow in my fathers footsteps" says Sajith and Manisha agrees. "Our father hasn't forced us into it and he always lets us decide for ourselves.I like to sing with my father and my father likes the idea too," says Manisha and for confident Sajith it will be "carrying on the "Gypsies" name in the future."

My father is a great source of inspira tion, not only to me but to all young people, I'm so proud of him," says 19-year-old Thushan Amarasuriya. Having just completed his A/L's he has come to the crossroads in life and is wondering which career he should pursue. "I think about what my father had to go through and how hard he worked to reach the top and maybe I will follow in his footsteps and get into the same field-accountancy. "But it will be a big challenge to do as well as he has done," Thushan, is the son of the Chaiman of Singer Sri Lanka and successful businessman Hemaka Amarasuriya.

Having joined Singer as an accountant, Hemaka Amarasuriya climbed the corporate ladder fast and presently is at the very pinnacle having being appointed Area Sales Manager first for South Asia and then for South Africa. "Having a father like that can be hard and sometimes people expect a lot out of me. They expect me to be as successful in my chosen career as him. It can become pressurising at times." But Thushan plays cricket for his school Royal College and is very good at it and what he essentially learnt from the game was how to deal with pressure. "Being Hemaka's son can be annoying because people come to me asking for jobs." Ever the gentleman, he does not turn them down but gives them forms to fill which he later hands over to his father. "But I tell them it depends on the vacancies."

Being the son of a successful man can be fun too. Thushan enjoys being referred to as 'Hemaka Amarasuriya's son' by others for he says "it makes me really proud". But he is quick to say having a big name like that is not the most important thing-"It's personality and good character." What the future holds for Thushan is yet to be seen. But for now this youngster wants to take just a day at a time.

Sometimes what the rest of the world thinks doesn't make a difference. It doen't matter what other people expect of you. What is important is that every one is an individual in his or her right and being a child of a successful parent does not change that fact in any way. Of these kids some may choose to follow while others may want to lead. Whatever the choice one thing is for sure- the guiding hand of their parents will lead them and the inspiration they derive will support them -always. -

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