Powerlifter and entrepreneur Gaurii Manochaa has earned recognition not only for her achievements in sports but also for her inspiring journey of self growth and resilience. Having recently won four medals while representing India at an international championship, Gaurii credits much of her strength and determination to the lessons she learned from her father, Harish Manochaa.
Speaking about their relationship, Gaurii describes it as a blend of affection, discipline and valuable life lessons. She says her father has always treated his children equally and never differentiated between a son and a daughter. Whether it came to praise or criticism, he approached both with fairness.
According to Gaurii, her father’s life story has been a source of inspiration. Growing up through hardships, he worked tirelessly to build his success from the ground up. Because of his own experiences, he encouraged his daughter to begin her journey from the bottom rather than relying on shortcuts. Through this approach, he hoped she would understand the importance of struggle, perseverance and financial responsibility.
Looking back, Gaurii says one of the things she wishes she had appreciated earlier was her father’s decision not to make life easy for her. Unlike many parents who create ready made opportunities for their children, Harish Manochaa believed in teaching independence through experience. As a result, Gaurii learned how to build a business, make decisions and navigate challenges largely on her own.
She explains that while her father was always available for guidance and advice, he rarely stepped in to solve problems for her. Instead, he encouraged her to find solutions independently. This approach helped shape her confidence and taught her to become self reliant and fearless in the face of obstacles.
Interestingly, Gaurii admits there was a time when she struggled to understand why her father often helped others more readily than he helped her. As a child, she felt overlooked and questioned his decisions. However, with maturity came a new perspective. Today, she believes that his refusal to overprotect or overindulge her became one of the greatest gifts he ever gave.
She says this experience helped her understand the value of money, relationships, gratitude and empathy. More importantly, it prevented her from becoming dependent on external support and encouraged her to create her own path.
At the same time, Gaurii acknowledges that there is one aspect of her father’s parenting style she would choose not to replicate. She recalls that during her childhood, her father was often focused on helping others and building his career, which sometimes left little time for his family. She believes this lack of availability affected both her and her sister emotionally.
This experience has shaped her views on parenting and the role fathers play in a child’s life. Gaurii firmly believes that children need the presence of both parents, especially during their formative years. According to her, the early stages of life are when children learn values, confidence and emotional security.
In today’s fast paced world, she feels the most important responsibility of a father is to be present and supportive. Success at work is important, she says, but children should never feel that their father was absent during their childhood. She also believes fathers must learn to set boundaries and prioritise family because, in difficult times, it is family that remains by one’s side.
For Gaurii Manochaa, the lessons from her father have been both challenging and empowering, helping her become the strong and independent woman she is today.
Subscribe Deshwale on YouTube
