All around me, for about a week, media was going into a frenzy, coming down on all viewers and readers with an overdose of Mother's Day celebrations. Mother's love is a wonderful thing, agreed. But do we need to scream about it from roof tops on one particular day (to forget about mother rest of the year?)? Every where, people are waking up to find mothers multitasking and bringing up children against many odds and they gush about 'supermoms'. Mothers are presented in an attractive package for this day and business concerns vie with each other to announce all kinds of discounts and special offers for mothers. The whole drama is ludicrous to observe. Those who want to celebrate, celebrate all you want. But, I feel the entire show just does not even touch the surface of the relation of a mother with her loved ones.
What about rural mothers? Do they qualify to be given the title,'supermoms'? Has this celebration fever spread to the villages? Thousands of mothers accept the role of mothers as given and natural. They do their duty without much ado and their lives may be called uneventful without some dramatic turns and twists. What of these mothers? As long as the sons and daughters recognise the worth of their mothers and demonstrate their love for the mother, that is for all 365 days and that is all to it, I suppose.
Anyhow, I am filled with an urge to share my feelings about all those who were/are mothers to me as, for sometime, this idea was clamouring for attention to be given a shape. I hope this enables all those who know my mother and others to revive their fond memory.
My mother- A fragile lady not very healthy but made it up with her enthusiasm and full involvement in whatever she was doing. All in the neighbourhood would flock to her and she would rush to anyone in need of help. She had this sense of loss that I was not brought up by her but waiting to shower affection and attention on me when I stayed with her during holidays. She would eagerly listen to my stories about school/college and even my smallest achievement was a great thing of pride for her. When in my teens, her frank, unreserved open praises used to surprise me, for I had not known elders being open that way. In every sense of the word, she was a friend to me first. But her mother's instinct was also intact in reaching out to me in silent support during later years. The way she would jump into any job wholeheartedly with such passion be it making kolam designs in front of the house, scrubbing vessels to a sparkling level, plaiting long hairs of those close to her, feeding the stray animals in the vicinity or cooking the family's favourite dishes and serving it with her brand of உபசாரம்! ( who can forget her mouth watering வெந்தயக்குழம்பு, பருப்புசிலி,பொரிச்சகுழம்பு among others?) After a long day of work, She would never fail to freshen up, change her saree and be ready to welcome those coming tired from office with a hot cup of coffee. I would cherish a typical evening scene where she would be fresh and neat and rendering so many slokas in her soft and melodious voice.
My patti is the one who brought me up imbibing in me values and appreciation for all art forms. A great story teller, she was and through her stories both mythological and real(from her life), I got my true education. Sleeping or awake, it is her words that follow me today and she was such a strong presence in my life.Would not say it in many words, but she was so fond of me and I drew my comfort and strength in her lap. Her insatiable quest for knowledge and untiring zest for life are what i would like to have made as my own even in small measures.
My Chithi: I remember the day she came into our house after marrying my chithappa very clearly. Did she look at me, smile at me once or twice with whom did she talk first - this was how my cousin and myself were waiting to be noticed by her! In the course of time, she became so close to me and she is the mother now. I remember all those nights when we would put our heads close and talk in whisper so as not to disturb those sleeping. How we used to critically review Sujatha's works, Indumathi and Vasanthi's writing ; a good concert of classical music! She had introduced me among her friends as her daughter only, many a time. She is equally proud of me as she is of her children! She fills in the void left by my mom and patti instinctively and I enjoy a great emotional rapport with her. Her grit, hard work and immeasurable sacrifices are behind the success of each of my cousins. She is a remarkable woman!
There are many others who have shown தாயின் பரிவு which has made me feel cherished and blessed. Here, I cannot but mention the role reversal played by my daughters! There are times they like looking after my needs physical as well as emotional, take great pleasure in giving me guideline as how to behave, what to talk in certain places( may be they are thrilled with this job?!), spending time with me when otherwise I would have felt a trifle lonely and so the list goes on!
So I end this piece with प्रणाम to all those who reach out to all living beings with spontaneous affection and compassion. தாயிற் சிறந்த கோயில் இல்லை.
What about rural mothers? Do they qualify to be given the title,'supermoms'? Has this celebration fever spread to the villages? Thousands of mothers accept the role of mothers as given and natural. They do their duty without much ado and their lives may be called uneventful without some dramatic turns and twists. What of these mothers? As long as the sons and daughters recognise the worth of their mothers and demonstrate their love for the mother, that is for all 365 days and that is all to it, I suppose.
Anyhow, I am filled with an urge to share my feelings about all those who were/are mothers to me as, for sometime, this idea was clamouring for attention to be given a shape. I hope this enables all those who know my mother and others to revive their fond memory.
My mother- A fragile lady not very healthy but made it up with her enthusiasm and full involvement in whatever she was doing. All in the neighbourhood would flock to her and she would rush to anyone in need of help. She had this sense of loss that I was not brought up by her but waiting to shower affection and attention on me when I stayed with her during holidays. She would eagerly listen to my stories about school/college and even my smallest achievement was a great thing of pride for her. When in my teens, her frank, unreserved open praises used to surprise me, for I had not known elders being open that way. In every sense of the word, she was a friend to me first. But her mother's instinct was also intact in reaching out to me in silent support during later years. The way she would jump into any job wholeheartedly with such passion be it making kolam designs in front of the house, scrubbing vessels to a sparkling level, plaiting long hairs of those close to her, feeding the stray animals in the vicinity or cooking the family's favourite dishes and serving it with her brand of உபசாரம்! ( who can forget her mouth watering வெந்தயக்குழம்பு, பருப்புசிலி,பொரிச்சகுழம்பு among others?) After a long day of work, She would never fail to freshen up, change her saree and be ready to welcome those coming tired from office with a hot cup of coffee. I would cherish a typical evening scene where she would be fresh and neat and rendering so many slokas in her soft and melodious voice.
My patti is the one who brought me up imbibing in me values and appreciation for all art forms. A great story teller, she was and through her stories both mythological and real(from her life), I got my true education. Sleeping or awake, it is her words that follow me today and she was such a strong presence in my life.Would not say it in many words, but she was so fond of me and I drew my comfort and strength in her lap. Her insatiable quest for knowledge and untiring zest for life are what i would like to have made as my own even in small measures.
My Chithi: I remember the day she came into our house after marrying my chithappa very clearly. Did she look at me, smile at me once or twice with whom did she talk first - this was how my cousin and myself were waiting to be noticed by her! In the course of time, she became so close to me and she is the mother now. I remember all those nights when we would put our heads close and talk in whisper so as not to disturb those sleeping. How we used to critically review Sujatha's works, Indumathi and Vasanthi's writing ; a good concert of classical music! She had introduced me among her friends as her daughter only, many a time. She is equally proud of me as she is of her children! She fills in the void left by my mom and patti instinctively and I enjoy a great emotional rapport with her. Her grit, hard work and immeasurable sacrifices are behind the success of each of my cousins. She is a remarkable woman!
There are many others who have shown தாயின் பரிவு which has made me feel cherished and blessed. Here, I cannot but mention the role reversal played by my daughters! There are times they like looking after my needs physical as well as emotional, take great pleasure in giving me guideline as how to behave, what to talk in certain places( may be they are thrilled with this job?!), spending time with me when otherwise I would have felt a trifle lonely and so the list goes on!
So I end this piece with प्रणाम to all those who reach out to all living beings with spontaneous affection and compassion. தாயிற் சிறந்த கோயில் இல்லை.
