It's not everyday that I think about her. She has always been there for me. But yesterday, while waving off a little girl to school in my neighborhood, I started thinking about her. She is an amazing lady - My mom. We do not know much about our mothers. We will never be able to know, I think. Like every mom, mine is different too. This is her story. She comes from a joint family, where there was not a single day she spent her day alone, staring at the walls, the way I do. A pampered granddaughter, she was loved by one and all, not just because of her looks, but respect towards elders and love for everyone. She used to live in a town, where her grandfather commanded great respect. Brought up in a rich family, she never ever knew what frugality meant. At a young age of 19, her family married her off and sent her to a city in another state.
From a carefree life in a town to an anxious life in the city, from a famous life of the town to an unknown place in the city, she soared her wings and settled in the new nest. There was no LPG at her home back in town. She used to prepare food on the coal lit stove. She did not know the concept of cooker and many more things. While her favorite hobby was to run to the fields with her granny back in town, here she struggled with her three sister-in-laws in the kitchen. But, being a fighter and oblivious to politics, she established herself. She tried new recipes, respected everyone and soon came to know the ways of the city. After a year of her wedding, I was born. And after three years, my sister. But till that time, family discords led my parents to live on their own in another rented place.
I was three and it was time for my admission to a school. My father was not in a well-off situation at that time. He decided that I should study in a Hindi medium school because he had studied in the same and so had my mom. But, my mother argued and fought and did whatever she can do to persuade my father for my English medium schooling. He agreed. They hunted for a school and the day of my interview arrived. The school was a new one. With only nursery and junior kindergarten, the school was supposed to expand gradually. At the interviews, principal asked my mother about her schooling. She told the truth that she had studied only till 11th standard. She got disinterested in studies as she loved spending time with family. The principal asked that how would she teach and groom me as she was less educated.
This was a shocker for my mom. She asked the principal if less educated parents do not have the right to get their children a better schooling. The principal retorted that that was not the case. But, the child will feel a laggard in some time if she is not able to cope. My mother promised the principal that her child will not be a laggard. She would do whatever, be it enrolling me for tuition or anything else, to make me cope. Her confidence coaxed the principal to admit me. Surprisingly, my mom taught me so well that I was one of the toppers in the class. I never went to tuition till 9th standard and was always a topper in the class. My mom proved others that mom's education does not matter but her confidence does. She has always been instrumental in grooming both me and my sister's lives. My sister too never went to coaching classes but was a topper in the Science Stream.
There are so many incidents that have shaped my life. But, my mother's determination towards my education is something that always remains etched in my mind. I can never thank her enough for all the things she has ever done for me. She has made me strong and always persuaded me to drive my life on my own.
