Looking at the human side of motherhood

Mother; the word stirs up a storm of emotions in our minds, especially for those who have lost her physical presence in their lives.

She is the more glorified parent and rightly so – for bearing the child for nine months and let it form from her flesh, blood and bones, till it is out in this world after a laborious (pun intended) ordeal; and then nurtured by her milk and tender, loving, selfless care. The relationship with a mother is one of most dependence in the initial years of one’s life; necessitating a special and unique bond indeed. No wonder we revere many sources of life-giving resources as the earth, the rivers and our country, by attaching mother as their adjective prefix.  

Then there are people who might not biologically bear and birth children, but their maternal instincts and actions have bestowed them with motherhood all the same; those who adopt children or pets, elder siblings or aunts who take on the role of a parent and mothers who dote on their spouse’s children as much as their own.

Who can forget the ultimate sacrifice of the 16th century midwife-cum-royal nanny Panna dhai! Was she a bad mother for averting the death of the sleeping orphan prince Udaysingh II of Mewar at the hands of the attacking enemy Ranvir, by making her own son Chandan sleep in his place? No. She killed the mother within  for the sake of her duty towards her young helpless ward; loyalty to the king – her employer and above all, her patriotism for her motherland. 

Aditi, Anjana Devi, Yashoda, Kunti, Jijabai and many such exemplary mothers – share equal or more limelight than their famous spouses. 

Naasti maatru samaa chhaaya; Naasti maatru samaa gati.

Naasti maatru samam traannam; Naasti maatru samaa prapaa.

There is no shade like a mother; there is no shelter like a mother’s.

There is no security like with a mother; there is no constant fountain of life like the mother.

However, society and pop culture have set mothers on a high pedestal and burdened motherhood with too many expectations and lofty ideals that can actually result in feelings of inadequacy in them. We forget that they have many more roles to play in the present world than their counterparts through the ages. How we see and portray them needs to evolve. We need to realise they’re not superhuman and embrace the complexities and vulnerabilities they have as humans. It is not enough just to give in to consumerism that perks up sales and just devote  one day in a year to shout out, Happy Mothers’ Day!