INSPIRATIONAL MOTHERS

Mothers everywhere are special. Indian mothers are renowned for their selfless sacrifices, devotion, and loyalty towards their families. They live their lives for their families whose happiness is paramount to them.  

An average Indian middle-class (nothing average about her worth) housewife plays a pivotal role in bringing up an entire generation with different aspirations and goals. She plays the cook, the washer, the nurse, the teacher, the guide, the sounding board, the agony aunt for her entire life.

If she's a homemaker, then all her waking moments are for the welfare of her family and if she's having a job outside the house, she's doubly challenged to manage both with supreme efficiency.

 I tried finding one particular mother (apart from my own deceased mother) whom I could dedicate this article to but failed to single out just one individual as my inspiration or role model of motherhood. 

I find myself surrounded by umpteen number of strong, tenacious, spirited women of lower, middle and upper strata of Indian society who are no longer content being the sacrificial lambs or devoted slaves. They are finding their grooves and learning the ropes to handle both - their familes as well as individual growth.

Happy mums are the best and women are gradually rediscovering their worth and saying no to any kind of bullying, abuse, bias, or nonsense. This newfound self-confidence of Indian women is inspirational in itself. 

 My maids, representing the socially and economically backward class of society, are inspirational mothers too. They are practically illiterates but slog day in and out to give a decent education to their children. They don't want their kids to grow up as house-helps, rather want them to get educated and find a decent job. One of the maid's daughters has passed highschool and takes tutions while pursuing higher education. They are proud kids and do not suffer from any inferiority complex. I salute the vision of these mothers who push their children to reach higher goals in life.

A neighbour of mine, Mrs Sinha died last month at the age of 82. She had become a widow just 7 years after marriage and inherited the responsibility of raising 3 kids single-handedly. Rather than wallowing in self pity, she did her post graduation, took up a teaching job and was a strong, self-dependant mother. She ensured that all her kids got well settled in life but even in her old age she chose to stay in her house and not with any of her children. She gave them love, support and wings to fly out of the nest guilt-free. No wonder the kids and their spouses held her in the highest esteem. She inspired others around her with her strong willpower and fighting spirit.

I find women achievers who manage both home and office efficiently, highly inspirational.

I find the selflessness of the homemakers who give their hundred percent to their home, hubby and kids all through their lives highly inspirational.

 I find mothers who push their children towards excellence highly inspirational. Simultaneously I also find mums who let their children be themselves and make their own choices in life, very inspirational. 

For I believe that there can be no custom-made category for 'Inspirational Mothers'. Each mother has certain special qualities in her which are unique to her, her situation in life and which define her role as a mother. 

I find the average Indian mother scaling new heights in recent times and striving to achieve excellence for herself and her children. They are pushing boundaries and learning to be self-motivated. There's a still a long way to go till the mothers get their just desserts but atleast the walk has begun!! And that in itself is so inspiring.