Mothers are God’s most precious creation and gift to us. A mother is a mother and nothing else; and this holds true for the humans as much as for all other creatures. In fact, the history and evolution of human civilisation is so closely intertwined with the role played by mothers, some very well known but millions behind the scene, that any attempt to undermine the role of mothers will always be nothing short of ingratitude.
In fact, scriptures and other great literatures across continents have accorded a very high place to mothers; so much so that it is universally accepted that mothers are like mother earth, who tolerates all nonsense perpetrated by the children. This spirit has indeed been the hallmark of all human mothers who are always ready to sacrifice everything for their children. World literature is full of classics which portray motherhood, mother’s contribution and the mother in such high pedestal as is accorded to any Supreme Being. And then there is the immortal classic Mother by Maxim Gorky that transformed the socio-economic-political and, to some extent, cultural landscape of Russia and brought an end to the Tsar’s rule. This novel still continues to inspire people wherever they unite to fight oppression and exploitation.
So much for mothers! I was born on October 17, 1931 in a village called Ungma in Nagaland. In fact, Nagaland at that time was still not born. (Nagaland became India’s 16th State being created in 1963 and it celebrated its Golden Jubilee in December 2013). When I was born, my mother was then only seventeen years. The whole family was a worried lot because my mother Takatula fell seriously ill after my birth. In those days, breastfeeding was the only way to nourish a child. In fact, family members could never think of anything else unless something extraordinarily unique happened that made the mother think of some alternative. The concept of “healthy-harmless” baby food was unheard of.
However, my situation was much better in the family. Even if my mother was ill, there were two other women in our family (my grandmother and my auntie) who had two small babies; one was almost three years old and the other one was a new born. These two women readily volunteered to breastfeed me and they did it for a number of days till my mother was fit to take over the responsibility. So, in essence, I had three mothers!!!
My mother Takatula, who is now 101 years old, is quite hale and hearty; her smile continues to welcome me whenever I come back home in Nagaland and she continues to come to the car to see me off whenever I leave home. There is indeed no better sight for me than that of her frail figure doing the same act decade after decade! That she is physically alright is because of the grace of God. Her eyesight is good. Her mere presence in the household is very much reassuring in the sense that it gives me a complete sense of security and makes me feel that I still am a young child of 83 years! Whatever I have become in life is due to her unadulterated love, concern and blessing.
She has taught me some values, like most animals teach their young how to hunt and feed, where to hunt and wherein awaited danger.
My mother has taught me to maintain a strictly disciplined life. That I continue to rise as early as 4.30 am and go for a walk and also go to bed early has been a habit with me for last more than eight decades. Even while I was a Union Minister or the Chief Minister of Nagaland or Governor of Maharashtra, Goa and now, Odisha, this habit has not deserted me.
Two other things she taught me in my childhood have stuck to my soul, so to say. First, always be compassionate to the plight of others and try your level best to extend all possible help. Second, her advice not to delay things while taking decisions that affected people’s career and life or when they stand to get benefits. Hence, I have made it a point to dispose of files on the same day unless the case is entangled in some legal problems. A culture has already developed where the more the number of files piling on the table of the person, the more important he/she is made out to be! Keeping files for days and months, for me, is a sin, because by delaying things not only people suffer but also society as a whole suffers. This also creates scope for corruption. Many of my old friends who use to come to my office and many young men and women who come to my office have always been pleasantly surprised to see my table clean; in fact, my room does never hold back files.
The room, in essence, presents a file-less or paperless look, barring a few favourite books on the rack or in the drawer wherever I have served, in whatever capacity, I have always advised my officers to clear files from their tables at the quickest. For these two highly valuable advices, I would always remember a frail woman, who not only endured enormous difficulty to raise me and her other children but also ensured that her children grew up with good values and morals, the two commodities which have become rare today with the onslaught of materialism, consumerism, and a laid-back attitude to even a grave problem.
Today, as the world is celebrating the International Mother’s Day, I pay my tribute to my mother, fully knowing that no son or daughter has ever been able to repay his/her mother’s debt -- love, attention, care and concern!
Now, a few words about the condition and plight of millions of mothers worldwide today: Blind beliefs and superstitions have multiplied their suffering. The syndrome is not only limited to rural or tribal areas but also urban areas where people are educated and jobholders are considered civilised. Everyday newspaper reports are horribly shocking, in the sense that violence against women is routine, deadly and shameless! If one analyses the trend carefully, it would boil down to violence against mothers or would-be mothers.
If a society is to be called civilised, it has to accord women their rightful place. Any violence against any woman anywhere should be viewed as betrayal by sons and daughters. Every woman deserves as is due from a son or a daughter. let us all unite and pledge on this day to transform the twenty-first century world into a violence-free world! And absolutely no violence against our mothers, and I am sure, the mothers will not only be happier but the world itself will be a better place to live in.
(The author is Governor of Odisha. He was also a Union Minister, Chief Minister of Nagaland and Governor of Maharashtra and Goa.)