To My Mother With Love....

Where is the beginning of a circle and where does it end? Do not know! Akin to this is not knowing from where to start expressing gratitude for my mother and conclude it. For a start, I am grateful to you mom for bringing me into this world, the set of genetic blue print that I inherited from you and your nurture which together, endowed me with accomplishment in academic and professional fronts. I can never forget one advice you used to frequently give during the school days; to compare and compete with the class topper with respect to attaining better grades and to compare with an underprivileged class mate, a close friend of mine, to appreciate and value whatever my parents could give me. These words of wisdom have the same relevance and immense value in keeping me grounded, in different contexts in life, even after 50 years now and I always remember them and you with gratitude. Because of our humble financial back ground I had to take up a Job after completing graduation and marriage followed.

I had the rare privilege of continuing to live with my parents even after marriage without compromising our freedom, as I was married to my maternal uncle who was adored by my parents. Mom though your formal education did not go beyond middle school, your intelligence had no bounds. You recognized that I had the potential to grow beyond what I was and was doing. As I utilized every opportunity to further my education, you were there like a rock to support me taking care of everything, most importantly my two children, so much so that I had never had to worry about them when outside of our home. It was because of you that I could achieve Doctoral degree in life sciences, pursued Post-Doctoral studies in USA and had most satisfying career in academics and Industry. Where can I find words to express my gratitude for all this?!!! All of us including my brother and both sisters, can never forget the unrestrained support you offered us to grow into what we are today. Words will only undermine the value of your efforts.

 As you were into your late sixties, you gradually started slowing down and was diagnosed to be suffering from Parkinson’s disease. As Dad, you and my family were continuing to live together, I was glad that fortunately, I will be able to take personal care of you. I used to be puzzled, sometimes angry and hurt that you refused to let us indulge you with good clothes or jewellery. I did not understand why you would not be comfortable in any chair or found most of the cars inconvenient. Incidentally now I precisely understand and experience what you went through, because I myself seem to be in the early stages of the disease . Genes have given me best things as well as not so nice things like Parkinson’s. Nevertheless, as you very well know, resilience is also inherent in our genes and I will fight it out. You are no more but if only I could understand your problem in depth when you were with us, maybe I could have provided better support and attention. I do not know but may be my close proximity to you was a way of providence in preparing me for future struggle! Alas, you were showing me a way even in your own struggle. One important lesson we learnt from you was to be brave and resolute in facing the challenges that life dishes out at us from time to time and not to be perturbed by the outcome.

Life has come to a full circle and I find myself in same position as you were towards the last years in life. Your enormous influence on me through various stages of my life is my strength. We lost you almost 7 years ago but have hardly forgotten you. How can we???!!! All of us remember you very often in one or the other context and to me that is the natural expression of gratitude. Roots cannot be ignored. You are forever there in our thoughts and All of us, ever remain grateful to you.