My Modern Mother

I was about 18 years old and had just won the debating contest at the university I was attending - the thrilling prize was a week at Delhi's Youth Festival, mingling with students from all over the country. This event was supervised by professors in name only and was all paid for.

Of course I was excited and came home and told Ma. Surprisingly, Baba, whom I had always viewed as the more modern parent, was very opposed to the idea - he could not allow his daugther traveling third class with a bunch of rowdy boys. There was only one other girl in the group - she had won the prize for kathak dancing. What amazed me was that Ma really wanted me to go and have this opportunity - she was able to persuade Baba to get me a first class ticket so that I would travel with the professors and avoid the company of the "boys".


That week in Delhi was an eye-opener for me - to meet so many talented young people, to stay up till the wee hours of the morning listening to poetry and songs around campfires, have tea at Prime Minister Nehru's house with Indira Gandhi playing the hostess - left an indelible mark on my mind.


And I owe this rich experience to my mother who raised her son and daughters as equals. 


This is only one instance of when Ma was always exposing us to new experiences and opening doors for us to savor all that is beautiful in life. This realization has been slow - but now I feel her love keenly; her endeavors to teach me singing, dancing were all to give me more than she ever had a chance to experience. 

(Posted by Bonya/Khuku)