My Mother - Hazzin Nasra Khatoon ------------------------------------------------------ My father was posted in Bihar Administration .He had transferable job . Therefore in childhood we spent time in village mostly with mother . We were three brothers and four sisters . Two elder brothers used to live in town for study while remaining younger siblings used to stay in village . My oldest memory of childhood is that all the young siblings, four in numbers , used sleep with mother on one single bed only . The bed was not large enough to accommodate all of us comfortably . Thus after we being fallen asleep , mother used put us on different beds . But during the night , on the break of sleep, we kids used to gather again clinging to the mother on the same bed . We used to feel great security in the vicinity of the mother . It was very difficult for us to pass a single moment away from mother who used to bear all pain and helplessness to provide us comfort . Almost thirty years later , I being father of a daughter myself ,can now appreciate the amount of agony one has to undergo to put a child to sleep and be awake in the middle of the night on call of the child for small little problems .I remember ,as a child we all had the habit of bed wetting . Thus by morning the mother’s bed used to be completely wet . My mother used pass the night on same wet bed uncomplaining. In the morning, cleaning the stinking bed and other dirty clothes were her task among different chores. Undoubtedly , no one else but only mother has that large heartedness to undergo such pain for the sake for her children . My mother is barely literate . She knows only Urdu and is able to read Quran Sharif . But she had been extremely concerned about our future . She played the role of a strict guardian in the absence of my father . She was strict in sending us to school . She would not tolerate listening to the fact we passed our time in bad company and that we ran away from school in middle in pursuit of enjoyment . The village life was great fun for me . I used to go to the village pond for swimming . We used to swim and play in pond water for hours . The mango orchard and village forest were other attractions. Under the cool shade of trees ,we used to simply forget the world and spent time in playing hide and seek , gilli - danda , chappo , keet- keet etc . My mother however would make sure that I don’t spend excessive time in such fun and frolics . Her strict eyes kept us regular to school .However ,my elder brother once bore the brunt of my mother’s anger for deserting his school . Once he chose to spend time in playing goli (kancha / small balls of glass ) in a mohalla of the village . Somebody informed her about the indulgence of my brother . She caught her red handed and thrashed him black and blue with palm fan . My brother , Mohd Tariq is now some 50 years old and is posted in Bihar Government in good position , he distinctly remember the thrashing even now . Though complaining about the incident , he acknowledges that one thrashing made his future . Now a days we allow so much of indulgence to our children and work day and night to fulfil each and every wish of theirs , but in truth we work to destroy their future . In our traditional culture , being strict to the child is considered beneficial . Children are like a soft clay , a true guardian consider it a parental duty to apply toughness to shape up their future . Thus my mother , even though barely literate , instinctively knew the concept of ‘tough love ‘ now getting currency in the field of parenting . My mother, Hazzin Nasra Khattoon , is very religious and is regular in Namaj and reciting Quran in such an advanced age of 70s . Once during the village sojourn , I stole sugarcane stumps from a field along with my village friends . The owner of the farm saw us stealing and gave us a good chase . I fled successfully . On returning home I saw my mother reciting the holy Quran in very serene atmosphere . On watching me returning home casted a loving glance and gently asked me where I have been . I was speechless . I could not tell her the truth that I was into unwanted activity . I simply said nothing but vowed not to indulge in any dirty activity any further . Her simplicity and truthfulness had great impact on my character . She always encouraged us to study hard and imbibe good thoughts . In my childhood ,I was highly attached to my mother . When I was hardly 6-7 years of age , she went for Haj in 1982 . Then people used to go by ships and the pilgrimage used to take some three months . In her absence I started losing weight and became thin . Through letter my father, Mohd Obaidullah Siddiqui , informed her about my health . She got anxious and prayed in the holy land for my well being . On her return she looked for me first and brought many gifts . Who else can feel the pain of a child than its mother . In my growing days I fell critically ill several times . Once I suffered from severe constipation after taking a medicine in my childhood . I was not able to pass stool and the choked stomach gradually started hurting me . I lost my sleep and would moan due to stomach ache for days . My mother was most troubled and she too kept awake all along with me . She would cry and pray to Allah for early cure . The news spread out in the village and elderly women started visiting my house to empathise . From village it is not easy to visit town for treatment . The journey being difficult , the villagers first try traditional medicine available to them . The only doctor of the area visited me and gave medicine . Finally after long tortuous night and after hard prayers of mother and elderly relatives , in wee hours my stomach got free. It turned out that tape worm has clogged my stomach and the this was the devil which caused so much havoc in my family . Similarly I was also afflicted with woofing cough and used to have hard time suffering the attack . She used to apply egg mix over my stomach . It was her traditional treatment which cured my disease permanently . By the grace of Allah and due to blessings of my mother and all other near and dear once , I excelled in my studies and passed the prestigious Civil Service Examination and married into good family . I was posted in Mumbai in Customs department . Normally my mother prefers to stay in villages . Once I brought her to stay in Mumbai with us . Just after the passage of three months she started longing for the village and found the urban stay a life of prisoners . She finds much psychological and emotional solace to be in her roots only . Thus whereas I gained status in metropolitan city , she preferred her humble abode . She does not think of enjoying the fruits of investment made on me . She allowed me to go where ever I want go for my prosperity , but for herself she wants nothing in return , except loving glance which she used to cast on us throughout our life . I visit her twice a year ,the only thing she wants from me to be happy and remain healthy . She being so much grown , I remain worried for her wellbeing and her gentle voice cheers up my living . I am just clueless how to pay back such great care–giver , teacher , doctor , philosopher , administrator , manager , investor , philanthropist... ...except perhaps by being a equally good parent to my own child ..!! While going to office I often she elderly women begging on city roads . My heart simply cry for these orphaned mothers . I usually give pittance to them , thinking of her as own mother . However my mind lingers on the thought that how my pittance would bring dignity to her living . Is this the only reward we give to our mother . Doesnt she require a wholesome meal ,a comfortable bed , regular treatment and aboveall love and care of her children as a return gift . Millions of mothers in India are passing the careless nights on footpath ...Is there any caring son for her . I am happy that organisation like ‘Pratibha Janni Seva Sansthan ‘ initiated by Shri Manoj is working for betterment of women . My good wishes to the team and hope that many spirited people support such noble initiatives . May Allah Keep our parents healthy and safe ..ameen !! Mohd S I Faisal , IRS Joint Commissioner Of Central Excise and Service Tax Patna , Bihar
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 06:57:45 +0000
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