By Uma Purkayastha
Mother’s Day is a very popular celebration nowadays in India though its origin was in the UK. In Indian culture, the status of a mother is compared to goddess ‘Janani Janmabhumischa Swargathopi Goriosee’ — which means Mother and Motherland are superior to heaven. Not only mother, to a child parents are equally respectable and lovable. But mothers are more attached to their children because a child has the closest bonding with the mother.
There is a proverb, “Father is the head of a family but mother is the heart.” Children are more attracted to the affection and attachment of a mother. The first food of a child is its mother’s milk; the first pronunciation of a child is ‘Mm..’ It is observed by researchers that the first sound that a child makes is ‘Mm’, which occurs due to the constant abrasion of two lips. It is very interesting to observe that almost in all the languages of the world, the synonym of ‘Mother’ is based on M (English-Mother, Mom; Bengali-Maa; Khasi-Mei; Sanskrit-Mata; Assamese-Matri; Hindi-Mai; Urdu-Amma; Portugse-Mae; Dutch-Moder, German-Mutter; French-Maman or Mere; Italian-Mamma; Danish-Mor; Bosnian-Mojka; Arabic-Mahm etc). A mother’s affection and attachment to her child is universal. It is also seen among animals. A dreadful tigress is also an affectionate mother to her child.
In India, though there is no particular day as ‘Mother’s Day’ or ‘Father’s Day’ to observe, Indian culture is based on love, obedience and respect towards parents. Many exemplary stories and myths are there regarding obedience and respect to parents. But we the Indians are particular about following the culture of western countries forgetting our valuable culture. Nowadays, the old, disabled and ailing parents are considered to be a burden. Old Age Homes are open to the helpless parents at the verge of death when they ardently need the company of their dear and near ones. This is the moral degradation of Indian culture whereas Mother’s Day or Parent’s Day are being observed with full glamour and gaiety.
(The author is an
educationist)