International Mother Day today
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Md Masum Billah
May 8 will be observed as the International Mother's Day across the globe. The website http:womeshisotry says thus about the day, "The second Sunday in May is Mother's Day not only in the United States, but also in other countries including Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia and Belgium. By the end of Anna Jarvis' life, Mother's Day was celebrated in more than 40 countries. In Spain, Mother's Day is observed on December 8, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, so that not only mothers in one's family are honoured, but also Mary, mother of Jesus. In France, Mother's Day is on the last Sunday of May." Mother the sweetest word and a heavenly existence on earth clearly proclaims an element of the heaven. Books on religion and literature reflect in various forms the significance of a mother. Actually, human beings cannot explain and evaluate a mother. Mother is mother. Mother is heavenly. We just try to describe the worldly side of a mother. Really, the touch of mother gives you the most beautiful feeling on earth. It removes your pain and anxieties and fills your heart and mind with an indescribable pleasure. There is no touch of artificiality or worldly interest between mother and child. The world has changed significantly-from primitive to modern and from modern to post-modern society-but the motherly love, affection and feeling remains constant and absolute. Actually every day is a mother's day, every moment is a mother's moment, as love, affection and blessings of the mother never cease. The touch of modernity or the cruel claws of poverty cannot diminish the love of a mother. Mother is different from everything else. There is no substitute of a mother. I think there should not be a particular day for showing love to a mother. Is there an end to motherly love and affection? Can it be confined to a particular time or region? Then why do we signify a particular day? Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings tires to portray through the character of Jerry whose famished and starved heart tells a series of lies to satisfy the hunger of motherly affection and love though Jerry never saw or remember his mother. As soon as he came in contact with the authoress, he felt the absence of his mother very intensely. That is why he told the authoress once, "You look a little bit like my mother especially, in the dark by the fire." The authoress inquired, "But you were only four Jerry when you came here. Can you remember how she looked all these years?" In reply Jerry told a series of lies about his imaginary mother and added, "My mother lives in Mannville. She comes up here from Mannville whenever she can. She gave me a puppy on my birthday. She doesn't; have a job now." In this way he tried to quench the thirst of his heart to have motherly love and affection. In fact, he created an imaginary mother. Both western and eastern literatures abound with the glory of a mother. We know the story of Saint Bayzid Bostami how he was blessed by his mother. We still visit his shrine. It bears testimony to the immortal love of a mother for her son, who brought water for her from a distance at dead of night, but did not disturb her sleep and kept standing till morning beside her bed. His mother first could not understand what happened at night. When told she became astonished and prayed for her son that reached the heavens and Bayazid became a great saint. We also know the story of Ishwar Chandra Vidiasagar who crossed the turbulent Damodor river in response to his mother's call. Probably, people in the east still retain the tradition of enjoying the heavenly pleasure of keeping close to the parents. Even in the midst of poverty, they do not leave their parents. They live with them to enjoy the bliss of their company that nothing else in the world can march. One of my former colleagues, who had some peculiarities in his character, used to tell us about his parents. He used to say, "I have two 'children' at home. I must send money for them regularly. From that day I rediscovered my colleague. I have also seen among my relatives and neighbours those who love their parents lead a very peaceful life with their moderate income, whereas, those who earn a handsome income, but neglect their parents, lead a miserable life. I have heard that in the west sons and daughters just greet their mothers on their birthdays at midnight, "Hi! Mum happy birthday to you," and that is all. The state takes the responsibility of taking care of the elderly mothers and fathers. This is in no way appreciable. The state cannot give true love; the state cannot give genuine affection. The state cannot give them psychological comfort. Keeping close to the children and grand children is nourishment for our parents. They do not need only food. Following the western tradition old homes are being established in our country also. I think those who do not have children may take shelter in the old homes, but those who have children must live with their offspring. I request all the sons and daughters to look after their old and ailing parents. Please do not follow the western tradition. Your parents are your tickets to heaven. Your parents are the direct representatives of our Creator. They are not just like any other family members. Every religion has placed the mother above everything on earth. It is the teaching of humanity as well. Let us make ourselves prepared to embrace the heavily touch of our mother by wining her heart. If we love our mothers, we must be loved by our Creator. When our Creator will love us, our path both here and hereafter must be smoother and peaceful. The writer is programme manager BRAC Education Programme and Vice-president of Bangladesh English Language Teachers' Association (BELTA). He can be reached at e-mail: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com
May 8 will be observed as the International Mother's Day across the globe. The website http:womeshisotry says thus about the day, "The second Sunday in May is Mother's Day not only in the United States, but also in other countries including Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia and Belgium. By the end of Anna Jarvis' life, Mother's Day was celebrated in more than 40 countries. In Spain, Mother's Day is observed on December 8, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, so that not only mothers in one's family are honoured, but also Mary, mother of Jesus. In France, Mother's Day is on the last Sunday of May." Mother the sweetest word and a heavenly existence on earth clearly proclaims an element of the heaven. Books on religion and literature reflect in various forms the significance of a mother. Actually, human beings cannot explain and evaluate a mother. Mother is mother. Mother is heavenly. We just try to describe the worldly side of a mother. Really, the touch of mother gives you the most beautiful feeling on earth. It removes your pain and anxieties and fills your heart and mind with an indescribable pleasure. There is no touch of artificiality or worldly interest between mother and child. The world has changed significantly-from primitive to modern and from modern to post-modern society-but the motherly love, affection and feeling remains constant and absolute. Actually every day is a mother's day, every moment is a mother's moment, as love, affection and blessings of the mother never cease. The touch of modernity or the cruel claws of poverty cannot diminish the love of a mother. Mother is different from everything else. There is no substitute of a mother. I think there should not be a particular day for showing love to a mother. Is there an end to motherly love and affection? Can it be confined to a particular time or region? Then why do we signify a particular day? Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings tires to portray through the character of Jerry whose famished and starved heart tells a series of lies to satisfy the hunger of motherly affection and love though Jerry never saw or remember his mother. As soon as he came in contact with the authoress, he felt the absence of his mother very intensely. That is why he told the authoress once, "You look a little bit like my mother especially, in the dark by the fire." The authoress inquired, "But you were only four Jerry when you came here. Can you remember how she looked all these years?" In reply Jerry told a series of lies about his imaginary mother and added, "My mother lives in Mannville. She comes up here from Mannville whenever she can. She gave me a puppy on my birthday. She doesn't; have a job now." In this way he tried to quench the thirst of his heart to have motherly love and affection. In fact, he created an imaginary mother. Both western and eastern literatures abound with the glory of a mother. We know the story of Saint Bayzid Bostami how he was blessed by his mother. We still visit his shrine. It bears testimony to the immortal love of a mother for her son, who brought water for her from a distance at dead of night, but did not disturb her sleep and kept standing till morning beside her bed. His mother first could not understand what happened at night. When told she became astonished and prayed for her son that reached the heavens and Bayazid became a great saint. We also know the story of Ishwar Chandra Vidiasagar who crossed the turbulent Damodor river in response to his mother's call. Probably, people in the east still retain the tradition of enjoying the heavenly pleasure of keeping close to the parents. Even in the midst of poverty, they do not leave their parents. They live with them to enjoy the bliss of their company that nothing else in the world can march. One of my former colleagues, who had some peculiarities in his character, used to tell us about his parents. He used to say, "I have two 'children' at home. I must send money for them regularly. From that day I rediscovered my colleague. I have also seen among my relatives and neighbours those who love their parents lead a very peaceful life with their moderate income, whereas, those who earn a handsome income, but neglect their parents, lead a miserable life. I have heard that in the west sons and daughters just greet their mothers on their birthdays at midnight, "Hi! Mum happy birthday to you," and that is all. The state takes the responsibility of taking care of the elderly mothers and fathers. This is in no way appreciable. The state cannot give true love; the state cannot give genuine affection. The state cannot give them psychological comfort. Keeping close to the children and grand children is nourishment for our parents. They do not need only food. Following the western tradition old homes are being established in our country also. I think those who do not have children may take shelter in the old homes, but those who have children must live with their offspring. I request all the sons and daughters to look after their old and ailing parents. Please do not follow the western tradition. Your parents are your tickets to heaven. Your parents are the direct representatives of our Creator. They are not just like any other family members. Every religion has placed the mother above everything on earth. It is the teaching of humanity as well. Let us make ourselves prepared to embrace the heavily touch of our mother by wining her heart. If we love our mothers, we must be loved by our Creator. When our Creator will love us, our path both here and hereafter must be smoother and peaceful. The writer is programme manager BRAC Education Programme and Vice-president of Bangladesh English Language Teachers' Association (BELTA). He can be reached at e-mail: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com