With Us You Dwell

As we grow in years, do we become more strong or weak is difficult to say. On certain counts, the grey mettle matters and we learn to take many many things in a stride , cool ly, maturely without reacting or atleast without voicing our reactions. On other counts, I feel we grow a bit more weak and vulnerable as time seems to slip through and our dependence grows on things and people we need support of. I feel the child in each one of us starts asserting again and we miss our parents more and more. 

Nine years ago on this day I lost my mother and thirty nine years (plus)ago had lost my father but I cannot remember a single day I have not thought of or missed them fondly, sometimes in hours of need indeed. Both of them taught us the lessons of life not by preaching but by precepts. Amidst days of penury and utter poverty, we saw in neither of them any complaint against destiny or God; even when the going was rough and tough, they stood their ground, uncompromising on principles and moral values and also stood by the dreams they nurtured for their children to grow in a world where they would get hordes of opportunities and make a dent with sheer hard work and commitment for the nation ; even when teaching seven daughters and provide each one of them the quality higher education in the highest seat of learning of the region i.e. Panjab University, Chandigarh was an undaunting challenge, they did not relent nor bent before anyone and managed the way -the how of which is, as on date, totally incomprehensible and unimaginable to me. Bit by bit all the ornaments of my mother had gone into our education but not a trace of pain anyone of us could feel on her face. On the contrary, it was always motivation, words of accolade for tiny achievments and exhortation to keep an eye on the future and never to rest on small laurels. 

They were made of sterner stuff, more humane, more kind, more broad in outlook, more deep in thinking, more intense in sensitivities. They both had common agenda to give all their daughters not just the best available education but also nurture in them the patriotism, the human kindness and the ability to empathise generously and never ever deviate from the path of righteousness and diligence. I miss them, miss their presence, their absence from near us feels like the void which can never be healed. But I also feel death cannot really do us part as their memories as well as the training they gave us enables us get answers whenever we are on the horns of dilemma or confront a ticklish choice. 

They were epitome of simplicity and grace, humility and boldness, patriotism and global outlook. Religion for neither of them was a bondage but a strength to be spiritual and above all serve as good human beings should. Throughout their life, they were always engaged in some kind of social and philanthropic activity deapite their financial constraints. Their endeavour was to serve whomsoever they could with their sweat and kindness, with fellowhood and solidarity. 

Their were strong pillars of strength who never let their dignity and self respect be shaken even amidst the most challenging times. Their richness was in standing their ground with unshaken humility and grace. The very fact that they made all out efforts to make all their daughters self reliant is amble testimony to their desire to see them 'move with their heads held high and minds without fear' and contribute their mite in nation building in whatever way the call of their duty exhorted.

Missing them with sadness or weakness is not something they would ever appreciate. It feels strong and supported even to remember them not just on the day special as today being Ma's 'Barsi' but in normal parlance, too we feel blessed to be their daughters and we understand that to be weak or vulnerable is easy but its unlike them, our esteemed Pitaji and Ma. We all love them and miss them while marching on in the direction of their dreams which are now our own aspirations.