On
My 47th Birthday
Dear
Children,
Your beloved mother,this morning, tuned in the radio to listen to a famous Kashmiri folk song “Wochum Naie cze
hue kahah wfaadaar mougi”.I saw her repeating the lines with the singer. It came
to me that she was very true to her sentiments.
She
has always the same narrative to tell that her mother is only next to God for
her. None on the earth can change her perception .She always keeps saying that
she can give her mother her blood to the last drop, and can give her the money
to the last penny in the hour of her need. None on the earth can stop her ,she
adds.
I
always appreciate her attitude towards her mother. Her mother does really
deserve it. In fact, every mother deserves it.
Children, your mother often dubs me being mal-adjusted, and socially ineffective. Yes, I don’t usually
visit my relatives. I seldom phone them, and ask them about their needs. Yes, she
openly reminds me of my indifferent nature.
Thank God! I too have parents. I believe I have
loving parents. They are now in their old age, but I don’t live with them. I
pay casual visits to them. They often dial my number to ask about my health,
and the health of my children. For me ,it speaks volumes about their love and care.
In
this phase of their life, my parents need my care. My ailing mother needs
routine check-ups. She has multiple health issues. She does, however, feel much relieved when her children spend some time with her. She does always crave
for such opportunities .This is true about every mother, I suppose.
My
father deserves a special mention. He has lived a very tough life. He has
always toiled to earn square meals for his family. The only silver lining he
had seen during his hard days was in his act of admitting me in a primary school. It
was a big decision for him. It was the time when education was a mere luxury in
villages .He had no money for my private tutioning, so he would always
encourage me saying intelligent boys did not bank upon tutioning.I kept going
the school regularly .At returning my home, I would keep busy with books. The
smell of books would bring peace to my mind.
It
was often discussed in our family that my father had also been admitted in the
school, and he had read up to 8th .His studies had been discontinued
only when he had failed to pay the fine of 2 annas owing to his four days
absence from school. It was because my grandfather could not arrange the
required money.
My
childhood passed under the shades of a tough father.He was strict to the core .He
would never compromise with discipline. I would never dare to join dinner if I had
failed to offer magrib salat. He would advise me to be truthful, honest, and
humble.
Our
family was economically very weak. My father, despite his all efforts, could
not change this plight. I had to join him in work in a very tender age of ten. We
toiled together to bring the family to the safer side.
Smile
would seldom return to the face of my parents .I remember the day when I completed
reading the Quran under the guidance of Maulana Mohi-ud-din. My father had a
dream to see me completing my education, and doing some white collar job. He
did not know how to plan all this, but his faith in my capabilities was immense.
My
father’s dream was realized when after a prolonged wait I got a job.I am now financially
well, and living happily with my family. I always bring to my mind the
sacrifices made by my parents for me. How can I forget the hard times my father
and mother had gone through during my upbringing.
It
is only the wearer who knows where his shoe pinches. Nobody’s parents have any
flaws. All parents are real architects, so are mine. If somebody tries to finds
faults in my parents, I feel hurt. He had my responsibility to shoulder, not
the responsibility of others. I salute the wisdom of my parents. They have a
special place in my heart. They, as I believe, can never be wrong .How can a
father, and a mother be wrong who shed their tears after keeping away from
their son, and gift away their son to the latter’s children.
Today
on my 47th birthday if you believe I have wide acceptance in the
society, who should take the credit .I suppose the parents whose prayers and
whose upbringing make this possible. I hope you will carry forward this legacy.
With Best Regards
Your papa
