PM Modi's tribute to his mother's 'simple yet extraordinary life'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often talked about his mother Hiraben’s influence in shaping his life.

The doting son had shared a picture of his mother on his Twitter handle and wrote: “In Maa I have always felt that trinity, which contains the journey of an ascetic, the symbol of a selfless Karmayogi and a life committed to values. When I met her on her 100th birthday, she said one thing – ‘Always remember – Work with intelligence, live life with purity’.”

As Hiraben, who passed away on Friday, entered her 100th year on June 18 this year, Modi had penned an emotional and deeply-felt tribute in what is probably his most detailed impression of his mother in the public realm.

In the blog, he had highlighted her sacrifices and various aspects of her life which “shaped” his mind, personality and self-confidence. Modi said a life lesson his mother taught him was that it was possible to be learned without being formally educated.

“My mother is as simple as she is extraordinary. Just like all mothers,” he had said in his blog. He said his mother always inspired him to have a strong resolve and focus on “garib kalyan” (welfare of the poor), a theme of his government’s numerous welfare schemes.

When he went to take her blessings just before he was set to take oath as the Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001, she told him, “I don’t know why you work in government but I just want you to never take a bribe.” Modi said once he wanted to publicly honour all his teachers, including his biggest teacher, his mother. However, his mother declined, saying she was an ordinary person.

Also read: PM Modi’s mother, Hiraben, cremated in Gandhinagar

“I may have given birth to you but you have been taught and brought up by the Almighty,” Modi recalled her as saying.

PM Modi said though his mother did not attend the event, she made sure that he invited someone from the family of Jethabhai Joshi, his local teacher who taught him the alphabet. “Her thought process and far-sighted thinking have always surprised me,” Modi said.

Describing his mother as “a symbol of resilience”, he recalled the hardships she faced during her childhood after losing her mother at a very young age. His grandmother had died in the Spanish flu pandemic. She does not even remember her mother’s face or the comfort of her lap as she spent her entire childhood without her, Modi added.

PM Modi recalled that his family stayed in a small mud house in Vadnagar (Gujarat) with clay tiles for a roof. He also mentioned the multiple daily adversities that his mother encountered and how she successfully overcame them.

Also read: PM Modi’s tribute to mother: ‘A glorious century rests at God’s feet’

During the rains, the roof of the house would leak and the house would flood. “Mother would place buckets and utensils below the leaks to collect the rainwater. Even in this adverse situation, mother would be a symbol of resilience,” he said.

He said his mother not only did all the household chores by herself but also worked to supplement the inadequate household income. She used to wash utensils at a few houses and take out the time to spin the charkha to help meet the household expenses, Modi added.

PM Modi said his mother also had deep respect for those engaged in cleaning and sanitation work. Cleanliness was something that she was always extremely particular about, he said. Whenever someone would come to clean the drain adjacent to their house in Vadnagar, he said, his mother would not let them go without having a cup of tea.

Modi said his mother found happiness in other people’s joy and was extremely large-hearted. He recalled that his father brought home his close friend’s son, Abbas, after his untimely death. “He stayed with us and completed his studies. Mother was as affectionate and caring towards Abbas just like she did for all of us siblings,” Modi said.

“In my mother’s life story, I see the penance, sacrifice, and contribution of India’s matrushakti. Whenever I look at mother and crores of women like her, I find there is nothing that is unachievable for Indian women,” Modi added.