This open letter is an ode to every strong and independent woman, who stood tall with her family to fight life’s struggle; but had to fight her own battles all alone. This is a special ode to my mother who fought like a true warrior and showed society that no woman is helpless.
My mother stood for my grandparents when she was very young. Even after scoring great marks, she took admission to a college, where there were hardly any fees. She would attend the college in the morning and in the evening she would give tuitions to school kids that would not only pay her college fees but also her brothers’ school fees. And in the night, she would make sure that she cooks food for the whole family and in the morning, she packs everyone’s lunch bags!
She did every bit that she could do to support her family. She gave up on every opportunity so that her parents and brothers could do better in life. While she stood with the whole family, she had to fight her battles alone.
My father turned out to be abusive. He left no chance to abuse my mother – emotionally, physically, and mentally. And, when my helpless mother asked her family to take a stand for her against the abusive husband, no one did. Her mother told her – “Bacche ke liye socho, adjust karo!” Her father said, “What will people say! They will talk behind our backs that we failed as parents! And, the brothers on whose wrist my mother always tied Rakhi to protect her, said – “Yaar, shaadi mein thoda bahut chalta hai! Bardash karne ki will power honi chahiye!”
The woman who stood for everyone had no one standing for her! The woman who gave strength to everyone when they faced life challenges, had no one to give her courage. But, like many strong and independent women, my mother took a stand for herself and her daughter. She refused to suffer just because she was born as a woman! She was heartbroken as her own family refused to take a stand for her, but she didn’t let those emotions hijack her logic. She knew she had to move out of abusive marriage for her daughter!
If it wasn’t for my mother, I would have never had gone to a medical school and became a doctor! She fought various battles to stand for me and made sure that I stand for myself when no one else does!
P.S. A humble request to every mother: Please teach your daughter to fight for herself; to fight for her dreams when no one else does; to take a stand even if that means she has to fight the whole world!