Dr. Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit:

Mother’s Day is a special day celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May to honour mothers across the world. It is a celebration of motherhood, the unconditional love between a mother and child, and the unique bond they share. Mother’s Day encourages us to make an extra-special effort to recognize and appreciate the role of mothers in our lives. Often, this celebration is extended to grandmothers, great-grandmothers, stepmothers, and all mother figures.

Modern Mother’s Day first originated in the United States in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Her mother, Ann Jarvis, had cared for wounded soldiers from both sides during the American Civil War and had also established Mother’s Day health clubs to address public health issues. She passed away in 1905. The unconditional and selfless love of a mother has no parallel. A mother’s love does not depend on a child’s physical appearance or mental ability.

It is rightly said that “Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.” Mother’s Day is a powerful reminder to celebrate the auspiciousness of Shakti — the Divine feminine grace that is the source of harmony, love, nurturing, and universal well-being. Mothers may belong to ancient or modern times, but their essence remains the same, even though their roles change with time.

Mothers are like birds that keep their young under their wings, protecting and nurturing them at all times. Universally, a mother is the shock absorber of conflicting emotions within a family. The travails of a mother never end, yet she proves to be the best management guru. Organisational skills, time management, economy, and crisis management — she handles everything with patience and dedication.

Our mothers are our first friends, teachers, guides, doctors, confidantes, and much more. They always place our needs before their own and stand by us through thick and thin. We must reflect upon the pain our mothers endured when we were ill, the hardships they faced while raising us, and the sacrifices they made so that we could lead better lives. Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion to express gratitude for all this and for being a constant guiding force in our lives.

From our birth until the final moments of her life, a mother continues to care for us like a small child. Her contribution to our lives is immeasurable. Even her daily activities, from early morning till night, cannot be counted. She carries countless responsibilities and performs them tirelessly, without fixed working hours or expectations of reward.

We may never truly repay a mother for all that she does, but we can offer her heartfelt thanks, love, respect, and care. It is a mother who shapes a child’s character and, ultimately, his or her entire life. Every mother plays a vital role in the growth and development of her child. Mother’s Day is also an opportunity to express those feelings that often remain unspoken due to lack of time, hesitation, insecurities, or misunderstandings.

Mothers are often taken for granted. We frequently fail to recognise their unconditional love and endless sacrifices for the family. Yet, if she falls ill even for a single day, the entire household struggles in her absence. We must create deeper awareness and remind ourselves that every day should be dedicated to honouring the Divine feminine power — our innate Shakti force.

I often wonder what God had in mind while creating mothers of children with special needs. A mother can instill qualities in her children that no formal education can provide. Youngsters must understand and value such virtues to make Mother’s Day truly meaningful. Merely giving surprise gifts on this occasion holds little significance without genuine love, respect, and understanding.