9th April is literally ‘Mother’s Day’ for us since today is our late Mother, Sandhya Sinha’s 94th birthday. It’s also fortuitous for me that I write this small tribute to her sitting in hometown Lucknow in the same room and from the same old table on which she worked for decades recording with meticulous detail in her beautiful handwriting, everything life had to offer.
From the amazing historical antecedents of the illustrious Singhi family she got married into in Lucknow, her early years of marriage & challenges of bringing up five children, the memorable stint in teaching profession, devotion to social work, far travel to Amarnath and Africa, to her views on religion & nationalism and myriad stories built around real life incidents.
We wonder whenever we chance upon manuscripts tucked away in her old cupboards, what she’s do if she had access to laptops and keyboards. The prolific writer in her was always eager to express her inner-most thoughts though she faced problems, constricted by a severe hearing disorder and later in facing debilitating old age. She would’ve churned out many more essays and stories, but fortunately some of her brilliant works (in Bengali) could get published with help from our relatives and are now also getting translated into English, thanks to the efforts of our sister, Shibani Dutta.
I had earlier felt that Ma’s penchant for writing prodigiously was a pastime that she indulged in, more so after Dad passed away in 2000 and her social life and friends also started to dwindle. The relevance of putting on record significant events & incidents, dawned on me post my retirement a decade ago and I get that same urge to express myself in writing as best as I can. Just few who wield the pen get fame but only a good writer touches hearts.
In the dynamic state we are in, memories and interests in things are short-lived and forgotten just as today’s headlines will fast get erased by some big ‘breaking news’ that may come tomorrow ! Why not pen down lasting impressions, share those significant life experiences & anecdotes of good Samaritan acts and inspiring deeds, talk of newer ways to help people in need, rejoice in celebrating milestones that motivate and give happiness. Documenting the family history becomes legacy for generations to come.
The Gen X, Y &Z are losing touch with their roots and & old world reading and writing habits are on the wane. We are fortunate that we received such a rich literary legacy from our parents that has stood us in good stead. We should try percolate it down and awaken in our youngest ones, the joy in creative expression and affinity for writing and learning that helps create better human beings. That would be a ‘Gift’ that would make Ma happy !
Working on Living 