“When you lose a loved one, you discover an angel whom you know.”
I understood this statement after I lost my mother recently. She left in a peaceful manner without any suffering or pain. She was a role model not just for me, but also to many of her friends and family members. And, all her training and nurturing helped me succeed in life. We had the best time of our lives together.
Mothers play a very important role in everyone’s life. And, it is important to reflect on their contribution that shapes us as individuals. Each person will have many stories to tell about his/her mother, and various memorable moments of love and care. The impact is deep and profound.
Among various roles that mothers play, one of the most important is ‘maintaining relations.’ This is something that Chanakya believed.
He said, “And those who are without relations have to be necessarily maintained.” (1.12.1)
Mothers play a crucial role in maintaining relations within and outside the family. Chanakya understood this aspect and taught his students about relationship management. At times we take the contribution of mothers for granted—do not wait for the loss of a mother to understand her worth. Make sure you value her when she is around and make her happy.
Here is something you can do to make your mother happy:
Know the relations she values
Though relatives and relations are very important for her, many do not know the various other people she admires. Try to find out and make a list of relationships she values. It could be her school friends, the role models she admires, her cousins and other important people.
There was a woman who used to admire a film star. Her children knew about it, and on her birthday surprised her by taking her to the celebrity’s house. They had got in touch with the star and requested him a meeting.
In another case, the children came to know that the mother’s old teacher was not keeping well. They took her to the teacher who lived in their far-off village. Those moments spent with the teacher were the happiest moments of the mother’s life.
Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai is an Indian management thinker, author, and Founder of Atma Darshan and Chanakya Aanvikshiki. Dr Pillai has extensively researched Kautilya’s Arthashastra, the 3rd century BC treatise and incorporated it into modern management.
Comments