Page 54 - NIS English 01-15 July 2022

Nation PM's Blog

My Mother is as simple as she is extraordinary.

Just like all mothers! As I write about my Mother, I am

sure that many of you would relate to my description

of her. While reading, you may even see your own

mother’s image.

people recognise you.” me to a single public event.
Today, many years later, whenever people I remember another incident. When I
ask her if she is proud that her son has become became the Chief Minister in Gujarat, I wanted
the country’s Prime Minister, Mother gives an to publicly honour all my teachers. I thought
extremely deep response. She says, “I am as that Mother had been my biggest teacher in
proud as you are. Nothing is mine. I am a mere life, and I should also honour her. Even our
instrument in the plans of God.” scriptures mention that there is no bigger guru
You might have noticed that Mother never than one’s mother - ‘Nasti matr samo guruh’.
accompanies me for any government or I requested Mother to attend the event, but
public programme. She has accompanied me she declined. She said, “See, I am an ordinary
on only two occasions in the past. Once, it person. I may have given birth to you, but
was at a public function in Ahmedabad when you have been taught and brought up by the
she applied tilak on my forehead after I had Almighty.” All my teachers were felicitated
returned from Srinagar where I had hoisted that day, but for Mother.
the national flag at Lal Chowk completing the In addition, before the event, she inquired
Ekta Yatra. if anybody from our local teacher Jethabhai
That was an extremely emotional moment Joshi Ji’s family would attend the event. He
for Mother because a few people had died in had overseen my early learning and even
a terror attack in Phagwara at the time of the taught me the alphabet. She remembered him
Ekta Yatra. She became extremely worried at and knew that he had passed away. Though
that time. Two people then called to check she did not come to the event, she made sure
on me. One was Shraddhey Pramukh Swami that I called someone from Jethabhai Joshi
of Akshardham Temple, and the second was Ji’s family.
Mother. Her relief was palpable. Mother made me realise that it is possible
The second instance is when I first took oath to be learned without being formally educated.
as Gujarat’s Chief Minister in 2001. The oath- Her thought process and farsighted thinking
taking ceremony held two decades ago was have always surprised me.
the last public event that Mother attended with She has always been very aware of her
me. Since then, she has never accompanied duties as a citizen. Right from the time

52 New India Samachar July 1-15, 2022