On Mother’s Day, team Bazaar India talks about what their mother means to them

For many of us, “Maa”, was probably the first word that ever came out of our mouth as a baby much to the delight of the woman in front of us who’d never forget that day. Over time, we’ve grown closer, or might even feel distanced from her, but we’ve never forgotten the person who’s made us what we are today. Whoever came up with the line, ‘not all superheroes wear capes’, they were surely talking about mothers. 

Celebrating Mother’s Day, and all the marvellous moms around us, we got team Bazaar India to speak about the most special woman in their lives and how proud they are of them. It’s sure to bring a smile to your face. Read on!

ADIT GANGULY, ASSISTANT EDITOR-ENTERTAINMENT

I’ve always been loyal to the women in my life. And it goes without saying that my mother and the way she raised me was the main reason why. She’s probably worked way harder than she had to be where she is today—someone who’s there for everyone and has an extremely hard time saying no to a person when they come for help, qualities that I feel I share with her. With her growing old every passing day, it amazes me to see how young at heart she is with the people close to her. It also makes me realise that she’d make a really good friend and I am getting there. That said, I also wish that I was there for her as much as she is there for me. 

AKANKSHA NARANG, SENIOR FEATURES WRITER

My mother understood my need for personal space and autonomy when I was too young to be able to define these things. Sometimes, the older generation doesn’t understand things like personal choice, modern day dating, exposure to new things and independence. But my mom unlearnt a lot to be a mother that doesn’t just love me but brings me peace and gives me access to personal growth. This is what shaped my perception of healthy love. Her positive reactions to me expressing my opinions as a child also led to me feeling encouraged to do so. She laughs a lot so I got that and several other good traits from her. Which means I owe whatever I am today to my mom. My mom for me is home, she is love and she is inspiring in ways she probably doesn’t know.

ALAYKA FIROZ ABBASI

My mother’s love has been my anchor in life's storms, and her wisdom has been my compass when I have lost my way. Her unwavering faith in me has given me the strength to pursue my dreams, and I know I would not be where I am today without her. To my mother I say, thank you, I love you and your significance in my life cannot be overstated.

DUHIN GANJU, SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

"Maa, I'm gay." My lips quivered as those words came out of my mouth. "It's okay, beta. I already knew." Tears trickled down my cheeks as I sighed a breath of relief.

"What does Mother's Day mean to you?" I'm often asked this question, to which I don't have a definitive answer even now. As a single child, I consider myself lucky to have grown up in a loving and accepting family. Yes, accepting. To be able to express myself in my fullest form in front of the two closest people I have is a joy and a wonder to behold.

When I look at my mother, I see a pillar of resilience—tenacity to take up the most challenging of tasks and complete them with aplomb. She exudes strength. Her mental willpower is something that I won't be able to ever emulate. She is one of a kind. Truly. Our family's iron lady. My iron lady.

So, here is to her and every other mother out there: I bow my head with respect and admiration—today and every other day.

MAAHI SHAH, JUNIOR WRITER 

"She's not a regular mom, she's a cool mom.' (IFYKYK). There are few words that can describe the significance that my mother holds in my life. Her role as a mother has expanded over the years, making its way into nearly every aspect of my life. She's the one I go to when I have an irrepressible urge to share gossip, the one I can twin with, watch Disney movies with, and down a glass of wine with. She's the one I go to when I need to vent and cry, the one I have the most fights with, and the one I hug every day without fail before leaving home. It's the 'can't do with, can't do without situation, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

MITALI SHAH, FEATURES WRITER

If you Google what it means to be a mom, the first prompt that pops up talks about being overwhelmed by joy, selflessness, and unconditional love. And those are the exact terms I would use to describe my mother. She has always been my role model and my biggest cheerleader. All my life, my mother has encouraged me to strive and grow. Her compassion and giving nature have taught me to never back down from hard work and to always be the kindest person in any room. The bottom line is that my mother is the wind beneath my wings as well as my harness.

PRATISHTHA DOBHAL, ASSISTANT EDITOR

A couple of years ago, with corporate and start-up pressure in full steam, I had taken to writing a blog that was unhinged by algos, marketing, and SEO optimisation and became a home for my outpourings spanning life as I knew it, politics, culture, fashion and everything else that compelled me to sit and write with no agenda, other than speaking my heart out. Giving attention to mothership found its way on it, for how can you not when your whole life is stitched in place by her as often as it requires the mending. 

For me, my mother is the first and last word in resilience who has selflessly always put others before her and is besotted by her only child, as only a mother can be. #EverydayIsMothersDay for me, so here’s thanking the OG creator, for influencing me and others who have ever met her, without the need for recognition, without the need for a blue tick of approval, time-over-time, thank you for all of you.

SANJANA SANGEETA AHIRE, VIDEO EDITOR

Growing up, I never felt the absence of a father because my mother did all the parenting herself and so well. She has been a single mother—she raised a child all by herself, and exhibited immense strength and love throughout. She is my inspiration in every aspect who taught me so many things but most importantly, she taught me how to be kind to others. We are a mother-daughter duo that behaves like best friends! I can share about my dating life and breakups with her. She offers support and care but also helps me find humour in life’s mysterious-funny ways!

SARAH KHALKO, FEATURES WRITER

My mom has shaped me to be the person I am, in both big ways and small. For instance, my love for books exists today because she introduced me to the joy of reading when I was a small kid! She’s shown me what it means to be truly generous and loving.

STUTI AGARWAL, FEATURES EDITOR

As a grown-up now, I realise how much of my mother I’ve imbibed. Her nurturing self to begin with. I think anytime someone asks me to describe my best qualities, I talk of my loyalty to the people closest to me and how loving and nurturing I am; all qualities I’ve picked from my mother. And as I look back, I’m really grateful to have learnt to love so honestly and unconditionally. It makes me who I truly am.

In fact, I am what my mother made me to be in a lot of ways. My drive for instance—the determination to keep chasing the goal of being an accomplished writer and author—and always being aggressively pursuant of my dreams. I saw her really drive the importance of ambition and hard work, and I’m not learning to really cherish that.