Every Eid she made his favourite food: PM Modi remembers a friend in mother's b'day post
New Delhi, Jun 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a blog dedicated to his mother as she entered the 100th year of her life on Saturday, highlighting her sacrifices and various aspects of her life which "shaped" his mind, personality, and self-confidence.
He also met his mother in Gujarat and sought her blessings.
Modi said his mother always inspired him to have a strong resolve and focus on "garib kalyan" (welfare of poor), a theme of his government's numerous welfare schemes.
When the BJP picked him to be the Gujarat chief minister in 2001, he said, his mother was ecstatic and told him, "I don't understand your work in the government but I just want you to never take a bribe."
Modi said his mother found happiness in other people's joys and was extremely large-hearted.
He recalled that his father brought home his close friend's son, Abbas, after his untimely death.
"He stayed with us and completed his studies. Mother was as affectionate and caring towards Abbas just like she did for all of us siblings. Every year on Eid, she used to prepare his favourite dishes. On festivals, it was commonplace for neighbourhood kids to come to our house and enjoy mother's special preparations (sic)," he said.
"In my mother's life story, I see the penance, sacrifice, and contribution of India's matrushakti. Whenever I look at mother and crores of women like her, I find there is nothing that is unachievable for Indian women," Modi said in his blog post, which is available in several regional languages besides Hindi and English.
"My mother is as simple as she is extraordinary. Just like all mothers," he said.
The prime minister noted there were only two instances when his mother accompanied him publicly.
Once, it was at a public function in Ahmedabad when she applied tilak on his forehead after he had returned from Srinagar where he had hoisted the national flag at the Lal Chowk after completing the Ekta Yatra, he said.
The second instance was when he first took oath as Gujarat's chief minister in 2001.
Modi said a life lesson his mother taught him was that it was possible to be learned without being formally educated.
He said once he wanted to publicly honour all his teachers, including his biggest teacher -- his mother.
However, his mother declined, saying she was an ordinary person. "I may have given birth to you but you have been taught and brought up by the Almighty," Modi recalled her as saying.
Modi said though his mother did not attend the event, she made sure that he invited someone from the family of Jethabhai Joshi, his local teacher who taught him the alphabet.
"Her thought process and far-sighted thinking have always surprised me," he said.
Describing his mother as "a symbol of resilience", Modi recalled the hardships she faced during her childhood after losing her mother at a very young age.
She does not even remember her mother's face or the comfort of her lap as she spent her entire childhood without her, he added.
The prime minister recalled that his family stayed in a small mud house in Vadnagar with clay tiles for a roof. He also mentioned the everyday adversities that his mother encountered and successfully overcame.
"During the rains, our roof would leak and the house would flood. Mother would place buckets and utensils below the leaks to collect the rainwater. Even in this adverse situation, mother would be a symbol of resilience," he said.
He said not only did his mother do all the household chores herself but she also worked to supplement the meagre household income. She used to wash utensils at a few houses and take out the time to spin the 'charkha' to help meet the household expenses, he added.
Modi said his mother also had deep respect for those engaged in cleaning and sanitation work. Cleanliness was something that his mother was always extremely particular about, he said.
Whenever someone would come to clean the drain adjacent to their house in Vadnagar, he said, his mother wouldn't let them go without having tea.
The prime minister also described his mother as a dutiful citizen who has voted in every election, from panchayat to Parliament.
Noting that she leads an extremely simple lifestyle, he said even today, she has no assets in her name.
"I have never seen her wear any gold ornaments and she has no interest either. Like earlier, she continues to lead an extremely simple lifestyle in her small room," he said.
Modi said his mother remains abreast with current developments and continues to have a sharp memory.
"Recently, I asked her how long she watches TV every day. She replied that most people on TV are busy fighting with each other, and she only watches those who calmly read out the news and explain everything. I was pleasantly surprised that mother keeps track of so much," he said.
Describing his mother as a 'Kabirpanthi', he said she has immense faith in the divine but at the same time has remained afar from superstitions and inculcated the same qualities in her family members.
On his decision to leave home at an early age, the prime minister said while his father, who is no more, was extremely disheartened, his mother understood him and blessed him. Modi said his father later came to terms with his decision and blessed him.
He said since childhood, his mother could feel that he had a different mindset.
"Since childhood, I have noted that mother not only respects others' choices but also refrains from imposing her preferences. In my own case... she respected my decisions, never created any hurdles, and encouraged me," he said.
Modi said when he looks back at his parents' lives, their honesty and self-respect have been their biggest qualities. Despite struggling with poverty and the accompanying challenges, they never left the path of honesty or compromised their self-respect.
He said they had only one mantra to overcome any challenge: hard work, constant hard work.
"In his life, my father never became a burden on anyone. Mother too tries to ensure that she does her own chores as much as possible... I have no doubt that everything good in my life, and all that is good in my character, can be attributed to my parents," Modi said.
Maa…this isn’t a mere word but it captures a range of emotions. Today, 18th June is the day my Mother Heeraba enters her 100th year. On this special day, I have penned a few thoughts expressing joy and gratitude. https://t.co/KnhBmUp2se
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 18, 2022
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Don't rush back home, stay at safer places: J-K Police to border village residents
Srinagar/Jammu, May 11 (PTI): The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday asked border villages residents, who were evacuated to safer places in view of cross border shelling by Pakistan, not to rush back to homes as they are yet to sanitize and clear these areas of any unexplored shells.
More than two lakh residents of villages close to the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border were evacuated to safer places amid intense Pakistani artillery and mortar shelling from May 7 onwards owing to vulnerability of their habitations in both divisions of Kashmir and Jammu.
"Do not return to frontline villages. Lives are at risk as unexplored munitions remain (scattered) after Pakistani shelling," said an advisory issued by the police in Kashmir Valley.
Bomb disposal squads will be sent to the affected areas to sanitize and clear the villages of any unexplored shells, which can lead to loss of human lives, it said.
“As many as 41 lives were lost in explosions of leftover shells near the LoC in 2023 alone," the advisory read, highlighting the dangers of civilians rushing back to villages.
In Jammu region, the police vehicles fitted with a public address system were seen making rounds in the worst-hit Poonch district and asking people not to touch any suspicious object lying at their residential houses, compounds or open fields.
“People returning to their homes are advised to be cautious and immediately inform police or the nearest security camp about any suspicious object, which could be dangerous to human life,” the police said.
The Poonch district accounted for the highest 20 of the total 27 fatalities with over 50 others injured since Wednesday, shortly after India carried out Operation Sindoor, striking nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and PoK to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam attack that left 26 people dead.
India and Pakistan on Saturday reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
However, hours later New Delhi accused Islamabad of breaching it.
In a late night media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri called upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with "seriousness and responsibility".
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Poonch, Shafket Hussain, also visited Mankote village of Mendhar sub-division and urged the general public to remain vigilant and immediately report the presence of any unexploded live shells or suspicious objects to the nearest police or security camp.
“Timely reporting can help prevent further loss of life and enable swift action by the Bomb Disposal Squad,” he said interacting with the local residents, who have returned to the border village.
The SSP assured the public of enhanced safety and security measures in the border area.
“Police remain committed to the safety and well-being of citizens and will continue its dedicated efforts to ensure peace and security in the region,” he said.
Hussain also visited the family of Balvinder Kour, who lost her life due to cross-border shelling in the village and expressed condolences with her family.
The SSP assured the bereaved family of all possible assistance from the police department and civil administration.
Reports from Rajouri and Akhnoor in Jammu districts also speak about police and other security agencies actively searching for unexploded shells besides asking people to remain cautious and not to come closer to suspicious objects for their own safety.
