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Duonthanman selling her items on the street of Kohima town. (EM Images)[/caption]
Mothers, affectionately called as ‘Azuo,’ ‘Oja,’ ‘Aza,’ ‘Onyu,’ ‘Ayo,’ ‘Anyü,’ etc., in different Naga dialects, is the one who sheds tears of joy when she holds her baby for the first time. She is the one who transforms a house into a home and then a family. She works to raise her children right; she is a teacher and guide; she prays for her children who have gone astray; she places the needs and interest of her children and family above anything else.
As the world celebrates Mother’s Day today – honouring the mother family, motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influences of the mother in the society, Eastern Mirror spoke to two women vegetable vendors on the streets of Kohima.
Thirty-nine-year old Duonthanman and 40-year old Neito are both mothers, who sustain their families singlehandedly from the small profit they make each day. As they tend to customers, their wrinkled, rough and aged hands indicate that life hasn’t been that good to them. Their hands show the telltale signs of hard labour.
Behind the smiles and gentle demeanour though, there is a story of love, heartbreak, pain, struggle, endurance, perseverance, and hope.
Duonthanman from Dimapur has been vending for more than 15 years. She has been struggling singlehandedly to meet both ends meet after her husband passed away leaving behind five children besides her aged in-laws. With no support from any extended family member, she has had to fend herself.
Talking to this Correspondent, Duonthanman, who travels to and fro from Dimapur-Kohima everyday to sell local fish and vegetables, starts her day by 3 am and work till around 4 am. After cooking for the children, she leaves to collect her products and proceed to her destination.
When asked why comes all the way from Dimapur, which would be tiresome and expensive, she said there was ‘no space.’ She has to undertake the tedious journey to do her business. After all the trouble, which starts very early, she hardly makes a profit of INR 500 and INR 1000 on good days.
‘Come rain or sunshine, I have to carry on my business as I have children and parents to feed,’ Duonthanman said. When asked how she manages the education of her children, she said to take loan on interest, which she repays monthly.
She recollected that once she had to take a huge loan for her son’s operation and though her eldest daughter wanted to pursue further studies, she regretfully said she couldn’t afford. Her daughter, she said, is working in a private firm and helping her somehow.
In spite of all the difficulties in her life, this woman is still very happy with her life as she said, ‘I am grateful to God for my good health and God never gives a burden, which we cannot carry.’ She was also grateful that her children are obedient so far, can take care of themselves, and understand the condition at home. No matter the given circumstances, this woman always makes an effort to give her best to her children to be good human being first.
“As a parent, I care, love, protect and sacrifice for my children to be successful men and women, and more so to be a good human being first.’
Another mother, Neito, who has been vending for the past 10 years as her husband could not work, has nine children to feed, clothe and educate.
With teary eye, she said her husband was a drunkard and beats her almost every night and never brings home his earning, which are all spent on his drinking. Unfortunately, in an accident while working at a stone quarry, one of his legs has been amputated and was hospitalised for past nine months. She also narrated how her children seeing the plight of their mother asked her many times, to leave their father and go back to her parents. Even though she always feared of being beaten, Neito said she couldn’t muster the courage and have the heart to leave her children.
Due to the circumstances at home, she lamented how she has to let her elder daughter leave her school to help her at home looking after her siblings. Neito leaves home by 5 am and comes home by 6 pm.
While struggling and toiling to manage on her own, feed and raise her children, she was worried about the hospital bills. Yet, she is not disheartened and was optimistic that God, in His own time, will make everything right.
Though life has given them so little, these brave women make the best out of what they have. They are the ‘Good mothers’ that are rare to find. There can be no greater love as they continue to sacrifice, endure and the will to live for their children as Sharon Jaynes said, “Successful mothers are not the ones that have never struggled. They are the ones that never give up, despite the struggles.”
Eastern Mirror wishes a very ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ to all the wonderful mothers. May God’s grace and protection be upon you as you continue with the challenging role as mothers.