Mothers always dream of seeing their children’s dreams fulfilled. On Mothers’ Day, My Kolkata spoke to two mothers who have helped their sons fulfil their dreams, albeit in vastly different ways — Priti Agarwalla, the doting mother of Arjuna Award-winning equestrian Anush Agarwalla, and Shankari Das, who has earned herself the epithet of Little Magaziner Ma for her relentless efforts in making true the dream her son couldn’t realise in his lifetime.
Supermom to a shining sportsperson
Priti Agarwalla with her three children
Priti Agarwalla was just 21 years old when she welcomed her first child Anush. The Delhi girl was still in college when she got married. “I married young and soon became a mother. It was very difficult for me initially because I did not fully understand motherhood. I was very protective of Anush since he was my first child. If anything happened to him, I would be very worried. But when I welcomed my second and third child, motherhood became a little easier.”
It wasn't easy for Priti to allow her child to find his way in the competitive world of sports but she knew she had to let go so that he could pursue his dream. Anush was only 10 when he started traveling to Delhi every weekend to train in equestrianism while he attended school at La Martiniere for Boys, Kolkata, all week. He moved to Delhi when he was 16 and eventually shifted to Germany in 2017 to train under Olympian Hubertus Schmidt. “He would go to Delhi all alone every Friday and come back on Sunday. Although we had family members to look after him there, as a mother I was worried about it in the beginning as Delhi is a big city and he was just a child. Then he pursued his Plus Two there and moved to Germany. The most difficult time was during the pandemic when I couldn't see him for two years. As a mother it would break my heart,” Priti said.
Priti's WhatsApp profile picture is of her son outside Rashtrapati Bhavan on the day he received the Arjuna Award. When Anush won gold in the team event of Equestrian Dressage at the 2022 Asian Games, his first call was to his mother. He also won bronze in the individual event the same year.
But the ride thus far hasn’t been strewn with roses. There have been challenges too. Priti recalls not being able to celebrate her son's birthdays, be it his 18th or 21st. Having two other children — Avni (18) and Aanya (16), the mother also had to juggle her priorities. “When Anush was in China for the Asian Games, my daughter Avni was beginning her grads school in the UK. I was traveling with her but I couldn't stay back for long enough to help her settle down. I took a flight back to India and on the same day I flew to China to be with Anush. But my daughters understand the situation and I am thankful to the children for their support and of course, my husband who is equally a part of my motherhood journey,” said Priti, who runs an event management company in Kolkata.
What then is the mantra for being a supermom? Priti believes that children come first. She believes in supporting the children in whatever they do. “My children have grown up to be independent and adjusting. They are all doing well in their fields and as a mother I am equally proud of each one of them. They are my world and I will always do my best to support and motivate them,” signed off the proud mum.
Little magazine-er Ma
Shankari lost her son Somnath to cancer in 2012
Visitors to the little magazine at the Kolkata Book Fair are likely to come across an elderly woman among the sellers. Her face is tired but the smile on her face does not wane. What keeps septuagenarian Shankari Das going is her will to keep alive her son’s dream.
Shankari lost her son Somnath to cancer in 2012, around six years after she first set foot into the little magazine pavilion holding her son’s hand. Shankari was already well aware that her son was living on borrowed time and she made every effort to learn from him the fundamentals and nitty gritty of publishing a magazine. To this day, she continues to bring out Somoy Tomake every year.
Life had never been easy for the mother-son duo. Being diagnosed with myelofibrosis at five, Somnath needed blood transfusions every month, along with chemotherapy. Treatment was expensive but the family never gave up. As Somnath reached his youth, his solitary dream was of publishing a little magazine and Shankari sold whatever little she had to give her son the starting capital for his mission. From working in shops to taking up tailoring jobs and other sundry chores, Shankari did everything she could for her son.
Today, Shankari keeps his alive through the little magazine that was her dream. “I wanted to fulfil his last wish. I made a promise and I will hold on to it till my last breath. Everyday I stand in front of his photograph and tell him that he is still there with me. Death cannot take away my motherhood. Somnath wanted to live for 92 years. He will live more. His magazine keeps me going. I can feel him through it,” said Shankari. Life has been unkind to her — her younger son has special needs and her husband is ailing. Her bones have weakened, she needs a hand to hold but her hard work goes and spirit and smile are undying.
