All my SOS Mothers: A young woman reflects on the two loving women that guided her childhood
Gitanjali had beautiful curly hair and her smile was quite charming. She was a big reader and I remember I picked up the habit of reading from her. She had lived an unfortunate life and had become a widow at the age of 25.
Because Gitanjali came from a poor family, she never had the chance to finish her 12th [grade] education and that became her motive when she looked at us children. She wanted us all to study and become independent, so we never ended up in a vulnerable position as she did. She would tell us our hard work also wouldn’t matter if we don’t make something of ourselves by getting a good education.
She told me she loved every day of the one-year training that mothers go through. It was the first time she was meeting women from across the country and making friends and making choices that she never had before when she was a dependent daughter and wife.
I remember when I was home, I didn’t really appreciate the food Gitanjali would make. Gitanjali would often say I would learn the importance of homemade food when I went out. And I did. When I went to college for my higher education, I missed her call during meal time to come and eat and her chiding me to not be stuck to my phone.
When I fall sick now, I miss her the most. I remember how she cried when I was leaving the village for the first time, it was very hard for both of us as we both were very close. Even now, when I have important days in life like exams, we siblings call our SOS moms.
There are many things I can say about my SOS mothers, but the real thing is I really can’t imagine my life without them. If you have met me, you have met them because I am a lot like these mothers who shaped me.”