SOS kids reciprocate love on Mother’s Day

On the eve of the Mother’s Day I wanted to do a story which will be away from the routine stuff which most reporters do. So during my previous visit to SOS I had learnt a lot about the adopted mother’s and their adopted children relationship at the SOS village itself, when one of the kids who was getting married. So I ventured back to the SOS village on the outskirts of Bhopal and met a few adopted mothers to file this different story, which had a new dimension to the motherhood. This story was published in the Hindustan Times, Bhopal edition, in 2003.

While the people in all corners of world celebrated Sunday as the Mother’s day in their own different ways, reaffirming their love and respect for motherhood, the 200-odd children at the SOS village of the City turned the day into a special occasion for their “adopted” mothers.
The SOS village is where motherhood assumes its highest form, as women take care of children not born to them but who are as dear to them as their own children.
Though 14 of the 16 mothers at the village were away, attending a workshop at Nainital in Uttar Pradesh, the children had a whale of time with two mothers and some ‘aunts’.
The children offered sweets and fruits to their ‘mothers’. They also had surprises in store for the 14 mothers when they return on May 13. “We have decided to enact a play and also give all our mothers special gifts,” said Amit, 13.
Kamala, a mother who has about 20 children under her care, said that she feels proud to have such a bunch of children and the way they take care of her. Narrating an incident, Kamala said that she once fell ill, the children took care of the house and the elder children ensured that all the juniors had their meals on time and took special care of them. “These are the times I specially feel very proud of them,” she said.
For Tessy Anthony, also a mother, this year’s Mother’s Day is very special one, as she has had an addition of 2 more children to her house. She said that I run a house with 25 children including the two new ones, and they all are a gem to me.
Well for these adopted mothers with their children at the SOS ‘Mother’s Day” will always remain special because for these children it this only love which they yearn for an ensure that they also give than love back in double fold on each “Mother’s Day.”