With Women's Day coming up on March 8, we invited readers to write in and tell us about the woman they admire the most. Here is the first response from S M Tariq of Noida:
The woman I admire most is my mother, Mrs Razia Begum, who shaped my life and is a guiding source for many.
After the death of my father at a very early stage in life, it was my mom who was responsible for bringing up my sister and me. She has sacrificed a lot. She was a teacher at the time in a government school, but she managed to get both of us educated at a public school. Our every requirement has been taken care of by her. She was working, but she always gave us plenty of time and moral support morally. She taught us a very great lesson of life -- 'Jitni chadar ho utne hi pair pasaro' ('don't stretch your legs longer than your blanket'). She is very against the use of credit cards and other ways of landing yourself in a soup of debt.
On her single salary, she bought a home in Delhi, provided both of us with a good education, maintained our status in society and arranged my sister's marriage -- everyone was amazed that she managed that alone, without any financial support from anyone else. She had taught us great ways of saving and how important it is for our future. Above all, she was recognised professionally too, on several occasions. She won an award for 'Best Principal in East Delhi' from the CM.
She is still the guiding source for my sister and me and has retired from the post of principal.
This Women's Day, write in to us about the one woman who has exerted the most profound influence on you. Send your stories to getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: 'The Woman I Admire') along with a photograph of the two of you, if possible and we'll publish the best entries right here.
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh
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