In mother’s footsteps

Another Mother's Day is here. A day when we make special effort to make our mothers feel loved. Of the many relationship days celebrated, Mother's Day is indisputably the most awaited one.

DNA brings you stories of mothers who have inspired their children to follow in their footsteps.

Among the celebrities these are a few examples-Mrinalini Sarabhai and her danseuse daughter Mallika Sarabhai,  Sharmila Tagore and her star children-Soha Ali Khan and Saif Ali Khan or novelist Kiran Desai inheriting her mother Anita Desai's talent or for that matter Rahul Gandhi entering politics like his mother.

A mother's influence in a child's life is always pivotal. Artist Amit Ambalal gives all credit to his mother Kundan Ambalal for shaping his career as she was the one who encouraged Ambalal to enter the profession of painting. He says, "My mother played a very important role in my life. Whatever I am today is because of her. My father wanted me to take up sports as a career but it was my mother who encouraged me to stick to arts because she knew that I liked it. She is an artist herself and has made sculptures and painted. As a kid I used to observe her painting and that's how I cultivated a liking for the fine arts. I learnt a lot from her."

"Later in life we both assessed each others' work. Our relationship grew from a mother-son relationship to one of friends," he continues. Kundan Ambalal is 91 years old now and her son appreciates and cherishes the time and moments he spends with her. Amit Ambalal discussed art with his mother and read old books on art and architecture. All this helped him become the artist he is today.

Hina Shah, an Odissi dancer, entrepreneur and painter heads International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Career Development (ICECD). Shah has two daughters-Shital Shah and Shaina Shah who are accomplished Odissi dancers just like their mother. Apart from that both the daughters work at their mother's office. Shital says, "We are lucky to have a mother who is our guru also. My sister and I never really thought that we would ever take up dancing but our mother tactfully got us into it and today we love it. We cannot imagine ourselves without it." 

"It is all because of our mother who made us comfortable in whatever roles we are playing today," she adds. Hina says, "Dancing with my daughters gives me a sense of togetherness and all three of us become one when we dance together." Not only that but this super mom has passed on art to both daughters too. Hina learnt to paint from her mother Pushpa Bhuptani. And now this mother-daughter trio dedicates each Sunday to practicing painting or dancing in their home.

Alpa Chandulal followed her mother Manorama Raval and got into the teaching profession. Alpa says, "I lost my father at a very early age and thereafter we went through a real tough time. But my mother took the entire burden on herself and made sure that I completed my BEd. Today I run a school and it is all because of my mother and her efforts. She is a very important part of my life."