We don't have a designated "Mothers Day" here in India. Globalization and Markets have bought in many new celebrations. Since celebrating isn't such a bad thing we have also learnt to partake in them.

However celebrating Motherhood in India has been around for centuries. Hindus celebrate the, Durga Puja, honouring Mother Goddess Durga, in early October. Hinduism has always recognised the ideal of motherhood as the highest for a woman. Around the world "Mother" was a construct basic to any society and culture. Even Aristotle and Plato expounded the roles of mothers.

Over the years we have built many cultural assumptions, about "Motherhood". Like all women need to bear children to be a complete woman, that only a mother understands her baby's needs or a mother is the only 24X7 caregiver. On the other hand many women find it a hard choice to stay at home and raise a family. There is also a pressure to contribute to the family kitty.

Don't forget the expert advice being thrown at Mothers - How to develop your Child's brain power or Get him to be the next Einstein or some sort of thing like that. So it is like being a mother in this day and age is no longer a natural, intuitive task. It is a chore a duty that you have to be tutored in. I realize, I could go on and on on motherhood, its joys and assoicated anxiety.

But I would like to ask a question - Is "Motherhood" really valued in India? I don't think so. Look at the female foeticide rates, the care of new mothers in hospitals, the employment and health insurance policies of working mothers and pregnant women. If your unable to conceive there is a family pressure, I've seen too many contemporaries face this.


So while motherhood is a celebration it is also an obligatory biological process that women have and most time want to undergo. Once called, to motherhood there is no return back, we must learn to make motherhood a choice and right. If motherhood leads to discrimination, then create a stir if not for us then for our children.


My personal story:

During my miscarriage I didn't have any leave, just had to apply for my normal sick leave. Apparenlty the government has miscarriage leave. But what about the rest of us who work in the private industry.

During my 4 month pregnancy, I realized how work places aren't meant to accomodate a pregnant employee's needs. First-trimester sickness is taken for granted and is infact overlooked in all "maternity policies".

In my opinion companies should make some levy for pregnant women during their pregnancies. Then again I am not talking about compassion and kindness, but hard rules that will protect the interest of both employer and employee.

This is not really a time when you are 100% percent concentrated on your work, there might be a few exceptions, but generally most women are not at their optimum best. I can't get to think deeply about this issue, but maybe rules like a extra hour at lunch for rest, or minimizing work hours, flexibility in work hours, few days off for check ups or intense tiredness would help women cope better with their pregnancy and the work place.

Most provisions are made only for just-before delivery or post delivery. But having your progestorone raised and HCG levels high during your pregnant life gets pretty complicated and a work life very hard to adhere to.

A pregnant working woman, needs to negotiate at her workplace, to help her give the best to her job and her health. But the negotiation should result in "pregnancy- friendly" policies . And most women work to make the money, so recommending going on leave without salary, or a resignation is not an option.

I am actually shocked that pregnancy related work rules have not yet been formulated, here in India, even in Western societies I find women just sticking with discomforts of pregnancy but continuing to work. WHere is the value in Motherhood.


HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!


Mom did you Know?


In India, usually a maternity leave is for 12 weeks and the employer pays for the leave. In case of a miscarriage, a woman is entitled to 6 weeks paid leave from the day of the miscarriage.

The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961The Central Government passed the Maternity Benefit Act in 1961 which extends to the whole of India, and to every establishment belonging to the government – industrial, commercial or agricultural. It provides for certain benefits which are granted to a woman during her pregnancy. Also she cannot be dismissed from service on account of her pregnancy.The maximum permissible period of maternity leave is 12 weeks, with 6 weeks leave to be taken before delivery and 6 weeks immediately after the child is born. A woman can ask for light work before she goes off on leave. The employer cannot reduce her salary in this scenario. The maternity benefits can only be withdrawn if the employee joins some other organisation during that time.