મારી બા My Mother (Mari Baa)

બા ભણેલી નહોતી, પણ કષ્ટ વચ્ચે કુટુંબને ટકાવી રાખનારી ખંતીલી સ્ત્રી હતી.

The writer introduces her mother. Baa was unlettered, yet shaped in the school of life. Amid the family's poverty and hardship she kept the household going. Her whole life was one of toil and sacrifice.

બા સવારથી રાત સુધી થાક્યા વિના કુટુંબ માટે કામ કરતી.

Baa worked without end from morning to night - housework, caring for the children and labour outside. Without tiring or complaining she wore herself out for the family. It was by her toil that the home's hearth kept burning.

બા ઉપરથી કડક લાગતી, પણ અંદરથી અપાર વહાલભરી હતી.

Baa seemed very hot-tempered and tough on the surface; when needed she would even stand up to the children. But behind that sternness lay boundless love. Her anger was only skin-deep, while her affection was inward and true.

ગરીબી છતાં બાએ સ્વમાન જાળવ્યું અને હામ ન હારી.

Despite poverty, Baa never lost her self-respect. She never held out a hand before anyone but ran the house by her own labour. To face difficulties with a smile, without losing heart - that was her nature.

લેખિકા બાનાં કષ્ટ-ત્યાગને સમજે છે; આ સંસ્મરણ માતાને શ્રદ્ધાંજલિ છે.

Grown up, the writer understands the worth of her mother's hardship and sacrifice. Whatever she became was by her mother's toil and values. This memoir is a moving expression of deep gratitude and love towards the mother.