Friday, October 5, 2012

La Grande Dame!

A daughter's heartfelt tribute .............. My heart bursts with pride...mama De is painting the town yellow! What better way to flag off the "festive season", than with my mother receiving the Veuve Clicquot Tribute, this Friday evening? It is not enough that she has been a constant source of inspiration for me and my siblings, but also to countless nameless and often faceless women all across India and Asia, over the past four decades. But she receives this very special honour from VC in the category of 'Inspirational Women of the World'. Ladies and Gentleman, please do read the official note below:
Without sounding too gushy, this is truly an important moment in her life time. I feel tremendously proud of her. She has worked so hard and so sincerely and has contributed to society in the best ways known to her, and with all the resources at her command. Working out of our home, with the family dining table as her office, the perenially broken cordless as her dedicated hotline and with the services of our semi-literate home help as her "personal assistants", my mum has furiously and prolifically carried on. Never fussing as a creative or glamorous person usually does, she has done her work with all her heart and soul, over the din of kitchen sounds, the dhobiwaala and the phonewalla.She has always been this way, as far back as I can remember. Never compromising on her family life and valuing us in her life, she manages to balance all the worlds that she has chosen to be a part of. When I was younger, there were many times that I would be irked that I would have to share her or our time together with people who were mere strangers (intruders?) to me, who would come to visit her. I was always encouraged to hang about these meetings, and being the chipkoo little girl that I was, I would just stay put, sponging in all that I heard. All kinds of people from different parts of the world and various walks of life meet with mum and the case usually is that they come to her with the force of a homing device to its base. It takes just a few moments after meeting her that these people enjoy a "volcano moment" and simply erupt their thoughts, their troubles, their ideas, their hearts... Through these interactions, I have learned so much about the lives of others and it is only now that I can value those experiences. I have been fortunate enough to meet some truly great and wonderful people and particularly some fabulous women, whom I could have never met on my own. So I am glad that I was that chipkoo creature, clinging on to her and never feeling too shy to stay in! Now as I attempt to forge my own path in life, I find myself in amusing situations when people "realise" that I am her flesh and blood. The colour in their faces change, their eyes brighten and I know that they are looking at me in a different light. Without skipping a beat, I follow suit and play the part to the T! But it is so amusing...because she is just my mom, sitting at home in her kaftaan, in front of the laptop going clickety-clack and awaiting the return of her absconding children, even if they roll home at 5 am! But to the outside world, she is a role model and a figure of motivation. I can't say she is a regular mom, and thank God for that! I have enjoyed life's best moments with her or living vicariously through her. As I get ready to celebrate her moment this Friday evening, my only thought is that I hope to have even half her effervescence and joie de vivre. Chin-chin folks.... and drink up your cup of life.
Mum in Reims at the Shobhaa De vintage line of VC champagne Posted By Arundhati to aazäd aaväz on 10/04/2012 04:36:00 PM

14 comments:

maglomaniac said...

Congrats Shobha and now we have a vine christened by you.
It still is the tip of the iceberg.There is a lot more that will be seen by the time to come.A wonderful tribute. I personally seemed as flipping through those meetings that you both had.
Congratulations again:)

~Harsha

Theyoginme said...

Arundhandati, what a great tribute to your mother who I'm proud too call as a friend and mentor. As a single dad of two daughters I hope they will turn out like you.

Theyoginme said...

And her :)

a mom's diet said...

o wow!
absolutely a grt moment for every girl when she shes her mother receiving such a prestigious award.
have loads of fun and do post a picture of the event Mrs De.
cheers!
-kunj
kohllined.blogspot.in

Pooja Rathore said...

A hearty tribute by a proud daughter of exceptional and extraordinary maa de,De whatever you have achieved is through sheer hard work without compromising on values ,principles,duties and responsiblites-All rounder and successful in all spheres of life.....i am feeling proud that you are my fav...i really look up to you...congratulations and a tight warm hug to you ,love u:)

goodluck said...

Through the eyes of a celebrity daughter.

teju said...

Oh my! In India, they award even a porn writer! hey Ram!

Pratap said...

Congratulations Shobhaa

That was a very nice write-up Arundhati.

Vaishali said...

What a nicely penned tribute to a wonderful mother like Shobha. Very well said Arundhati, can see more of your mom in your writing. And Congrats Shobha, we all look up to you in a very high regards.

- Vaishali

Anonymous said...

Congratulations are in order.

Nice write up by the theDaughter

knowhisjob.com said...

Nice pic. you look lovely.

vickyyadav said...

MODERN PEST CONTROL
Mr. Samaresh Ghosh (Chief Executive)
901, Meghdoot Building,
94, Nehru Place,
New Delhi - 110019,
India

Ph : 91-011-26482389,
91-011-26418662,
91-011-26475338
Email : sgmodern@gmail.com
Mobile : 08285319589, 09811116831

Unknown said...

modern pest control 100% effective

Anonymous said...

Awesome Post
Get Tech Updates at TechTantrik
Enjoy Funer Side of Life at TheRoyalPoke