Introduction
The term "Mother" holds great significance, representing an individual who selflessly dedicates themselves to the welfare of their children. A mother's primary focus is on the well-being, growth, development, and overall welfare of her child. It extends beyond childbirth as a mother embraces a lifelong commitment to nurturing and looking after her child.
The love of a mother is the only love in the world that is unconditional. For she is the one who serves as a source of inspiration, and guiding beacon in the life of her children. Infact, life would lack its beauty without the presence of a mother. In every twist and turn, she firmly grasps our hand, providing unwavering support and encouragement. Irrespective of the circumstances, a mother remains faithfully by side, uplifting and motivating her children always. The greatness of all mothers deserves recognition not only on Mother's Day, which falls on the 10th of May but every day of the year and throughout their lifetime. Appreciating our mothers is an eternal task as no amount of gratitude can truly capture their selfless love and sacrifices, which stand as the most precious gifts in the world.
To note this month as remembering all Mother's contributions in adding value to our life. One such case that I remember which describes mothers' love being selfless founds its inspiration in the case of Sagarika Chakraborty's battle with courts from Norway to even the Bombay High Court. Apart from this based on this true story a movie also got released a few months back with the title, “ Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway ”.
Background and Struggle Story of a mother
Sagarika Chakraborty, who married geophysicist Anurup Bhattacharya, relocated to Norway where they had their first child, who was later diagnosed with autism. Their son Abhigyaan was placed in a kindergarten while Sagarika gave birth to their second child, Aishwarya, in 2010.
Before her marriage to geophysicist Anurup Bhattacharya, Sagarika Chakraborty, who grew up in Birati, had never traveled abroad. However, when the Child Welfare Services (CWS) in Stavanger took her children away, citing neglect and an "emotional disconnect," she found herself as a young mother struggling with two children in a foreign country. Determined, she engaged in a legal battle against the Norwegian government until she successfully regained custody of her children.
Appeal to the Indian Government
Image by drt.gov.in/www.culturalindia.net
In 2012, Sagarika and her husband, Anurup Bhattacharya, gained media attention in India when they appealed to the Indian government for assistance after their children were taken away by the Child Welfare Service in Stavanger, Norway. The court decided against reuniting the children with their parents based on claims made by kindergarten staff and child welfare professionals who were present in their home to provide support. They labeled Sagarika as clinically depressed and asserted that she required help in caring for the children.
The Child Welfare Service (CWC) deemed Sagarika and Anurup incapable of adequately looking after their children. They even portrayed her as a mentally ill mother who could not raise her children. The reasons provided by the CWC in Norway were not convincing. The allegations against the couple included sharing the same bed with their children and hand-feeding them which the authorities considered as force-feeding. While these practices might be considered "normal" within an Indian family, the Norwegians used them as a flimsy excuse to separate Sagarika from her children. These cultural differences were blown out of proportion. Consequently, the children were relocated to a foster home under Norway's child protection services due to allegations of inadequate parenting.
Another legal battle
Anurup also switched sides and before the hearing, he openly expressed his marital problems. He claimed that Sagarika was causing issues within the family. Following the intervention of the Indian government, Sagarika's children were brought back to India. Around the same time, Sagarika herself returned as well. During this period, the relationship between Sagarika and Anurup had become extremely strained. However, her struggles did not end there. She was stigmatized as mentally incompetent and custody of the children was awarded to Abhigyan, Anurup's brother. The children resided in a foster home in Norway for one year. In India, they spent almost a year with their paternal relatives in another district of West Bengal due to custody being granted to Anurup's brother. Sagarika once again had to engage in a legal battle in India to regain custody of her children and to demonstrate her capability to take care of them.
Child Welfare in Norway causing interference in the life of the family
Sagarika mentioned that she and her spouse had established their residence in Norway and were raising two children, a son, and a daughter. During the interview, she disclosed that two women associated with the Child Welfare of Norway visited their child's kindergarten and unlawfully took away their son, and later came to their home to forcibly take their daughter. According to Sagarika, this entire incident was premeditated, as the women had previously visited their house. Sagarika explained that initially, these two women pretended to offer assistance in taking care of their children and made notes in a notebook. Furthermore, she stated that they intentionally created misunderstandings between her and her husband.
While the movie Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway concludes with Rani Mukerji's character successfully gaining custody of her two children. The real-life counterpart - Sagarika Chakraborty continues to live apart from her children as she grapples with the challenges of being a single mother. After years of legal battles, she eventually won custody of her children. However, despite this victory she currently resides in a different state from her children, who are in West Bengal.
As reported by Ei Samay, Chakraborty remains separated from her children; choosing to prioritize their well-being by providing for them and her family. While her husband remains in Norway she still strives to make ends meet in India.
The effort of a mother to make ends meet
In a magazine interview, Sagarika Chakraborty revealed that the legal dispute resulted in her parting ways with her husband, Anurup. He chose not to provide any financial assistance for their children and opted to carry on with his life in Norway, while Sagarika relocated to India with their kids. Upon her return to Kolkata, she moved in with her father, who is suffering from a heart condition. Given the responsibility of her two dependent children and her father, Sagarika had to find a means to support her family.
While her children remain in Kolkata to continue their education, Sagarika made the choice to relocate to Noida in pursuit of employment. However, she has now moved to Pune for her new job, with her children being cared for by her maternal grandparents. Additionally, Chakraborty has intentions to document her hardships by writing a book.
Was this a case of cultural relativism?
Many questions might arise on why are Western nations removing young children from their parents and placing them under the care of child protection authorities? Does this indicate instances of child rights violations that demand improved safeguarding measures? Or does it pertain to the topic of cultural relativism? many of them remain unanswered.
Acknowledging the significance that lies in understanding that human rights are shaped by specific historical, political, and cultural contexts. In Western societies, human rights gained prominence during the Enlightenment period as it has been emphasized through individual dignity and self-governance. Contrarily, in multiple Eastern cultures there is greater emphasis placed on collective identities, spirituality, and communal responsibilities.
Cultural relativism underscores the significance of comprehending the wide range of human experiences and refraining from ethnocentrism, which involves judging other cultures based on one's cultural norms. It acknowledges that there are no moral or ethical standards that universally apply to all cultures. However, it is essential to note that cultural relativism should not be employed to validate human rights abuses. Actions such as torture or slavery for instance are inherently immoral and should not be justified by appealing to cultural norms.
The rights of children are an essential component of human rights and they apply to every individual under the age of 18 irrespective of their race, religion, gender, or cultural heritage. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), established in 1989 represents the most extensive legal structure that outlines the entitlements of children.
Brinda Karat stated that immigrant homes accounted for 37% of the 9,900 children who were taken away from their parents and placed in foster care in Norway by the conclusion of 2021. Activists within Norway and other European countries have voiced their concerns, criticizing the agencies for their overtly arbitrary and, at times racist methods. Instead, these Child welfare organizations that are running in the name of child welfare should first be charged with heavy penalties and separating children from their parents. In fact, every parent has their way to provide upbringing to their children, nurturing and providing children with utmost care and comfort. Thus, every parenting style is different. It's just that any Indian mother feeding children from their hands just expresses their love and care and it is not a point wherein Norway or any other nation authorities should cause interference and disturb the life of parents as well as children.
These instances represent the enforcement of Western cultural standards onto other regions of the world and it is crucial for us to strongly condemn this practice.
Conclusion
In India, there exists a rich historical heritage that highly values the role of the mother within the family and society. The mother holds a position of utmost importance, surpassing even that of the father. She serves as the anchor, the solid base, and the fundamental pillar of the family. In ancient gurukulas, where students would complete their education emphasized the significance of respecting and honoring various individuals upon returning home. This hierarchy of respect started with the mother, emphasizing that she should be regarded as the foremost divine figure in one's life.
In today's increasingly complicated world, our daily lives have become more susceptible to stress. The level of anxiety we all experience has reached unprecedented heights, hindering our ability to confront life's challenges and live fulfilling prosperous lives. To tackle this issue effectively, we must focus on the prenatal stage as the capacity to withstand stress and embrace ethical values needs to develop even before birth. Consequently, the would-be mother assumes a crucial role in the child's development.
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