Last week, when I was browsing for poems on mother’s love, I came across ‘Ambri’ (mother) written by Anwar Masood, a school teacher. This Punjabi (an Indian language) poem was first published in 1974 in ‘Mela Akhiyon Da’,  and received critical acclaim.

Based on a true incident, the poem is a description of a mother’s selfless love. When I was reading this poem, my eyes welled up with tears and I was touched by the emotion of selfless love that only a mother is capable of.

Here’s a description of the incident on which the poem is based.

One day, a student named Bashir, arrives late to class. The teacher is furious and threatens to punish him. Bashir is very apologetic for being late and pleads with the teacher to listen to his reason for being late. He then narrates the following incident which is captured in the poem:

Akram, a classmate of Bashir, was in a very vile mood one morning as he was getting ready for class. For no reason, he ends up beating his mother on her face with a churning stick resulting in her being injured. Hearing the mother’s screams, the neighbours gather at their door. On realising what he has done, Akram picks up his school bag and runs away to school.

Even though the mother is hurt on account of the blow dealt by her son, all she can think of is his well being. She is worried that her son has gone to school on an empty stomach. She packs his breakfast and carries it to Bashir’s home. Her face is swollen and she is bleeding. But, instead of complaining, she is worried that her son may be starving. She urges Bashir to go quickly to school and give her son his breakfast so that he doesn’t go hungry. Such is motherly love!!!

Here is an English translation of the poem by the poet.

Ambri by Anwar Masood

[Schoolmaster asks Bashir:]

“O Bashir, you are so late today,
Right here is your village, so close to the school,
I will break your bones and set you straight,
for being so reckless, two bells late.”

[The student, Bashir replies:]

“Dear Teacher, I beg you, please hear me out:
The vilest of vile things Akram has done,
He strikes his mother, and he beats her hard,
but today’s was the worst and left her scarred,
With the churning stick he struck her till it broke,
and fled when the neighbors gathered at the door,
He took his books, and ran for the school.”
Dear Sir, his mother came to our house,
with a face bruised blue, and a hand swollen round,
She had tears in her eyes, and blood on her lips.
She said, “My son Bashir, My sweet Bashir,
Do me a favor son, my preciousBashir.
Please take this food to the school for my Akram,
He was angry when he left, upset with me,
Take him this bread kneaded with ghee,
and this scramble of eggs, prepared with love”,
Wrapped in a cloth, she handed me his lunch,
Repeatedly for only one thing she pled,
Go son quickly, swiftly, ahead.
My Akram must be starving by now.
He left for the school without breaking bread.”
“Dear Sir, she gave me the meal, and here I’ve come.
The vilest of vile things Akram has done.”
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambri_(poem))

The poet says that he could not sleep for many days after this incident. He tried to describe this incident in a poem. But, he wasn’t satisfied with his attempt as he felt that the emotions, so much pain and love, were not properly captured. It took him 10 long years to complete this poem to his contentment. He says that finally the lines just came to him with no effort (Wisaal-e-Yaar, Sunday, 09 May 2010) as though it was meant to be.

Hope you enjoyed reading this post.

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