In Hinduism, our ancestors have said that God performs the functions of “creating, maintaining, and destroying” the universe, but the energy or power used for performing these functions is known as Shakti the Divine Mother. This is why there’s a tradition of worshipping the mother figure, both as the cosmic energy (Shakti) and the earthly mother.
“Maatri Devo Bhavah” means “Mother is like God” and it states that a mother’s love and care have divine qualities, which are of equal importance as that given to God. Yakshan asked Yudhishtir, “What is heavier than the Earth?” Yudhishtir said that a person’s mother is heavier than the Earth. Here Heavier is in the sense of importance, respect, and high regard, what he really means is that the importance and value of a mother are greater than anything else, even something as large as the Earth. It shows that a mother’s love and affection are incredibly crucial and beyond comparison. This article will discuss Mrs. Nagalakshmi, who is the mother of the chess prodigies Pragnannadha Ramesh Babu and Vaishali Ramesh Babu, both of whom have made not only their mother but the entire nation of Bharat proud.
We can observe the tremendous efforts the sibling duo has made over the past year, making Bharat proud and leading us in a way that the upcoming generation is more inclined towards Chess as a career. There are several articles, newspapers, and YouTube videos about the prodigies/ world Champions, but there is a silent pillar supporting their back all the time, and that pillar is Mrs. Nagalakshmi. Nagalakshmi – Naga refers to a serpent or snake, which in Hindu history symbolizes protection, power, or wisdom. Lakshmi refers to the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, and good fortune.
True to her name, she has taken excellent care of her children by providing emotional support and travelling with them to all corners of the world and has gained a wealth of pride as a parent, which has become very rare in this age of Kaliyuga. Not only does she care for her children, but she also carries the pride of Bharat on her behalf. Hailing from a middle-class family in Chennai, where her husband, Ramesh Babu, works as a bank employee, with no particular background in chess, the couple gave birth to Bharat’s golden children.
Initially, to distract them from watching television, the parents introduced them to chess, and the sibling duo quickly became captivated by the game, and the rest, as they say, is history. In an interview given by Nagalakshmi to a private channel, one can see how simple their life is, like a bird gathering every twig to build a nest their family is their nest.
Watching the interview, one can see clearly that the only dream she holds is the dream of her children and Bharat. Her humble and respectful manner of speaking, coupled with her innocent smile, reflects the pain and sacrifices they have endured. Despite everything, she stands as a powerful mother, raising her children is beyond comprehension. Our champion Pragg’s favourite food is Rasam and rice. Our mother, Nagalakshmi, carries a stove and Indian spices/masalas to ensure her children experience all the comforts that does not affect their game. She not only provides emotional support but also attends to every aspect of comfort to help her children achieve the Indian dream. Pragg, after defeating World No. 3 Champion Fabiano Caruana, the legendary Russian GM Garry Kasparov remarked, “Congratulations to Praggnanandhaa and his mother; it’s a special kind of support.”
Even the greatest of all time recognises the power of a mother’s love, care, and affection, particularly that of Mrs. Nagalakshmi. On Sunday, 22 September 2024, Nagalakshmi experienced double joy as both of her children won gold medals in the world’s most prestigious biennial team chess event. GM Praggnanandhaa was a vital member of the men’s team and vice versa, Vaishali of the women’s team contributed to Bharat’s title victory.
Former women’s World Chess Champion Legendary Susan Polgár celebrated the remarkable achievements of the brother-sister duo, calling them “the greatest in chess history.” Polgár referred to Nagalakshmi as an “Amazing Chess Mom.” “I had to meet this incredible Chess Mom, who devoted her life to raising two super Chess Stars!” Polgár posted, sharing photos with Nagalakshmi, Praggnanandhaa, and Vaishali.
While people are running towards fame, money, wealth, and other means for a luxurious lifestyle, she stands as a role model for mothers everywhere. She exemplifies the strength of a mother and the lengths to which she will go for her children. As long as the chess remains Nagalakshmi and her innocent smile cannot be forgotten.
We, as Indians, pay our respects to this esteemed mother, and at this moment, we express our gratitude for all her contributions to Bharat. At this moment, we must express our gratitude to other remarkable mothers, Dr. Padma, mother of GM Gukesh, Jyothi, mother of champion Arjun Erigaisi who has been referred to as the “mad man on the chessboard” by World Champion No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and Nikita Santosh Gujrathi, mother of Vidit Gujrathi, for their contributions and sacrifices made for their children’s dreams and for Bharat’s dream. No words could adequately convey our gratitude to them for their Contributions.
The West often characterizes Indians as being emotional, and indeed, we are deeply emotional when it comes to the child-bearers who have sacrificed their own comforts to give us life. Their devotion is akin to that of Brahma, who is the creator of us. In Indian culture, mothers hold a very special and respected position, often seen as maa, ammu, amma, bai, bhabho maoj – Mother, the primary caregiver, and nurturer of the family.
This deep connection comes from both cultural and religious traditions, where the concept of “mother” is associated with love, sacrifice, and care. Many Indians grew up experiencing a deep bond with their mothers, who are often seen as embodying qualities like selflessness and unconditional support. This is why people in India tend to be more emotionally attached to their mothers and place significant value on their role in the family and society.
Indians basically have a deep-rooted tradition of honouring and expressing pure love for their mothers. This is why we have gone further a step by saying the Bengali writer Kiran Chandra Banerjee’s words “Bharat Mata ki Jai,” which refers to India as our beloved mother. As long as these values remain with us, no external force can destabilize us or tarnish the values of Hindu History. At this moment, we want to take the opportunity to thank and acknowledge all the mothers around the world who have sacrificed everything for their children. We extend our deepest respect to them.
Jai Hind, Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Vande Mataram.
Sanjeev Ramesh is a final year law student who loves reading and is deeply committed to the Hindutva ideology.
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