National Parents’ Day
Heramba Nath
The tapestry of every life begins at home, stitched gently and powerfully by the hands of our parents. They are not merely the providers of sustenance or shelter; they are the moral compass, the quiet strength, and the enduring hope that guide individuals through the intricacies of life. National Parents’ Day, observed on the fourth Sunday of July every year, is more than just another commemorative event. It is a moment for collective reflection, gratitude, and moral reawakening—a timely reminder of the invaluable role that parents play in shaping not only the lives of their children but also the moral fabric of a nation.
Rooted in the spirit of respect and affection, this day was officially recognised in the United States in 1994 when President Bill Clinton signed a Congressional Resolution into law. While Mother’s Day and Father’s Day honour the unique roles of each parent individually, National Parents’ Day seeks to celebrate their joint contribution, highlighting the collaborative sacrifices, the shared responsibilities, and the silent emotional labour that often goes unnoticed in the whirlwind of modern living. The observance has found resonance in various parts of the world, including India, where the family remains a fundamental societal unit, despite increasing urbanisation and cultural shifts.
There is something profoundly universal about the parental role. In every village, town, and city—across cultures and civilisations—parents have been the first teachers. They teach not by sermon, but by silent example. Through their struggles, compromises, and perseverance, children learn patience, resilience, and kindness. The father working double shifts to pay school fees, the mother staying awake all night nursing a sick child, the aged grandparents caring for grandchildren while the young couple works—these are everyday acts of heroism, often unsung and unseen. On National Parents’ Day, we are called upon to not only honour such acts but to internalise their values.
In many parts of India, the reverence for parents has spiritual overtones. Ancient texts like the Manusmriti and the Mahabharata enjoin upon children the duty to serve and revere their parents. The concept of ‘Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava’—that the mother and father are akin to gods—runs deep in the Indian psyche. However, this ideal is under strain today. As India continues to urbanise and adopt Western models of development, traditional joint families are fragmenting. Old age homes are rising in number, and many elderly parents find themselves grappling with neglect, loneliness, or worse, abandonment.
It is ironic and tragic that in a society where the word for mother—‘Ma’—is among the first a child learns to utter, parents today are increasingly being relegated to the margins. National Parents’ Day offers an opportunity to reclaim the sanctity of the parent-child relationship, not just in sentiment but in practice. It challenges us to ask: Do we really understand the depth of our parents’ sacrifices? Do we invest enough time in nurturing our bond with them, or have we become too consumed by the transactional pace of life?
Beyond flowers and formal wishes, real celebration lies in spending time, in meaningful conversations, in acts of care that reflect gratitude. Children can mark this day by visiting their parents, cooking a meal, writing a letter, or simply sitting beside them in silence—offering the rarest of modern luxuries: time. Schools and communities can organise intergenerational storytelling sessions, essay competitions, or tree-planting drives where children and parents participate together, nurturing both roots and relationships.
The government and civil society can also play a role in expanding the essence of this day beyond the confines of private households. National campaigns that promote elder care, family bonding, and respect for parents can reinforce positive social attitudes. In a world driven by technological distractions and fleeting digital connections, such initiatives can anchor youth to values that nourish the soul and fortify the spirit of unity. The media, too, has a moral duty to highlight stories that elevate familial love and sacrifice above glamour or sensationalism.
National Parents’ Day must also be viewed in light of emerging challenges. Economic migration, globalisation, and the pursuit of individual ambitions often separate families physically, if not emotionally. In the North Eastern states of India, for instance, many youths leave for metropolitan cities in search of better opportunities, often leaving behind ageing parents in remote villages. The emotional vacuum thus created cannot be filled by money or occasional phone calls. It requires emotional commitment and conscious effort. The observance of this day should not be restricted to token gestures but inspire structural and personal change.
Importantly, this day is not limited to biological parents alone. Guardians, adoptive parents, single parents, and even elder siblings who take on the mantle of parenthood in difficult circumstances—each of them deserves honour. Love is not determined by lineage but by sacrifice, and parenting is an act of love that transcends definitions. On this day, let us expand our gratitude to include all those who have nurtured us, protected us, and walked silently beside us through our storms.
Equally, National Parents’ Day should serve as a platform to address issues affecting parents in society—whether it is lack of pension security, rising healthcare costs, digital illiteracy, or emotional isolation. As children mature into adults, the responsibility reverses; they must become the protectors, caregivers, and emotional anchors for their ageing parents. Societies that fail to honour this sacred reciprocity risk moral bankruptcy, no matter how advanced they may be in terms of infrastructure or economic growth.
India, with its rich philosophical heritage, has always upheld the value of familial harmony. Yet there remains a gap between tradition and practice. National Parents’ Day can become a bridge—a day that not only reminds us of our duties but encourages reflection on how to integrate these values in everyday life. Let it not be a single-day spectacle, but a symbol of year-long reverence, expressed through action, not just emotion.
As we move forward in the digital age, let us not leave our parents behind in the analogue past. Let us teach them how to navigate this world we have so comfortably adapted to, even as they once held our fingers to help us take our first steps. Let our festivals be filled not just with rituals, but with their laughter; let our achievements be shared first with those whose sacrifices made them possible.
May this National Parents’ Day not dissolve into routine greetings or ceremonial optics. May it awaken within us the resolve to walk back home—not merely in distance, but in devotion. Let us rekindle conversations that time has silenced, heal wounds left unattended, and restore gestures of love that once defined our bonds. In serving our parents with presence, care, and dignity, we do not simply repay a debt—we rediscover the essence of who we are. For within their lives lies the quiet strength that shaped our beginnings, and within their hearts, the echoes of all that is good, tender, and true. In honouring them, we honour the most enduring values of our civilisation.