The unchanging saying "Matha Pitha Guru Deivam" is the backbone of our culture. No matter how you interpret it, the first place belongs to 'mother'. It is a tradition for Indians to see the earth we live on as a goddess and a mother and bow down to it. The devotees worship the spirit of our main goddess temples in their maternal form. Kollur Amma, Attukal Amma, Chottanikkara Amma and Mandaikadu Amma are examples of this. Mother also holds the main place in family relationships. It cannot be denied that the position and importance of the mother has changed as family concepts and lifestyles have started changing. A maintenance case in Kollam and the High Court's observation on it are an example of this.

The Kerala High Court's observation that 'a person who does not take care his mother is not a human being' is meaningful. It echoes the voice of the community's conscience. The High Court dismissed the petition filed by the son challenging the Kollam Family Court order to pay maintenance of Rs. 2,000 per month to his 100-year-old mother. Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan clarified that a person who does not look after his elderly mother is not a human being, in the order dismissing the petition. The single bench also said that the son's action of taking his mother to court without paying maintenance is shameful. The petitioner, Unnikrishna Pillai of Kollam Kizhakkanela Arya Bhavan, argued that his brother, not his mother, was behind the maintenance case, but the court did not accept it.

The petitioner said that he would take care of his mother if she stayed with him, but the court clarified that taking care of one's mother is not a sacrifice. It is the responsibility of the children. If one cannot fulfil that responsibility, it is a shame. The petitioner argued that his mother has other children, and they also do not pay maintenance. The court did not agree with this. This is when the court said that a person who does not take care of his mother is not human. When parents grow old, their interests and behaviour can change, and they can become like children. The court reminded that the patience and tolerance shown by mothers when their children were minors should be shown by their children when their parents grow old. In the case considered by the court, the mother approached the family court at the age of 92 seeking maintenance. Such a situation should not have been created. A mother is the home of her children. Everyone needs a mother at any age. Justice Kunhikrishnan has also said in his order that he is ashamed to be a part of such a society where a hundred-year-old mother is visiting the court because her son is not paying maintenance.

There are thousands of parents in society who are ignored by their children and live in silence. The court was expressing their feelings. There are people around us who suffer this way. The incidents reported in the media remind us that their number is not small. The number of children without moral sense cannot continue to increase. The origin of all living beings is from the mother. It is the mothers who nurture their offspring. The sages have said that the mother is like the breath of life. Such incidents are due to the decline in such moral consciousness and loving thoughts. Everyone has the responsibility to convince the generations of this reality. Community organisations and cultural organisations that interfere in even small matters and create controversies should take these words of the court at face value.