Life lessons and aspirations for sons by Indian moms vogue.in

“We cannot just blame men. Mothers have to raise their sons differently.” Susan Sarandon’s provocative remark on a visit to India raised a national debate on the country’s most pressing issue—how do we balance the inequalities women face here? If Sarandon and her namesake, writer Susan Sontag, are to be believed, the answer lies with the women who raise us. Mothers are the gatekeepers of change—and through their sons, their responsibility extends to the women around them and generations to come. With actions and words, as the first women in their sons’ lives, they set the moral codes that transform young boys into respectful adults. We asked some of the country’s most influential women to put into words their hopes and aspirations for their sons.