Her Shoes, MY TURN

Suman Agarwal, nutritionist and fitness expert; Surbhi Pansari, founder of menswear label Surbhi Pansari; Pooja Singhal, entrepreneur and cultural revivalist; Bharti Bangur of Bharti Bangur - Fine Jewels; and Gunjan Poddar, founder of Amala Earth, reflect on the unexpected wisdom of motherhood.

- Text * Neha Kirpal & Sonakshi Kurbah

They say motherhood changes everything—your priorities, your perspective, and yes, your patience (or lack thereof). Its most profound gift, however, is the deep, unexpected clarity it brings about your own mother. The rules that once seemed a bit too strict, or the advice that felt like a lecture, all start to make perfect sense. Now, you're the one juggling meals, meltdowns and milestones.

This Mother's Day, these incredible women reflect on the things they only truly understood once they stepped into the journey of motherhood themselves.

Suman Agarwal

“Reflecting on my journey through motherhood has deepened my appreciation for the values and choices my own mother made. Now, as a mother of three, I find myself embracing the principles she lived by—lessons that I cherish and pass on to my children.

One of the first realisations came when my youngest daughter started school. I consciously limited my work hours to align with her school schedule, ensuring I was home when my children were. This mirrored my mother’s approach; her consistent presence provided me with a profound sense of belonging, and I wanted my children to experience that same comfort and security.

A particularly impactful memory is when my eldest daughter, Priyanka, had a disagreement with a neighbourhood child. This incident brought to mind a saying my mother often repeated: “Paap karne vala aur paap sehne vala, dono hi paap ke bhaaghi hote hain.” Guided by this wisdom, I taught Priyanka that while kindness matters, it’s just as important to stand up for yourself.

Perhaps the most enduring value my mother instilled in me was truthfulness. She had a zero-tolerance policy for lies, a principle that has shaped my belief in building trust within the family—a value I consistently instil in my children.