When 106-year-old Karre Mastanamma from Andhra Pradesh began cooking simple, traditional meals over a wood fire for a YouTube channel called Country Foods, she never imagined becoming an international sensation. Draped in a cotton sari, with nimble fingers and a sharp sense of humour, she stirred more than pots—she stirred hearts. Her channel grew to millions of subscribers, and Mastanamma, once unknown outside her village, became one of the world’s oldest YouTubers, proving that age and wisdom have a vibrant place in the digital world.
She wasn’t alone. Across India, mothers and grandmothers are turning their homes into production studios and their lived experiences into online classrooms. Whether it’s storytelling, sustainability, parenting, or pedagogy, these women are showing that the future of learning and leadership may just wear a bindi and hold a smartphone.
Revolutionising learning
Few embody the spirit of Motherhood 2.0 better than Dr. Sunita Gandhi and Dr. Bharti Gandhi, pioneers in child-centric education. The duo has not only transformed India’s academic landscape through City Montessori School, acknowledged as the world’s largest school, but is now enabling millions through free digital learning via the OneTara app and YouTube channel.
“Motherhood is not just about raising children; it is about shaping the future of the world, one child at a time,” says Dr. Sunita Gandhi. “My mother always says, ‘Being a grandmother is a second chance at motherhood—without the pressure. You get to be the storyteller, the listener, the patient teacher.’”
Their ALfA (Accelerated Learning for All) method promotes literacy in weeks instead of years, empowering caregivers, especially women, to become confident educators using joyful, no-cost tools. This isn’t just educational reform—it’s a mother-led learning movement that is inclusive, global, and deeply personal.
Digital dadihood
The image of a grandmother has evolved—and how. Today’s Indian grandmom blends nostalgia with novelty, using reels and livestreams to preserve culture and pass on wisdom in formats that resonate with Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
Take Karre Mastanamma, the beloved 106-year-old YouTuber from Andhra Pradesh who cooked traditional meals on open fires for millions of fans on the Country Foods channel before her passing. Or Kahaniwali Nani—Sarala Minni, a retired teacher in Bengaluru, who uses YouTube and Telegram to tell value-based stories to children around the world.
Then there’s Rajini Chandy, the Kerala-based actor who defies ageist stereotypes by running a YouTube talk and cook channel, and Mallika Badrinath, a Chennai-based culinary expert with over 50 cookbooks and a vibrant YouTube presence teaching Indian cooking to new generations.
These women aren’t just going viral, they’re reclaiming their voices, authority, and power as cultural educators.
Building careers
If traditional motherhood was about sacrifice in silence, Motherhood 2.0 is about authenticity with amplification. For mothers like Dr. Priyanka Sharma, Director of Software Engineering at Fujitsu Research of India, digital platforms enable a powerful fusion of the personal and professional.
“In today’s hyperconnected world, the narrative of motherhood is being reshaped—not quietly behind the scenes, but powerfully and publicly across platforms like LinkedIn,” she says.
Mothers now share career wins, burnout stories, parenting dilemmas, and leadership lessons—often in the same post. These digital disclosures are reshaping workplaces, opening conversations, and redefining what leadership and balance can look like.
“It’s not about perfection; it’s about progress,” Dr. Sharma reflects. “And when tech-savvy moms use their platforms to uplift or just be honest, it helps create a more humane, sustainable, and inclusive world.”
Eco moms
Motherhood and sustainability have always been intertwined, but in 2025, mothers are using their digital voices to champion the planet. For Gauri Ahire Chavan, Director at Grape County and mother of two, eco-conscious parenting is both a personal value and a public mission.
“Sustainability is the most timeless form of luxury we can offer the next generation,” she says.
Her Instagram content promotes zero-waste living, organic gardening, and slow travel, offering families actionable steps toward greener lifestyles. “Children naturally gravitate towards mindful habits when immersed in nature. Mothers can model these values and make sustainability a family rhythm.”
Tradition meets tech
Digital motherhood is as much about preserving heritage as it is about embracing progress. According to Mamta, founder of Gradding, a study-abroad platform, the rise of tech-savvy moms and grandmoms reflects a deep cultural shift.
“This Mother’s Day, we celebrate the rise of Motherhood and Grandmotherhood 2.0,” she says. “These women are bridging generational gaps by turning digital platforms into classrooms.”
She points to women like Reema Bisaria, who runs Indian Mom Studio on YouTube, where she discusses home organisation and parenting tips; and Kiran of Indian Mom on Duty, who vlogs about gentle parenting, schooling, and family life. Grandmothers like the team behind Cooking with Paati teach traditional recipes while subtly sharing cultural values, becoming viral bridges between generations.
“To all the moms and grandmoms embracing this digital age—you’re not just influencing youth, you’re educating and empowering them with the little treasures of life,” Mamta adds.
Legacy Builders
Mothers like Kiran Sethi use their platforms to champion design thinking in education. Influencer moms use reels to talk about postpartum depression, breastfeeding struggles, and career re-entry. Grandmothers like Cooking with Paati and Kahaniwali Nani gain international fans for transforming kitchens and bedtime routines into classrooms of the heart.
What unites them? They’re not waiting to be remembered—they’re actively shaping their legacies in real time.
“Let’s celebrate this Mother’s Day by recommitting ourselves to raising lifelong learners,” says Dr. Sunita Gandhi. “With our love, our time, and now our tools—we can transform learning for all.”
They’re not just raising kids, they’re raising the bar. Today’s tech-savvy mothers and grandmothers are educators, leaders, healers, and creators—not confined to kitchens, but expanded across screens. They’ve embraced technology not as a threat to tradition, but as a torch to carry it forward.
This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate these women, not just for giving life, but for using their lived experiences to give light to so many others.
