They built businesses from scratch, fought social stigma, made films on shoestring budgets, and raised not just children, but entire communities.

This Mother’s Day, we bring you the inspiring stories of 10 remarkable women who have overcome immense challenges to achieve success. These mothers, hailing from various parts of India, embody resilience and unyielding love. Whether selling pickles, building tech platforms, or caring for orphaned girls, these mothers used their maternal instinct and innovation to create legacies.

Each story captures their journey through adversity, highlighting how motherhood became a catalyst for their endeavours.

1. Poonam Sharma, Haryana

When Poonam’s husband lost his job and their children were expelled from school due to unpaid fees, her world came crashing down. “The day my children were asked to leave the school, I cried before them and felt miserable. It was so humiliating and disheartening for me,” she recalls.

Not long after, she also suffered partial paralysis, which left her bedridden for months. A village girl educated only up to Class 8, she turned adversity into opportunity. Poonam launched a millet-based foods business, ‘Dadi Ka Pitara’, where she sells over 100 products, including namkeen, laddoos, chocolates, and chips. Her products are in demand for weddings, birthdays, and corporate events. The business has expanded internationally, reaching customers in the USA and Canada.

Her daughter, Himanshi, shares, “My mother taught me the importance of staying true to one’s values, regardless of circumstances. She built her own identity, and I aspire to be like her.”

2. Geeta Patil, Maharashtra

In 2016, when her husband lost his job, Geeta Patil had two young boys to raise and no steady income. “We had two boys to educate,” she recalls. “I had confidence in my cooking, so I started small from our home kitchen.”

She launched ‘Patil Kaki’, selling snacks like modak, puranpoli, chakli, and poha. Her sons helped pack orders — especially Vinit, whose tiffins were always a hit at school.

Today, the brand serves over 3,000 customers a month and earns........

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