She has the power!

There’s nothing like a mama’s boy. The truth is: Famous sons still listen to their mother’s voice.
Perhaps, the strongest mother in recent times is Kokilaben Ambani, who brought the two sons Mukesh and Anil together and both formally decided to “create an overall environment of harmony, cooperation and collaboration” between the two groups last year. In his blog, the legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan writes about his mother Teji, “I think back on the days spent with her and what she meant to me.Mothers are indeed the epitome of all that is beautiful, graceful and filled with compassion.”
Mom’s the World
The mother is still a strong force for Indian sons — be it Maneka Gandhi-Varun, Sonia Gandhi-Rahul, Jaya Bachchan-Abhishek, Yuvraj Singh and Shabnam — the Indian mother still holds the spotlight in her son’s life. This trend is true even in the West, as a mom’s influence on successful men cannot be denied. Time magazine reports how President Obama’s mother was a great influence and he always refers to his mother as “the dominant figure in my formative years. The values she taught me continue to be my touchstone when it comes to how I go about the world of politics.” Reportedly, Hitler carried a photo of his mother with him wherever he went.
Indeed, mom’s the world for most successful men. It was Vishwanathan Anand’s mother who introduced him to the world of chess. He admits his mother taught him the rules of the game. “When I was six, she introduced me to the game of chess in Philippines. My mother knew I would be a winner before I did.”
After winning the Oscar, AR Rahaman declared that he owed his success to his mother, “Even when I didn’t know I would do great in music, she urged me to follow my dream.”
The Strongest Bond
The relationship between sons and mothers isn’t so simple. Says Anand Bhonsle, Asha Bhonsle’s son, “There’s a new definition emerging as a mother turns friend and guide. I share a great working relationship with my mother. It’s amazing, as she teaches me something new every day. She’s traditional yet outgoing. The relationship is less formal and uptight.” Rama Pilot, mother of Sachin Pilot, young Congress MP, agrees, “I believe in allowing children to make their own life decisions. But I have to guide him along the way. I share my life lessons with him so he can face the world.”
The nurturer is possessive only when her maternal instincts warn her to protect the boys from getting hurt. Says theatreperson Amal Allana, “My son need not to be in my shadow.” Yuvraj Singh’s mother agrees, “A mother still has to give unconditional love to her son. He’s been through ups and downs. I know he can look after himself, but he still needs my support.” Says Subhalaxmi Khan, sarod players Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan’s mother, “The biggest change in the mother-son bond is to allow more f r e e d o m . Nothing is right or wrong anymore, let them experience life their way also.” But it’s tough to keep a celebrity mother away from her son’s fame. For instance, Rose Kennedy wrote to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, asking him to autograph photographs of his historic meeting with her son, President John F Kennedy. To which her son reacted: “Would you be sure to let me know in the future any contacts you have with heads of state?” he wrote. To which his mother replied: “I am glad you warned me about contacting heads of state, as I was just about to write to Castro.”
Let them fly!
When we watch Rahul and Sonia Gandhi enjoy a game of cricket, does it redefine the changing mother-son relationship in India? Does it signify the arrival of the friendly mother who isn’t over-indulging? Says Gitanjali Prasad, author of The Great Indian Family, “A mother and son look at each other as individuals and define their relationship from their experiences.”