The goal of raising a child with the qualities of business mogul Ratan Tata, spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda, scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now more achievable for Indian parents, thanks to a new wave of apps specifically designed to guide and support mothers-to-be.
The apps combine traditional prenatal and postnatal guidance with modern scientific research, aiming to instill Hindu values while also meeting the needs of a generation more responsive to smartphone alerts than traditional advice. The numerous startups offering these apps, largely from the state of Gujarat, reflect India’s ongoing push to balance ancient traditions with modern advancements.
One of the apps, Garbh Sanskar Guru, sends text messages addressed from the fetus to remind mothers to stay hydrated. Meanwhile, DreamChild has seen around 15,000 paid users since its 2019 launch, offering packages with both online and offline activities. The apps also provide workshops and seminars, fostering a sense of community and sharing among expectant parents that is often lacking in more traditional settings.
The vision of these apps is grand – they strive to lay out a complete blueprint from the sixth month of pregnancy to the fourth year of a child’s life, shaping the future of the child and the broader family structure. However, the transition towards digitalized prenatal and postnatal guidance remains a tough sell, as the nature of family structures in India still sees husbands controlling the finances, making it difficult for many women to purchase these apps without their spouse’s approval.
But for parents like Ms. Pambhar, who used an app to guide both of her pregnancies and saw a resemblance between her second child and the baby she visualized through the app, the ambition of guiding their children to greatness is not about the pressure to be perfect. Instead, it’s about providing them with the best possible foundation for a bright future.
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