Sumru Altug / Koc University, CEPR, KU-TUSIAD ERF and T20 National Advisory Council Member

"I made a whirlwind trip to India to take part in an event organized by TEPAV and Gateway House under the auspices of the T-20 Turkey 2015 activities. I already had many pre-conceived notions about India, and as I entered my evening flight to Mumbai on October 18, some of them began to get confirmed. For one, my flight was full of young Indian professionals and their spouses. There were at least three couples in my immediate vicinity who fit this description. Two of them had young babies or children with them, and the husband and wife took turns caring for them. The babies had all the modern accoutrements that typify modern families these days - fancy strollers, backpacks full of baby food, clothes, and other needed items - but they also had their beautiful Asian looks, petite, with dark lockets and dusky eyes. The lovely mother in front of me changed from her comfortable clothes on the flight to white leggings, a royal blue tunic, and a white chained handbag as we were about to embark. In Asia, women still care about their looks, and maintain them even in the face of many household duties."