Passion To Profession — Five Women Entrepreneurs Who Defied Age To Build Their Business Empire! - Infano Women's Health | Lifestyle

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My grandmother never stopped working — not until her last month. And this is what encouraged me to keep working, no matter what the situation in your life is!

That feeling of being self-dependent and making your life the way you wish is incomparable.

People often limit their ambitions — either after a certain milestone, or a certain situation or a certain age. But they do not actually unleash their full potential and do not explore life as much as they should be.

Who says that age is a limit to anything? I’m writing about six such passionate women entrepreneurs who proved that age is just a number, and it’s you who define yourself and your ambitions.

Radha Daga

When Radha Daga started her food business at the age of 69, she wasn’t new to the entrepreneurial space — her garment export business was already a hit. But her multi-crore company, Triguni Food Pvt Ltd, a ready-to-eat food manufacturer in Chennai, became a major success after Indigo Airlines became one of their premium clients and responsible for the 80% of their business profit.

“I work eight hours every day, and though I do take three to four short vacations in a year, I am always available to my team,” says the 78 YO founder and managing director of Triguni Food.

Harbhajan Kaur

When Harbhajan Kaur started her home-made barfi business at the age of 90, little did she know that her business would be praised and recommended by Mahindra group chairman Anand Mahindra.

Her barfi recipe has always been one of the most demanding and tempting recipes among her family and friends, but she never thought to turn it into a business because her husband was against her working. But on her daughters’ suggestion, she started selling her barfi at Apni Mandi, a weekly organic market in Chandigarh.

“Every week, I make about 5kg of barfi or more depending on the orders I get,” says the 94 YO entrepreneur. “Who would have thought she would get so much success and fame?” says her eldest daughter, Amrit Tulsi.

Yamini Mazumdar

When Yamini Mazumdar started her laundry business at the age of 68, she never thought that she would be able to achieve so much with it. “I didn’t want to sit idle so decided to start something of my own. I go to the office every day and work for four hours. I am still quite young,” says the 88 YO businesswoman.

“My mom’s entrepreneurial genes have made me who I am,” says her daughter and Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.

Kokila Parekh

When Kokila Parekh started her chai masala business at the age of 79, it was only a way to keep herself occupied during the coronavirus lockdown. Her brand, KT Chai Masala, has received more than 500 orders from Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, and Ahmedabad in less than a few months.

Her chai masala powder business is handled by her and three domestic helpers. The ingredients include various spices such as dried ginger powder, cinnamon powder, pepper and cardamom, and the whole packet comes with a shelf-life of 6-8 months.

Ansuya Shah

When Ansuya Shah started her spice business at the age of 67, it wasn’t her first attempt in the entrepreneurial space. “From a very young age, entrepreneurship interested me. I have always had good management skills and an inclination to keep busy all the time. One thing was clearly etched in my thoughts – to always be the ‘alpha’ in whatever I do. I think all of this has helped me in my life to be a success,” Ansuya says.

Her home in Ahmedabad would give you a mixed essence of packaged condiments, powdered masalas, and raw spices. She single-handedly set up and built her spice business and made it a success with her husband’s constant support.

I don’t know what I’ll be doing at the age of sixty, but if I stay alive and healthy and feel clueless, I will surely come back to this story to take some inspiration and strength! #PassionToProfession #InfanoWomen

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It takes another kind of grit, determination and self-sacrifice to be part of the Indian Armed Forces. Out of the rigorous training that is both physically exhausting and emotionally draining, come outbrave heroes who are prepared to die for this country.

And it is among these brave heroes that we find extraordinary women who are walking shoulder to shoulder with their male officers–fighting for this country and inspiring generations to come.

On Indian Army Day, here is a list of such women who created history in the Indian Army and awed us.

Mitali Madhumita

The first woman to receive the Sena Medal for Gallantry; it is given to soldiers showing exemplary courage in the call of duty.

Madhumita had joined the army in the year 2000 on a short service commission. When she requested the army for a permanent commission, the Ministry of Defence refused to accept her request. She again appealed to the Armed Forces Tribunal in March 2014. They found merit in her case and in February 2015 directed the Ministry of Defence to reinstate her. However, the Ministry of Defence appealed against the Armed Forces Tribunal’s order in the Supreme court of India, stating that Madhumita had enlisted in the army on a short service commission. In 2016 the Supreme Court of India rejected the Ministry of Defence’s plea, and she got a permanent commission in the Indian army.

Priya Jhingan

In September 1992, a young, bold lady Priya Jhingan became India’s first woman to enlist in the Indian Army. She had taken the step as a Law graduate to write to the then Army Chief himself asking him to allow women to prove themselves in the Army. After a year her wish was granted and with 24 others began her journey in the Armed Forces. Known by cadet number 001, at the Officers’ Training Academy at Chennai, she received her short service commission on 6th March 1993.

She did not get the permission to join the infantry division that she asked to join but instead got to be in the Corps of Judge Advocate General. The post of Judge Advocate General in India is held by a major general who is the Army’s legal and judicial chief. Ten years later she went on release as a Major.

Divya Ajith Kumar

The first woman to get the coveted ‘Sword of Honour’, the highest award given to a cadet of the Officers Training Academy, she beat 244 fellow cadets to achieve it. Captain Divya Ajith Kumar led the Army’s first all-women contingent on Republic Day in 2015 when US President Barack Obama was present as the chief guest.

Anjana Bhaduria

The first woman to win a gold medal in the Indian Army; wanting to be an officer in the Indian Army, this M.Sc. in Microbiology lady responded to an advertisement calling for woman officers to be inducted into the Indian Army through the Women Special Entry Scheme (WSES). Accepted and becoming part of the first batch of training officers at the Academy, she excelled in literally everything that came her way. And by God, she won the gold medal in a training field consisting of both men and women.

On the short service commission, she served with the Army for ten years. Unfortunately, despite her excellent showing, she was allowed to continue beyond this period.

Sophia Qureshi

Achieving the rare distinction of leading a training contingent of the Indian Army at Force 18, the ASEAN Plus Multinational field training exercise held in 2016, this only woman officer at the exercise was selected from a pool of peacekeeping trainers.

She had already achieved the unthinkable when she became the first woman officer to lead a 40-member army contingent at the international military exercise. But that’s not all. She was the only woman commander across all participating countries, including the USA, Japan, South Korea, Russia and China.

Ganeve Lalji

She is the first woman to be appointed as the aide-de-camp in the Indian Army. This distinction is given to officers who must prove their ability to cope with multiple challenges and hardships. And she proved herself when she became the key aide to the Army Commander, Lieutenant General Rajan Bakshi in 2013.

Shanti Tigga

She was 35 and had two kids when she became the first jawaan in the Indian Army. She beat all her male co-cadets in physical fitness tests when she finished a 1.5 km run 5 seconds sooner than her fellow cadets.

We’re immensely proud of these brave officers who are an inspiration to women all around.

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