At 75, Meenakshi Mehra is far from the image of a typical grandmother. While many in her age group enjoy the quiet pace of retirement, Meenakshi is making waves in the culinary world with her venture, MomMade. More than just a business, it stands as a symbol of her unstoppable spirit and determination to prove that age is no barrier to pursuing one's passion.
A few years ago, Meenakshi traded her architectural blueprints for a spatula, embarking on a journey that was anything but conventional. This wasn’t just a career change; it was a bold step, challenging societal norms and redefining what it means to grow older.
“Starting this venture was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” says Meenakshi, radiating the joy and fulfillment her journey has brought.
Born into a family of freedom fighters, Meenakshi Mehra embodies the legacy of resilience and service. Her parents, deeply committed to India’s independence, faced imprisonment for their unwavering dedication to the cause.
“My mother was jailed for 13 months, and my father spent a total of seven years in prison,” Meenakshi recounts. Despite the challenges, her mother emerged as a pillar of strength, skillfully managing household responsibilities while supporting her husband’s activism. “Dad was always busy helping others, and Mom became our primary caretaker. She set an incredible example of how to manage a household with grace and resilience,” she adds.
Growing up, Meenakshi was deeply influenced by her mother’s nurturing care and her father’s philanthropic endeavors. Observing her parents’ selflessness instilled in her a profound sense of purpose and a desire to create a positive impact. These formative experiences shaped her driven spirit, fueling her determination to excel in both her personal and academic pursuits.
Meenakshi’s family noticed her budding passion for interior design during her school years and encouraged her to pursue it further. She began her journey at Chandigarh Polytechnic College and later completed a formal course in interior design in Delhi, laying the foundation for her successful career in the field.
Meenakshi was part of the pioneering batch of students to graduate from her interior design course in 1969, a time when such programs were still rare. Following her graduation, she refined her craft while working at Supan Furnitures for four years.
However, her family became her priority. She decided to pause her career to focus on raising her daughters. “I have two daughters, and I wanted to give them the same love and care my mother provided to our family,” shares the 75-year-old, reflecting on her decision with pride and contentment.
Meenakshi took a 17-year hiatus from full-time work, dedicating herself to her family. However, her passion for interior design reignited in 1995. “I loved my career so much that I couldn’t stop thinking about what I could design next,” she recalls. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, she resumed her career as an independent designer, carving a niche for herself as one of the pioneers in her field. During this time, she worked on contracts for prestigious clients, including the American Chamber of Commerce.
“My journey in interior design has been a continuous learning experience,” she shares. “From conceptualization to execution, every project presented unique challenges and invaluable lessons. These experiences have been instrumental in shaping my approach to running my food business, which I manage with the support of my daughters and friends.”
From Design Sheets to Recipe Books
The year 2018 marked a turning point in Meenakshi’s life. “It was an incredibly tough year for me,” she reflects. “I lost my father-in-law in June, followed by my mother-in-law in September. As if that wasn’t hard enough, my husband was hospitalized in November and passed away in December.”
Despite these profound personal losses, Meenakshi channeled her resilience into embracing a new chapter in her life, transforming grief into purpose.
“She was slipping into the normal routine of the elderly like watching TV, but I knew my mother was not like that,” says Kanika Mehra Hemdev, Meenakshi’s younger daughter, as she reflects back on the difficult time.
''My daughters were instrumental in encouraging me to fully embrace this venture,” Meenakshi asserts. “They even assisted with branding and networking, propelling my small business forward.”
Meenakshi spares no effort to ensure her products are of the highest quality. “Even if it costs more, I am very particular about sourcing the best raw materials from the market,” she says, emphasizing her unwavering commitment to health and purity.
Her dedication to quality is reflected in her choices. Meenakshi avoids artificial additives and preservatives, relying entirely on 100% organic ingredients. To enhance the nutritional value without sacrificing taste, she replaces sugar with healthier alternatives like jaggery.
In addition, she prepares pickles in small, customized batches, catering to individual customer orders. Meenakshi meticulously oversees every step of the process, personally managing production while allowing a helper to assist only with preparatory tasks such as vegetable cutting, cleaning, and final packaging. This hands-on approach ensures her products meet her exacting standards.
Her bestsellers include classic favourites like Punjabi mango pickle, nimbu katta-meeta (sweet and sour lemon) pickle, karela (bitter gourd) pickle, and garlic pickle. Other products include besan barfi, laddus, and gingerelle. Meenakshi is always on the lookout for innovative flavours. Inspired by online platforms like YouTube, she introduced a unique raw dates pickle that quickly gained popularity among her customers.
Today, Mommade extends its customer base from Delhi and Bombay to cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru. The brand’s active online presence, which is managed by Kanika, helps gain more visibility for the products.
“Pursue your passions regardless of your age or gender. Hard work will always be rewarded,” shares Meenakshi, a living proof to the fact that age is just a number!
You can visit her website to find out more.
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