Have you ever ever talked to your mom about her goals and aspirations? Whereas many moms have given us the wings to soar, they usually didn’t have the possibility to fulfil their very own goals as a result of circumstances and social norms of the time.
Take Nayana Mehta, for instance. Born within the Nineteen Fifties in Mumbai, she had a tutorial inclination and pursued a level in science. Like many ladies of her technology, she ultimately bought married and devoted her life to managing the family and elevating her three kids.
All through these years, the one exercise that gave the septuagenarian nice pleasure was cooking. Her culinary ardour was ignited when she was a younger woman of 13. After years of cooking for her family members, she bought a possibility to share it with a wider viewers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
As eating places closed and other people hesitated to purchase packaged snacks, house cooks like Nayana stepped in to offer their favorite snacks and sweets. Coincidentally, she was additionally in search of a strategy to preserve herself engaged and fulfilled throughout this time.
At 66, she embraced entrepreneurship by launching her enterprise, ‘Maami’s Munchies’ — the place she sells snacks, pickles, sweets, and meals containers. Since 2020, this Mumbai resident has delighted over 2,000 prospects along with her culinary creations, all whereas being supported by her kids Anjali, Purvi, and Harshal.
Now, as Diwali approaches, Nayana is busy making ready orders, tackling her duties with the passion of a teen. At 70, she is extra keen than ever to share her ardour for cooking.
From house chef to entrepreneur
Nayana, affectionately often known as Nayana ben or aunty, cooked for the primary time on the younger age of 13. She realized the artwork of cooking from her mom and started experimenting with recipes as a teen. Though she had all the time dreamed of beginning her personal enterprise, she had by no means had the chance to pursue it till now.
“We stayed in a joint household and I had my arms full caring for everybody. I all the time loved cooking and experimenting with new dishes. I particularly cherished making pickles, sweets, and snacks,” Nayana tells The Higher India.
Nayana’s home events turned legendary for her scrumptious snacks, as famous by her daughter Purvi. “Ever since I keep in mind, our home was crammed with visitors. She is a superb host and made all kinds of dishes throughout each get together. Her dhoklas, idlis, farsan, ghughra, mohantal, besan ladoos are cherished by everybody,” says the proud daughter.
Nevertheless, Nayana’s expertise remained confined inside the partitions of their house in Matunga, Mumbai, for over three many years. Her daughter explains that this was largely as a result of societal norms of the time.
“We’re a fortunate technology as we grew up in liberal, progressive households. For my mom, sadly, issues weren’t as easy. Their function largely remained restricted at house, and despite the fact that she wished to go outdoors extra ceaselessly, caring for the home took precedence,” acknowledges Purvi.
Purvi shares that she cherished her mom’s cooking and would usually sneak into the kitchen to observe Nayana create her dishes. At the back of her thoughts, Purvi all the time hoped that her mom’s expertise and intelligence may very well be shared with a wider viewers.
That chance lastly arose when the pandemic struck. With everybody craving for home-cooked meals, Nayana started making ready and delivering meals to shut family and friends. As demand grew, individuals inspired her to begin charging for her culinary creations.
“I used to be in search of a strategy to preserve myself occupied after my husband’s demise. The necessity to discover a function elevated particularly throughout the lockdown after we couldn’t step out. What higher manner than following my ardour for cooking? I began it simply as a strategy to move my time, however quickly discovered immense satisfaction,” says Nayana.
The 70-year-old bought her break throughout an exhibition just a few months later. Assembly her prospects head to head and receiving their suggestions on her meals gave her a newfound confidence. “I began having fun with my work. Everybody’s optimistic suggestions inspired me and made me realise that I might do one thing,” provides the entrepreneur.
“When the primary order was dispatched and I earned cash, I felt so proud. I realised that I too might do one thing. Whereas I had goals earlier than this, they couldn’t fructify. They turned a actuality at 66 and I couldn’t be happier,” gushes the entrepreneur.
Seeing her happiness, her kids inspired her and arrange a Fb and Instagram web page for Maami’s Munchies.
Household, flavour, and a dream fulfilled
Maami’s Munchies affords a variety of Gujarati and Indian treats — together with snacks like chorafali, chaklis, banana chips, and chiwda; sweets reminiscent of boondi ladoo, churma ladoo, mohanthal, and besan ladoo; and pickles like chunda, katki, and mango murabba. For travellers, they supply theplas, bhakris, and dhebras, together with handy lunch and dinner packs.
Nayana operates the enterprise from her house, along with her son managing transport and her daughters dealing with social media, orders, and digital advertising and marketing.
They’ve grown organically by means of phrase of mouth and are at the moment absolutely booked with Diwali orders till 5 November, 2024! Initially, they dealt with three to 4 orders per week, however now they obtain no less than three orders day by day. They ship all through Mumbai and throughout India, and their snacks even attain prospects in Europe, Dubai, Oman, Australia, and New Zealand.
Nayana has two helpers at house however prefers to make the sweets and pickles herself. She works all through the week and says that staying lively with this work helps preserve her match as properly. “Once we began, we by no means imagined that it might be obtained so properly. Whereas I began it only for enjoyable, the response has been phenomenal. I’m actually having fun with myself,” says Nayana.
Entrepreneurship additionally offers Nayana the pliability to take breaks and journey at any time when she likes. Having served over 2,000 prospects, lots of whom are repeat shoppers, she is extra motivated than ever.
Pursuing what you like is crucial, irrespective of your age. Her kids are immensely happy with her and absolutely help her aspirations.
“I really feel that it’s essential for youngsters to help their dad and mom in no matter they wish to do. Simply be there for them and assist them in no matter they want. My mom right this moment is an inspiration to a variety of girls; we now have quite a bit to be taught from her. Her humility, smile, and heat helped her,” says Purvi.
Nayana plans to share her cooking with as many individuals as potential within the coming years, proving that age is only a quantity. She has an necessary message for each lady studying this:
“It’s essential to maintain your self pleased. Age doesn’t matter. All that issues is the hearth in your stomach. If I can do it, so are you able to!” she remarks.
Edited by Pranita Bhat; Photos Courtesy Purvi
