Meenakshi Mehra, at 75, isn’t your
. While her peers might be content with retired life, she’s busy stirring up a storm in the culinary world. Her venture, ‘MomMade’, isn’t just a business; it’s a testament to the indomitable spirit that age can’t dim.
A few years ago, Meenakshi traded her architectural drawings for a spatula. This wasn’t a casual career switch; it was a leap of faith, a bold defiance of societal norms. Why, you might ask? Because age is merely a number, a constraint only if we let it be.
“It is one of the best decisions I made,” Meenakshi tells The Better India.
Born into a family of , Meenakshi carries the torch of resilience and service. Her parents, imprisoned for their unwavering commitment to India’s independence, instilled in her a profound sense of purpose.
“My mom was jailed for 13 months and my dad was jailed for seven years in parts,” shares Meenakshi recalling her childhood. Her mother, a pillar of strength, juggled household responsibilities while supporting her husband’s activism. “Dad was very busy helping people. Mom was our primary caretaker and she has set an example on how to manage the household well.”
As a child, Meenakshi grew up under her mother’s care, observing her dad’s philanthropic work. Witnessing his selfless acts instilled in her a strong sense of purpose and a desire to make a positive impact on the world. This early exposure fostered a driven spirit within her, motivating her to excel in both her personal and academic pursuits.
Meenakshi’s family recognised her budding interest in during her school years and encouraged her to pursue a formal education in the field. She embarked on her journey at Chandigarh Polytechnic College and later, completed her interior design course in Delhi.
Meenakshi’s long-time hobby of making pickles for loved ones blossomed into a business during the COVID pandemic
Meenakshi was among the first batch of students to graduate from the course in 1969, a time when such programmes were still relatively uncommon. After her graduation, she honed her skills at Supan Furnitures for four years.
However, her dedication to family took precedence. She chose to step back from her career to raise her daughters. “I have two daughters, and I wanted to provide them with the same love and care that my mother bestowed upon our family,” the 75-year-old shares.
Meenakshi took a 17-year hiatus from full-time work. But her passion for interior design rekindled in 1995. “I loved my career so much that I couldn’t stop thinking about what I could design next,” shares Meenakshi. She resumed as an independent designer, driven by an insatiable curiosity to explore new design possibilities. As one of the pioneers in her field, she had carved a niche for herself, and during this period, catered to contracts from prestigious clients like the American Chamber of Commerce.
“My journey in interior design has been a constant learning experience. From conceptualisation to implementation, every project brought new challenges and valuable insights,” she shares. “It has been a significant asset in leading my food business, supported by my daughters and friends.”
The year 2018 marked a pivotal point in Meenakshi’s life. “It was a very tough year for me. I lost my father-in-law in June 2018, followed by my mother-in-law in September. To make matters worse, my husband was hospitalised in November, and passed away in December,” she says.
“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.
In 2020, the further interrupted Meenakshi’s creative outlet, making it difficult to coordinate with clients and manage her workforce. This forced halt frustrated her, she recalls. It was during this period that the idea for MomMade was born.
Meenakshi offers a plethora of products such as Namkeen and squashes
While Meenakshi had always enjoyed for family and friends, the pandemic offered an opportunity to turn her culinary hobby into a commercial venture.
“My husband used to ask me to make different varieties of food and cuisines,” she recalls, explaining that it was his passion for culinary experimentation that inspired her to create a diverse range of flavours. “Everybody found my food soulful and often asked for more.”
Kanika recognised her mother’s culinary prowess and, along with her elder sister, encouraged her to embark on this entrepreneurial journey. In 2021, at the age of 72, she launched MomMade, offering a diverse range of products including pickles, , chutneys, and beverages. The initiative not only tapped into Meenakshi’s culinary talent but also provided her with a fulfilling and engaging pursuit.
“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.”
Meenashi says she leaves no stones unturned to ensure that her products are of the best quality. “Even if I pay more, I am particular that I outsource the best raw material from the market,” she says. Her commitment to health and purity is evident in her product choices.
Meenakshi strictly avoids artificial additives and preservatives, opting for . To enhance the nutritional value without compromising taste, she replaces sugar with healthier alternatives like jaggery.
Additionally, she prepares pickles in small batches, tailored to customer orders, meticulously overseeing every step herself, and personally handling the entire production process, allowing only a helper to assist with preparatory tasks like vegetable cutting and cleaning, and final packaging.
To ensure better quality, MomMade does not add any preservatives
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.
“I have difficulty in eating certain nuts, so I asked Meenakshi to grind and add them for me. She was kind enough to customise the laddus as per my requirements,” shares Dr Mohini Sethi, a retired faculty of food and nutrition at Delhi University, who has been a customer of MomMade for over two years. “I always make sure to invest in pure and quality products,” she adds.
Meenakshi has not tracked specific sales figures; her primary motivation lies in the satisfaction derived from crafting and sharing high-quality products with her customers. She believes that the joy of creating and the positive impact on her customers are the true rewards of her entrepreneurial journey.
“Recently we had gotten a message from a woman that her six-year-old daughter is very fond of MomMade’s Bajra Mathi and wants to take it to school everyday,” Kanika shares.
Meenakshi interacts with a customer in her stall
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 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 to find out more.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All images: MomMade
A few years ago, Meenakshi traded her architectural drawings for a spatula. This wasn’t a casual career switch; it was a leap of faith, a bold defiance of societal norms. Why, you might ask? Because age is merely a number, a constraint only if we let it be.
“It is one of the best decisions I made,” Meenakshi tells The Better India.
Balancing family and career
Born into a family of , Meenakshi carries the torch of resilience and service. Her parents, imprisoned for their unwavering commitment to India’s independence, instilled in her a profound sense of purpose.
“My mom was jailed for 13 months and my dad was jailed for seven years in parts,” shares Meenakshi recalling her childhood. Her mother, a pillar of strength, juggled household responsibilities while supporting her husband’s activism. “Dad was very busy helping people. Mom was our primary caretaker and she has set an example on how to manage the household well.”
As a child, Meenakshi grew up under her mother’s care, observing her dad’s philanthropic work. Witnessing his selfless acts instilled in her a strong sense of purpose and a desire to make a positive impact on the world. This early exposure fostered a driven spirit within her, motivating her to excel in both her personal and academic pursuits.
Meenakshi’s family recognised her budding interest in during her school years and encouraged her to pursue a formal education in the field. She embarked on her journey at Chandigarh Polytechnic College and later, completed her interior design course in Delhi.
Meenakshi’s long-time hobby of making pickles for loved ones blossomed into a business during the COVID pandemic
Meenakshi was among the first batch of students to graduate from the course in 1969, a time when such programmes were still relatively uncommon. After her graduation, she honed her skills at Supan Furnitures for four years.
However, her dedication to family took precedence. She chose to step back from her career to raise her daughters. “I have two daughters, and I wanted to provide them with the same love and care that my mother bestowed upon our family,” the 75-year-old shares.
Meenakshi took a 17-year hiatus from full-time work. But her passion for interior design rekindled in 1995. “I loved my career so much that I couldn’t stop thinking about what I could design next,” shares Meenakshi. She resumed as an independent designer, driven by an insatiable curiosity to explore new design possibilities. As one of the pioneers in her field, she had carved a niche for herself, and during this period, catered to contracts from prestigious clients like the American Chamber of Commerce.
“My journey in interior design has been a constant learning experience. From conceptualisation to implementation, every project brought new challenges and valuable insights,” she shares. “It has been a significant asset in leading my food business, supported by my daughters and friends.”
From design sheets to recipe books
The year 2018 marked a pivotal point in Meenakshi’s life. “It was a very tough year for me. I lost my father-in-law in June 2018, followed by my mother-in-law in September. To make matters worse, my husband was hospitalised in November, and passed away in December,” she says.
“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.
In 2020, the further interrupted Meenakshi’s creative outlet, making it difficult to coordinate with clients and manage her workforce. This forced halt frustrated her, she recalls. It was during this period that the idea for MomMade was born.
Meenakshi offers a plethora of products such as Namkeen and squashes
While Meenakshi had always enjoyed for family and friends, the pandemic offered an opportunity to turn her culinary hobby into a commercial venture.
“My husband used to ask me to make different varieties of food and cuisines,” she recalls, explaining that it was his passion for culinary experimentation that inspired her to create a diverse range of flavours. “Everybody found my food soulful and often asked for more.”
Kanika recognised her mother’s culinary prowess and, along with her elder sister, encouraged her to embark on this entrepreneurial journey. In 2021, at the age of 72, she launched MomMade, offering a diverse range of products including pickles, , chutneys, and beverages. The initiative not only tapped into Meenakshi’s culinary talent but also provided her with a fulfilling and engaging pursuit.
“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.”
Catering to diverse tastebuds
Meenashi says she leaves no stones unturned to ensure that her products are of the best quality. “Even if I pay more, I am particular that I outsource the best raw material from the market,” she says. Her commitment to health and purity is evident in her product choices.
Meenakshi strictly avoids artificial additives and preservatives, opting for . To enhance the nutritional value without compromising taste, she replaces sugar with healthier alternatives like jaggery.
Additionally, she prepares pickles in small batches, tailored to customer orders, meticulously overseeing every step herself, and personally handling the entire production process, allowing only a helper to assist with preparatory tasks like vegetable cutting and cleaning, and final packaging.
To ensure better quality, MomMade does not add any preservatives
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.
“I have difficulty in eating certain nuts, so I asked Meenakshi to grind and add them for me. She was kind enough to customise the laddus as per my requirements,” shares Dr Mohini Sethi, a retired faculty of food and nutrition at Delhi University, who has been a customer of MomMade for over two years. “I always make sure to invest in pure and quality products,” she adds.
Meenakshi has not tracked specific sales figures; her primary motivation lies in the satisfaction derived from crafting and sharing high-quality products with her customers. She believes that the joy of creating and the positive impact on her customers are the true rewards of her entrepreneurial journey.
“Recently we had gotten a message from a woman that her six-year-old daughter is very fond of MomMade’s Bajra Mathi and wants to take it to school everyday,” Kanika shares.
Meenakshi interacts with a customer in her stall
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 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 to find out more.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All images: MomMade