Saraswati Govindarajan, 76, Hyderabad.

If there’s anything I have learnt from the challenges life has tossed at me, it is to pick myself up every single time and roll with the punches. Thanks to this attitude, I am now the happy proprietor of a restaurant in the heart of Hyderabad, at the age of 76. Apart from the satisfaction this brings me, I also feel a sense of fulfilment from being able to provide employment to the people who work for me.

Here’s a little background. I was born in Secunderabad and moved to Mumbai after marriage. I was a homemaker and, through experimentation, I mastered the art of cooking. At age 33, life took a difficult turn and my husband passed away, leaving me to care for three young children: two boys and a girl. I learnt typewriting and took up odd jobs. To be able to give them a good education, I also started a small textile business from my home. In 2004, after my children got married and moved out of home, I moved to Hyderabad.

All this while, I had nurtured the idea of starting a restaurant but it would still be a while before that dream actually came true. In the meantime, in 2013, I started selling buttermilk and lassi to pedestrians from a small thatched shed in front of my house. My house is strategically placed between a shopping area, a bus stop and crossroads, and the customers kept rolling in. With the profit I earned, I was able to build a concrete shed and converted it into a small kitchen. I was ready for the next step and started a small tiffin service that served organic food. The food was great but it was not selling. I think people in the locality, Sai Nagar, Malkajgiri, were not aware of the concept of organic food and the price was not compatible with their lifestyle. But that’s all right because I am a first-generation entrepreneur and eager to learn from my mistakes.

I stopped the organic tiffin service and decided it was time to launch my dream venture. In the middle of this year, I opened Hotel Akshaya in the same location. This is a vegetarian restaurant that can serve about 35 people at a time. For breakfast, we serve South Indian specialties; for lunch, there are varieties of rice; and the Chinese section opens after 4 pm.

All businesses, big and small, present challenges, and I was prepared for anything. If the restaurant didn’t take off, I would shut shop and rent the space. That was Plan B. But we get over 100 customers and earn close to ₹ 20,000 every day. I plan to introduce a chaat counter early next year.

Running a restaurant is not easy. For instance, when the staff turns up late or not at all, it is very problematic. We still have hungry customers who need to be served. So I get on my phone and make alternative arrangements. This is one of the biggest challenges I have faced to date. I could so easily live a simple, retired life. But the fact that at this age, I am able to provide a livelihood to so many people and feed so many keeps me going. Also I believe one should always keep oneself busy as an idle mind tends to be filled with negative thoughts. When the mind is sick, the body becomes sick. I also love the fact that, owing to my job, I meet so many people from all walks of life. And, what do you know—many fondly call me ‘Sachu paati’ [Granny Saraswati]!

—As told to Jayanthi Somasundaram

Photos courtesy: Saraswati Govindarajan
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
January 2017