What would it mean to live life with no regrets? We all have dreams and hope to achieve them, but many times, due to circumstances or family and financial conditions, we often have to settle for the ‘practical choice’. But there comes a time in life when you wish to break-free from the shackles set by either society, your family, or your situation.
Here’s a tale of exemplary Indians who chose to walk the path less taken in the second innings of life. They chose to redefine themselves and chose to do what they loved. Whether it be a mother who quit her career for her children, or a son who followed the path shown by his father, they finally decided to live for themselves.
Here are 10 amazing senior citizens who found success post 60. They are living examples who prove that ‘You Only live Once’ so achieve your dreams and do what you love. Because if not now, then when?
- Ramanathan Swaminathan, 79
Ramanathan aka Ramji’s interest in model making and engineering started as a young boy, thanks to a Meccano set (a model construction system) gifted by his father when he was eight.
A move to Mysuru in 2002 rekindled his passion, where he would unwind at the end of the day by making miniature models of trains and rockets at home. His break came in 2018, when he made a brass model of an ISRO rocket, which was appreciated by the space organisation, who asked him to build more rocket models for them.
“This was the beginning of my dream turning into a reality,” says Ramji. Then 74, he set up Craftizan Engineering models at a friend’s factory and designed models for ISRO.
ISRO has, since then, placed thousands of orders for rocket models and kits. And, just short of 80, he is raring to go! “I’ve only scratched the surface,” he replies.
“I just love to work on my models with some Carnatic music playing in the background. Age is never on my mind and I would love to work all 365 days. I’m glad that I got an opportunity to fulfil my passion. Everyday is a new job as we create something new,” he adds.
- Padma Parikh, 89
The 89-year-old runs her own handicraft business selling crocheted birds, blankets, sieved bedsheets, keychains, earrings, cradle lace, purses, cup coasters, and much more.
Her granddaughters identified her skill and pushed her to convert it into a business.
Having studied only till class 7, creating new handicrafts out of waste fascinated her.
A crochet bird made by Padma was posted by her granddaughters on Instagram, making her an instant hit!
She spends at least three hours a day crocheting, which she loves, even with eye problems. The products are priced between Rs 400 and Rs 5,000, and they receive orders from across the world.
“Crocheting soothes me. With this work, I also want to be an inspiration for other women. Today, the younger generation plans early retirement. I want to advise them to pursue their passion,” says Padma.
- Bhagwani Devi Dagar, 96
This nonagenarian from Haryana is an example of overcoming odds and finding your passion at a later stage in life. As a young girl who didn’t go to school, she loved playing Kabaddi with friends. Married at 12, she faced several misfortunes as she lost two of her children and husband.
Left with a baby boy, this single mother toiled on fields to make ends meet. Years later, her grandsons unearthed her passion and made her play sports again. Vikas, her elder grandson, brought a shot put ball home, and seeing his daadi throw it, he knew that she had tremendous talent.
At 94, she started training with her two grandsons. After a few months of this, she won three golds at the Delhi State Masters Athletics Championship in 2022. She followed it up with three gold medals in the 9th World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland. The athlete was able to bag golds in 60-metre running, shot put, and discus throw at the 9th World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland.
“I will play as long as I live,” says the 96-year-old.
- Philo Thomas, 67
Philo’s husband, KJ Thomas, had one last wish that his wife should run a pickle business and make a name for herself. Over the past six years, the Alappuzha resident has built ‘Philo’s Pickles’ from her house with the help of her daughter-in-law, Tincy.
Relatives always used to make a beeline for her pickles, and never returned without a jar. After Thomas’s death, Philo secured a food licence and started her venture in earnest. The USP of these pickles is Philo’s recipes and the fact that they are made at home, in small batches.
She sells prawns’, fish, meat pickles, dried beef powder, chemmeen chammanthi podi (dried prawn powder) and seasonal vegetable pickles like mango and sweet lime. All the pickles are made in small batches of 10 kg at a time.
“We spend our entire lives buried in responsibilities. As we cross 60, we feel bored and tired and feel that we aren’t capable of anything. Change your attitude by focusing on your skill. My stress and anxiety have greatly reduced after I started Philo’s. It’s giving me immense recognition and love,” she shares.
- Veena Malhotra, 66
A knee surgery and a bout of chikungunya led to an unusual amount of hairfall for Veena Malhotra. After multiple home remedies and oils failed, she started making her own hair oil in her kitchen. Five years of painstaking efforts later, she had cracked the perfect combination.
Her hair oil, sold under the brand name Veena Ji’s Hair Oil, contains dried curry leaves along with other herbs like ashwagandha (Indian ginseng) shankhpushpi (morning glory), methi dana (fenugreek seeds), kalaunji (black caraway), kala til (black sesame) and amla powder (gooseberry) with olive, mustard, sesame and coconut oils.
Launched post retirement, the venture has given her a new lease of life. “I have worked all my life, and after retiring, the thought of sitting idle did not appeal to me,” says Veena. This is truly a coming of age venture for this senior citizen, as she endured an abusive marriage and ensured that her children get a good education all by herself.
She also donates 50 percent of the sales proceeds to various charities.
- Nagamani, 90
When a young Nagamani experienced extreme hair fall, her friend shared a 150-year-old hair oil formula with her. It worked like a charm and led to ‘Mani Aunty’, as she is fondly called, distributing it to her friends and family over the years.
However, it was only in her 60s, after the death of her husband, that the Bengaluru resident started selling her hail oil through her venture Roots & Shoots. Making the hair oil is a tedious process, with a base of coconut oil and four oil seeds, two of which are sourced from Himachal Pradesh.
The seeds are hand pounded, added to coconut oil and left under the sun for at least six weeks. Done only once a year, it’s hand checked by Mani aunty before being bottled.
- Karusseril N Thankamma, 90
Most people yearn for company in their old age, and who better to understand this than a lady in her 80s, after the loss of her husband. A retired teacher at Kottayam, Kerala, Thankamma decided to mitigate the problem faced by elderly women, by setting up a daycare in her 200-year-old ancestral home.
Started when she was 84, Manavodaya Pakalveedu, has 30 women who came for companionship and remain busy through interesting activities that keep their mind and body healthy.
Everyday, these senior citizens are picked up from their homes by 8 am. They do yoga, walks, engage in the packing of candles, incense sticks or detergent as per their wish. Others can engage in conversations, reading, farming or games.
“I have always felt a responsibility to give back to the society that taught numerous things to me. Spending time with these women brings me unmatched joy and peace of mind. We also owe a lot to the young women who help us in running the home efficiently,” says Thankamma.
- Smita Surendranath Blaggan, 64
A Maharashtrian born in Karnataka married to a Punjabi settled in Goa, Smita was exposed to different cuisines and cultures. Starting cooking as a young girl of 10, food played an important role in the former government employee’s life.
After whipping up food for her family, friends and colleagues, who would tell her that ‘food was her calling’, she set up a restaurant post retirement. Smita’s Lake View Restaurant in Goa, is famous for its authentic Goan cuisine and seafood. Some of the dishes that people keep coming back for include the prawn danger, fish thali, rawa mussels and butter chicken.
Running a restaurant brings its own sets of challenges everyday. Smita laughs, as she says, “What is life without some masala and drama.”
Edited by Padmashree Pande
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