We might have heard about many people who are successful at their younger ages and also people like colonel sanders who started KFC at the age of 60. Now Harbhajan Kaur at the age of 94 once again proved that age is not a barrier or limiting factor for success. It’s the Zeal that matters, not the age.
Harbhajan Kaur from Chandigarh launched her startup named Harbhajan’s at the age of 90. She sells Besan Barfi sweets and pickles Here she explains her story of how she started fulfilling her dream of earning money by making sweets.
“4 years back, when I have just turned 90, I remember thinking, ‘Saari umar beet gayi, aur maine ek paisa nahi kamaya.’ I had spent my whole life managing the house and my family. While my kids were at school and husband was at work, I’d spend hours trying new recipes— I loved cooking. But when I was 84, my children had long moved out and my husband passed away. That’s when I started feeling lonely.
I started living with my daughter after, and told her, ‘Mujhe kuch karna hai, apne liye.’ I told her I can cook.
She smiled and said ‘Ma, you can sell your barfis and achaar in the mandi nearby.’ My kids loved them, so I thought it was a great idea!
The Mandi owner immediately agreed, and in less than a week, my stall was set up and in a few hours, everything was sold out!
That day, I earned my first salary–Rs. 2000 for 8 boxes of barfi. I had tears in my eyes… it was the first money I’d ever earned–at the age of 90! But I was happiest when a young girl told me, ‘Nani, aapne mummy ki yaad diladi.’ I rushed home and started trying new recipes! I hadn’t felt that excited about anything in years!
Soon, the town knew my barfis as the barfis that reminded them of their childhood. So my grand daughter designed boxes for them, with ‘Harbhajan, made with love, bachpan yaad aa jaye’ printed on them. Wedding invitations are sent out along with 200kgs of barfi for grand daughter’s wedding 2 months ago.
After that year, everything happened so fast– even newspapers started writing about me! And then 5 months back, my daughter came running to me and showed me an article where Mr. Anand Mahindra said that I am his ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’– but I didn’t know what that meant. She explained, ‘it means you’ve started your own business!’ I told her ‘then I’ve been an entrepreneur my whole life, feeding you all!’
Life is busy now–I’m baking all day. When I get bulk orders, I work from 8 am to 6 pm; I don’t feel bored or lonely anymore! I’ve even started dressing up more and bought matching potlis for all my sarees!
When my kids and grand kids feel confused about their careers, I tell them, ‘it’s never too late to change your mind…if nani can do it at 90, you can do anything!”
Chase your dream, Age does not matter to be successful!