Mamta Mahajan
Chairperson
East African Growers Group of Companies | Nairobi (KENYA)
Ancestry
Gandhara (undivided British India)
Birthplace
Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir (India)
Residence
Nairobi (KENYA)
SOLACE THROUGH LABOUR & ITS FRUITS
Life seemed like a fairy-tale: a loving husband, three adorable daughters and wonderful friends and family. But everything changed when it took her husband away too soon. Now she is rewriting her story.
At 19, the thought of marriage, let alone moving across the world to live in Kenya, was daunting. And so, I begrudgingly went to meet Peeush for the first time in Delhi; that one meeting was all it took for us to fall in love… so kind and humble was he, I was ready to live the rest of my life with him.
Our beautiful beginning
Born in Jammu, on 10 November 1970, I was the fifth of six sisters. My father, Purshotam Dass Vaid, had a transport business and owned some fruit orchards. And my mother, Sudarshan, was a housewife and doting mother. A home filled with six girls was bound to be lively. Papa would bring baskets of fruits and all of us would relish the litchis and mangoes during summer and drink fresh honey flavoured orange juice in winter.
I was Papa’s favourite. He wanted me to become a doctor and wanted all of us to get the best education. We studied at Presentation Convent High School, Jammu. I was shy but sincere and a class topper. My teachers doted on me. In grade 6, my class teacher asked my mother if she would exchange me with her daughter! I loved playing Badminton and participated in school debates and dances. As one of the favourites of our Principal, Sister Roselima, I was selected, to be the Assistant Head Girl in grade 9 and Head Girl in grade 10. I was also chosen as ‘Miss Convent’ at the grade 10 farewell in 1986. After which, I did my premedical at GGHSS and then BSc at Government College for Women, Jammu.
During vacations we would visit our cousins in Varanasi or vice versa. A horde of children running all over the house, playing hide-and-seek, Badminton, sleeping on the roof under the stars, gobbling huge Banarsi Langda Mangoes in summer and baking cakes in the winter for the New Year celebration are sweet memories.
It was during my second year of college that the proposal from a family settled in Kenya had come. I was not ready for marriage but agreed to meet Peeush Mahajan on my mother’s insistence. In our 11 months of courtship, we exchanged loving letters and weekly phone calls. His letters to me were always so beautiful;
“The journey has been a long one,
Yet it was fun but tiring,
And I am elated that it is YOU JUST YOU AND NO ONE ELSE,
With whom I shared these unique moments,
And with who I shall share these unique memories.”
A month after we got married, I returned to sit for my final exams, topped in my college and non-medical sciences in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kenya was home away from home
A new chapter of my life began when I moved to Kenya. I was greeted by a large joint family. Even though there were two houses and four families in the same compound, we all ate our meals together. I was really fascinated with this – and thoroughly enjoyed all the love and attention I was given. Gradually, Peeush and I started our own little family. We were blessed with three adorable daughters.
Peeush’s great-grandfather, Maya Ram Mahajan, arrived in Kenya in the early 20th century. His son, Suraj Narain Mahajan, opened a fruit, vegetable and flower shop, Maya Ram & Sons, which, with time grew to seven shops, and the family was soon well-established. In 1967, Peeush’s father Prem Lal Mahajan and uncle Krishan Lal Mahajan started East African Growers an export company, exporting fruits and vegetables to Europe and the Middle East.
The family’s name had become so prominent by then that when Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the Guru known for developing “Transcendental Meditation”, arrived in Kenya with his guru, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, in the 1980s, they were driven directly to the ‘Mahajan’ home, by their devotees, to be hosted by my in-laws for the entire duration of their stay, which was for a whole month.
At the age of 13, Peeush, learnt a lot about religion from them. After completing his elementary schooling, he moved to Canada to study Computer Sciences. He then returned to Kenya in 1989 to join the family business.
Peeush took me around places and I fell in love with the beauty of this country – sightseeing, evening drives, fabulous Cappuccino with his favourite Black Forest cake, and the weekend highlight – movies at the drive in.
During the Gulf War in early 1990s, the Middle East business was greatly affected. Peeush shifted his focus to European wholesale and supermarket retail business. With the support of his father and uncle, we moved our operations to JKIA Specialised Cargo Centre, bought farms and the business of the current President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta. We started growing and processing vegetables, taking the business to great heights, becoming leaders in the exports of fruit, vegetables and flowers from Kenya.
During Christmas and New Year, the volume of shipments to Europe would double and Peeush would work till late. As frustrating as it would be not to see him for long hours, his magical smile and infectious laughter would drive away all my anger and exasperation.
Our daughters are and will always be our joy, love and happiness
Peeush and I are proud parents of three lovely girls, Nikasha (1993), Tanvi (1995) and Simran (1997).
Nikasha has studied Accounting and Finance from Warwick University, UK, and is currently assisting me in the business. Tanvi did Accounting and Management from Kent University, UK, and is pursuing MSc in Accounting from Wake Forest University, North Carolina. Simran is doing her MSc in Architecture from Cardiff University, UK.
They were very close to Peeush and have enjoyed delightful times with their Papa. Even today as young ladies, their eyes sparkle with joy when they talk about those wonderful times.
I was happy raising my daughters, but when the time came for me to help Peeush with the business, my daughters supported my decision, even though they obviously wanted their mother to be home when they came home from school.
Being more of a practical person, I had little inclination towards religion or spirituality. On my arrival in Kenya, I found the family more inclined towards religious activities. I have personally learnt a lot about spirituality from Peeush. Over time I realised that along with a practical aspect to life, divine intervention plays a huge role as well.
In 2006, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji, a humanitarian, spiritual leader and an ambassador of peace, visited Kenya. We were privileged to host Gurudev. It gave us great pleasure, to see people visit our home, in such large numbers, seeking His blessings. Peeush was the first Chairperson of The Art of Living in Kenya and held that position until his untimely death. I was fortunate to be blessed with the same position in 2017. I too have found a lot of peace and solace, in listening to discourses, participating in the self-development programs and the weekly satsangs.
The business continued to thrive, our three little girls were growing up to be beautiful hardworking young ladies, and in Art of Living we were finding our spirituality and solace. Life obviously has its ups and downs, but we were happy. And then, life took an unexpected turn, in 2015, when a heart attack took Peeush away from us.
One day changed everything for us
On 13 July 2015, Peeush insisted he would take the weekly Art of Living Meditation Session. Nikasha had gone with him and was captivated by his words during the session –“Where do you grow, you grow outside your comfort zone. Your enemies are the ones that push you out of your comfort zone, so actually your worst enemies might be your best friends.”
They both came home around 9 pm, had some fruits and slept. We were to travel the same week. While preparing to sleep, when I came out of the bathroom, I saw Peeush sitting on the floor and realised something was not right. No effort that night could hold him back… he motioned to all of us to come sit next to him and told us – “Jai Guru Dev” (telling us that he was going to his Guru) and left his body, his face emanating complete peace and serenity, having united with the enlightened one.
Peeush would always encourage me to learn more about the various aspects of the business. He would tell me that I should take over the business so he can pursue his spiritual activities and service to society. I never thought that I could run the business on my own. However, divine intervention was working to make me understand the business for a different reason. Peeush and I spent the best 24 years of our life together.
Since then, I have had the responsibility of running the business and taking care of my beautiful daughters. My mother-in-law, Sukarma Mahajan, my very close family, friends and my co-directors have provided immense support during this difficult time and for that I am forever grateful. Times may have changed, but emotions haven’t, and there isn’t a day when I don’t miss my husband.
Philosophy
Great things never come from comfort zone.
I love…
Singing and arranging flowers.
I’d suggest the youth…
Choose wisely… life is full of choices. Run your life… don’t let life run you.
Success Mantra
Success is finding your purpose and ultimate fulfilment.
The world doesn’t know that…
My daughters and I had a miraculous escape from Westgate Mall during the 2013 terrorist attack. His benevolent hand protected us.
AKA
Chairperson, East African Growers Group of Companies | Agribusiness leader Mamta Mahajan Kenya
Gallery
ISBN : 9788193397695