I am Mrs Manik Ajay Patwardhan, Director of WAY2WED, Marriage Bureau in Bengaluru for the last 21 years. Founder and President of Swakruta Charitable Trust, an NGO started in the year 2007, which supports women who want to start home-based businesses.
The Beginning – Balancing Family and Career Dreams
It was 1979 when I got the central government job, my first, immediately after graduation on the basis of merit. I was lucky enough to get a good education and permission from my parents to work. In those days, girls were not that career-minded. Marriage was the most common goal.
As was normal, I got married by 21 and had 2 kids by 28. There was no regret about resigning from the central government job, as kids and family were most important.
During those years, I had the opportunity to try out different businesses while taking care of the family.
As we lived in a small town, I started a silk saree business by getting the stock from a city like Bengaluru. It didn’t work out. Then, as I had learnt stitching and stitched clothes for my daughters, I got the idea of starting a kids’ clothes business at home with one of my friends who was also good at stitching! By the time I started getting good responses, we had moved out of that place to a slightly bigger town.
Early Entrepreneurial Experiments
With more time on my hands, I could learn computers by attending the classes when my kids went to school. In those days, computers had started getting better and more efficient. That computer learning helped me to start the computer centre and teach computers to vernacular students. I could get the computers and subsidy from the government to start my venture.
Before starting the Computer Centre, I had tried and tested various businesses like saree Falls stitching, selling special products like cardamoms, Scents, papads, etc.
I did write a book on home-based businesses, which was much appreciated.
The Birth of WAY2WED Marriage Bureau
When we moved to Bengaluru, I interviewed 52 women who were doing different businesses for a Kannada weekly. That inspired me to start something on my own. I started my Marriage Bureau in 2004, which has been running successfully for the last 21years!
Swakruta Charitable Trust – Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
As I always wished to help, support, and do something for women, I started the NGO Swakruta Charitable Trust in 2007.
The goal of the NGO was to support women who started their businesses in their homes. Swakruta started arranging exhibitions and stalls at different events, giving training sessions on different aspects of business for women who needed support in business.
The network of women helped the members who joined Swakruta expand their business.
We have a few branches in Bengaluru and are spreading out to Pune with two more branches. Though the initial years were full of challenges, over the years, I have been able to support many women to stand on their own feet, by making them financially independent, by helping them start their own small businesses.
Swakruta would bring out diaries for many years. Three years back, we started the eWEBB bulletin, a very special magazine dedicated only to women entrepreneurs. In that bulletin, we cover success stories of women who have worked hard to achieve success, tips to do better business, and opportunities to advertise their products or services.
Collaborations and Milestones
I was chosen as one of the Managing Committee members when Swakruta got associated with a large organisation named “Ubuntu ”which has more than 56 organisations spread across 11 states and has more than 30000members put together. I got the special contribution award from Ubuntu, which was then given by the Governor of Karnataka.
I had the opportunity of becoming the President of a 105-year-old organisation, Maharashtra Mandal, Bengaluru, for three years and organising various events for a larger women community. I got recognition and awards from various organisations for whatever small contribution I made to the community.
Swakruta got associated with many different organisations and got a big support from the RV Institute of Management and Christ University.
We could organise an Entrepreneurs’ seminar for more than 600 participants, 60 stalls, which had super sales in those two days!
Inspiring Through Media and Outreach
My TED talk on a TV channel was viewed by more than 3.4 lakh people!
That inspired me to conduct various training sessions in small towns.
Swakruta SEWA – Supporting Women from Weaker Sections
Swakruta SEWA, my other venture, supports women who are less educated and from the financially weaker section of society. Swakruta Cutlery bank, which is a free service, helps in reducing the use of disposables by supplying reusable steel cutlery for events.
Reuse, Reduce, Recycle is our goal. Under that beautiful Tote bags, potli bags, money pouches, table runners, buntings and similar useful items are stitched from catalogue cloth or used sarees, dupattas and other clothing.
Overall, my journey is always exploring, creating and inspiring. I tried and tested many different businesses and understood the challenges in each one of them. My practical experience helps me to guide women who need help in their business ventures.
The Legacy – Exploring, Creating, Inspiring
My journey is proof that every idea, big or small, can change lives when nurtured with courage. If my story inspires you, I invite you to contact us at Swakruta and be part of a movement that empowers women to dream and do.
