New Delhi: “My eyes couldn’t see the world, but the world should see me!” says Geetha Saleesh. Geetha, visually impaired, runs Geetha’s Home to Home, a pickle and spice business that she founded a few years ago. Geetha lost her eyesight at the age of 15, but she never lost hope to make her name in the world. She was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic disorder, at 15. Talking about the time she started losing her vision, Geetha said,

When I was in Class 8, my vision started to blur. I thought it was the blackboard; turned out, my eyesight was slipping away. I began losing my eyesight at the age of 12, and became blind at 15.

Things that she could usually do without any hassle became a task after she lost her sight. Talking about her challenges, Geetha said,

I tried speaking to my friends about it, but no one understood my problem in the beginning. It bothered me that I will never be able to see the world again and live the life like I had always lived!

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She went on to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Politics, and initially focused on finding a job. However, she was rejected multiple times because of her visual disability. She did not look for any job opportunities further and shifted her focus on taking care of her family. She and her husband, Saleesh, ran a small restaurant in the district for a few years. Unfortunately, they had to shut it down when they lost the rented space.

She then took a break as she wanted to focus on her children. But later, when she decided to work again, she got rejections on her platter. But Geetha was determined to make a name for herself, and it was during the coronavirus pandemic, she decided to start her food business.

Geetha’s Home To Home

With her family’s support, she began Geetha’s Home to Home in 2020, and today, 17 women are working in the business. She wants her business to build a health-conscious community and savour the flavour of good health. All the food products she sells have multiple health benefits.

Talking about her signature product, Curcumeal, Geetha said,

I developed a Curcumeal after researching it for two years. It is a blend of turmeric, dates, almonds, coconut milk, and jaggery. It’s a superfood supplement, as it has all the goodness of turmeric. We started with 100 bottles, and today we have sold more than 10,000 bottles of it.

Geetha Saleesh

Geetha’s belief in herself and the family’s support made her what she is today. She embraced challenges as opportunities for growth, refusing to be deterred by setbacks or obstacles along the way.

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