From Paralysis to Powerhouse: How Sumarty G Is Building a Spice Business Against All Odds

Sumarty G grew up in the lush valleys of Srinagar, in Jammu and Kashmir. She was 14 years old, when she contracted a high fever that refused to go away easily. The fever ended up leaving her legs paralysed, while doctors confirmed that she’d been affected by polio. Sumarty now had to live with the fact that she’d never walk again. Yet, wheelchair-bound Sumarty didn’t let this cloud her zeal. She went on to establish a successful spice business, which is now on a mission to provide renewed hope to individuals with disabilities.

Sumarty G was one of the participants on Britannia Marie Gold’s ‘Her Start-up Show’, which is now streaming on JioHotstar.

Dreaming Big, Despite Being Wheelchair Bound.

Sumarty’s childhood was marred by her inability to walk, as she had to drop out of school. She says, “My family supported me and tried a lot to help me walk again, but it didn’t work.”

In the aftermath, she became depressed and even considered taking her own life.

Read: Urban Women with Disabilities: Insights Into Living, Dating, Working, and Enjoying Life

She rued about it for a long time. It was her father who motivated her to dream bigger and build a life for herself. Then she decided to embark on her first entrepreneurial journey – a boutique. “It was on the second floor, so I’d have a lot of trouble going up and down,” she said.

Then she decided to try and build a business with spices, and called it Sadaf Masaley. One of their standout products is the Kashmiri chillis, which are brought, dried, ground and packed in their factories. Fennel and turmeric are other spices that Sadaf Masaley is known for.

 

 

 

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She employs 25 people under her brand.

Sumarty’s Pitch on ‘Her Startup Show’

Her own journey, filled with myriad obstacles, has instilled a sense of kindness and empathy in her that made her want to do more for her community. “People who can’t walk, or are blind, I focus more on them. I want to give them employment,” she said.

She now wants to expand and build units in all districts of the state.

Sumarty highlighted in front of jury that she needed funds to buy more machines and introduce new products. One of the things she’s working on introducing is liquid spices. She says that would reduce frying and cooking time.

With her pitch and story, Sumarty managed to secure a grant of 10 lakh rupees on the show.

GroupM Motion Entertainment and Mindshare, in collaboration with Britannia and digital partner HerZindagi, have unveiled Season 2 of Her Start-Up Show—India’s first and only national reality series dedicated solely to women entrepreneurs. It is now streaming on JioHotstar.