FROM ORDINARY HOBBY TO AN EXTRAORDINARY PROFESSION, A TETE-A-TETE WITH MRS. ANITA JOSHI OF GUJARAT: BY KHATIBAH REHMAT.
KHATIBAH REHMAT: Mrs. Anita, kindly tell about yourself, which includes your family, birthplace, education and hobbies.
MRS. ANITA JOSHI: Well, my name is Anita Joshi and I was born and brought up in Kashmir which is also known as the heaven on earth. Its beauty is beyond imagination, which has the power to transform anybody’s life in a go. I did my schooling from here only, keeping a hobby to work in organic farming despite thinking that what destiny has planned for me. After completing my graduation, I moved to Gujarat and did my Master in Social Work at MSU-Baroda, Gujarat. Later, married into a Gujarati family in Ahmedabad where my husband was a professional architect. A simple but keeping high-thinking person who was always by my side. After that Kashmir was mostly in my heart and as soon as I find out some time from my excessively hectic schedule, I first try to pay a visit there.
Mrs. Anita Joshi
KHATIBAH REHMAT: How young you were when you first realised that working on organic foods is your hobby? Also, did you ever think of taking it to another level of professionalism in future?
MRS. ANITA JOSHI: After working with a Pharmaceutical company as an HR professional for some time, I then met with an architect couple through my husband’s connection, who was into organic farming and produce. So I decided to work and learn from them for a while, which resulted in raising my interest towards a healthy diet and a good lifestyle. Keeping some basic information in mind, I began my work on a very small scale. Where I started to promote myself with the help of my near ones who used to have handsome numbers of followers. Sharing a few of my products with them made my things go popular soon and now I can sense the reach shortly. Those positive feedbacks and responses have raised my morale to a level of taking my business to a higher level every single day. I’ve made myself present at every possible organic platform that connects me directly to the farmers.
Malabar Black Peppers. 
Organic Honey
KHATIBAH REHMAT: Today, when you have kept your foot forward to make your ordinary hobby to an extraordinary profession then what are your plans and thoughts to make it a successful one? Brief a bit and your business.
MRS. ANITA JOSHI: When I started this venture, then just had one or two products on my list. Still, decided to walk with whatever I had in my stock. Then also people bestowed their love and trust on me which helped me in growing from two to fifty. These include all organic products which can cater to almost all basic necessities of a running kitchen. Soon, I’ll be reaching out to the farmers for more products and cater to my clients who think ORGANIC! Last, but not least, I would like to say that soon, I will take my small business to a larger place through online stores and shall reach towards the masses of the nationhood.
INTERVIEWED AND PICTURE COURTESY: MRS. ANITA JOSHI.
INTERVIEW TAKEN BY: KHATIBAH REHMAT (Senior Journalist).
