Monisha Chhabra - The Resilient Story Of Ujjain's 85-Year-Old Entrepreneur

Imagine having big dreams and a deep passion, only to be suddenly moved to a small town, only to be relocated to a small town during an era when patriarchal norms demanded that women remain at home while men were seen as the breadwinners. Do those dreams start to fade? Does the passion slowly vanish?

In an interview with SheThePeople, Monisha Chhabra, a trailblazer in Ujjain, having founded one of the city’s first beauty salons, shared how she refused to be stifled by circumstances beyond her control. Defying the challenges and constraints life threw her way, she turned adversity into opportunity.

The 85-year-old also shared how she found her identity and freedom through the creation of Monalisa Beauty Salon, a venture that not only empowered her but also transformed the lives of thousands of women through her NGO, Monalisa Institute of Beauty Culture.

How Monisha Chhabra’s Small Salon Broke Barriers In 1980s 

You started a salon in 1980 when very few women were working. It's been a long journey. What inspired you to start a salon, and what was the reason behind this idea?

I am from Bombay, and I have been very active since the beginning. I was a radio artist and a stage artist, and I loved to read. So, I did library science from Bombay's Siddharth College. I also worked as a librarian for a long time so that I could read and expand my knowledge. I had big dreams of becoming something and doing something meaningful. But I got married in a small town in Ujjain. Moving from Bombay to Ujjain, I had to focus on my family and children, and my dreams faded away. I became busy with my family and didn't think of doing anything else.

But destiny had something else in store for me. I got married in Bombay, where I attended the wedding of Navrang's hero, Mahipal. It was a very ordinary wedding, but the makeup artist who did the makeup for the groom impressed me deeply. I realised that makeup is an art that can enhance a person’s beauty. That moment ignited a spark within me, and I felt that I should do something in this field. I didn’t even know I had such a desire until that moment. So, I decided to take training.

I spoke to my husband, and he supported me. I left my two small children in Ujjain and went to Bombay for six months to receive training. That incident was enough to inspire me to pursue this path.

Your story is a great example of how determination can lead to success. What challenges did you face in starting your business in Ujjain, especially in terms of resources and societal norms? How did you overcome those challenges?

I faced many challenges. First, there were financial challenges. Initially, I received a loan of ₹10,000, but I had to travel to Mumbai to buy even the smallest supplies because they weren’t available in Ujjain. The third challenge was attracting customers. People didn’t understand what a salon or a parlour was, and it was particularly difficult to bring women in as customers. At that time, most women stayed at home, and those who did go out usually did so for teaching jobs. The concept of visiting a parlour was unfamiliar and even taboo.

Imagine digging a well in a barren land to find water. That’s how it felt to try to convince women to visit a parlour. Initially, women came secretly, using the excuse of visiting a temple, and would cover their faces so no one would know they were going to a parlour. But slowly, as they began to understand that parlours could solve their beauty problems, more women started coming. Some of them found satisfaction in the services and recommended others, leading to word-of-mouth publicity. Over time, our work grew, and the parlour became more popular.

Even today, many women in India don't receive family support to work. Throughout your journey, how did your family support you?

I am very fortunate that my family has supported me a lot. My husband took care of our children and encouraged me to train for six months. My parents, in-laws, and other family members also helped me. It is my great fortune that I received their support. After that, my children, and even my grandchildren, helped me. I have been very lucky in this regard.

Recently, I interviewed a woman from Ambala who started her business at the age of 90 and became an artist. Her story is a reminder that there is no age limit for pursuing passion and challenging oneself. As an 85-year-old woman, how do you see life? You still run your business with the same enthusiasm as when you started it.

Passion never fades. I still have the same passion I had earlier. Today, we have access to media and many other tools that keep us updated with new things. I stay updated and always want to learn something new. I incorporate these new trends and techniques into my practice. This passion will remain with me for the rest of my life. As long as I am alive, this will be my passion.

When you started your parlour in 1980, what factors influenced your growth and development?

Knowledge, honesty, and the willingness to experiment with new things have been the key factors in my growth.

You also run an institute. Could you tell us more about it?

One day, a woman came to me with her six-month-old daughter, asking for financial help. I told her that I wouldn’t give her financial assistance, but she could learn a skill from me and earn her own money. She did, and today she has built a house, bought a car, and is educating her daughter in college. 

This inspired other women to come to me for training, and that’s how my institute started. It’s an NGO aimed at helping financially backward women learn skills and become self-reliant. I started it alone, but soon others joined me, and the work grew.

In your opinion, what changes are necessary to eliminate old patriarchal practices so that women can be treated equally?

The old times are gone. Today, women are successfully working in every field. In the past, patriarchal practices dictated that women should stay at home while men provided for the family. But now, women have stepped out, and they are standing on their own two feet.