Deeja Satheesan has been confined to a wheelchair since childhood due to polio. But this 42-year-old native of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala is now a beacon of resilience and entrepreneurship, having built a successful pickle manufacturing business from scratch.
With no formal education and limited mobility, Deeja’s early life was marked by societal pity and personal struggles. Her fierce determination made her chase dreams bigger than her circumstances. Today, Deeja’s homegrown pickle brand “Nymitra” is not just a household name in her locality but is gaining popularity across the world.
Deeja developed a passion for cooking from her father, who used to run a small hotel at their native place in Varkala. Following his death in 2020, Deeja moved to a modest rented house in Killimanoor in Thiruvananthapuram.
With her love for traditional recipes passed down from her father and a small borrowed capital, she began making pickles in her kitchen — mango, lime, garlic, and tender ginger.
“I wanted to do something meaningful. My wheelchair may limit my movement, but not my mind or spirit. I was determined to do what I love most—cooking,” Deeja told “Open Digest.“
Initially, she sold her pickles to neighbours and at local markets. Positive feedback poured in about the taste, quality, and authenticity of her products. Word spread quickly, and soon orders started flowing in from beyond her neighbourhood.
Soon, Deeja realized the potential of social media in reaching out to new customers. She started using different social media platforms, further boosting her visibility. “Now, I get orders from Kochi, Kozhikode, and even Bengaluru,” she said.
What began as a one-woman initiative has now grown into an enterprise with Deeja getting full support from her mother and other family members. Deeja is now planning to expand her business further. The construction work for a dedicated manufacturing unit is progressing.
