Most people think 50 is the age to slow down. Shashi Bahuguna Raturi chose to begin.

Living in Uttarakhand, she grew up eating pisyu loon - a traditional Himalayan salt hand-ground with chillies and local herbs. As packaged spices replaced homemade flavours, this mountain recipe slowly faded from kitchens. Shashi couldn’t let that happen.

At 52, with just Rs 1,000, one helper, and support from her son on social media, she started selling her traditional salt under the brand Namakwali. People doubted her. “How will a housewife run a business?” they asked.

But she kept going. She walked long distances to source quality ingredients and convinced local women to join her. Orders started coming in through Instagram, then across India through her website.

Today, her brand generates Rs 5 crore in revenue, employs 35 women, supports 500 farmers, and plants a tree for every order.

She didn’t just sell salt - she revived tradition and built an empire.