Lijjat Papad of Pune | India’s Mega Kitchens | National Geographic

Summary

In 1959, Mumbai witnessed the birth of a revolution in the form of Lijjat Papad, a women's cooperative that started in a small shop in Girgaon. Jasvantiben and Premji are among the founders who sold their first packets of papads there. Today, Lijjat has 82 branches across India, exporting papads worldwide. The Pune branch alone processes over 4,700 kg of dal daily. The cooperative has evolved with time, maintaining its traditional values while adapting to modern demands. Lijjat's annual export target stands at 70 million rupees, empowering women and becoming a symbol of female entrepreneurship.

Takeaways

• 🏭 The script discusses the transformation of Mumbai's City Financial Sector in 1959 and the growth of the textile industry, which attracted many people to settle in the city.
• 🌱 It highlights the beginning of a revolution in the form of a group of women, including Jasvanti and Ben, who started a movement in the Gurgaon area of the metropolis.
• 🏢 The movement started with just seven people in an empty five-story building, and they managed to produce seven packets in the first day.
• 📈 The script mentions the brand 'Lijjat', which is well-known for its papad, a thin, crispy Indian snack made from lentils or black gram.
• 🌳 The movement has grown significantly, with 82 branches across India and 100 papad pre-press centers.
• 🏭 The script describes a branch in Pune that operates like a nerve center, producing over 4700 kilos of dal (lentils) per day.
• 🌐 Lijjat papads are now exported to various parts of the world, including the UK, Europe, the Middle East, the United States, South East Asia, and some parts of Africa.
• 👵 The script introduces Jasvanti Bin Anand Ji and Prem Ji, who started their journey with Lijjat by selling their first four packets from their small shop in 1959.
• 🔄 Lijjat has evolved with time, adapting to changing times while maintaining its traditional values and practices.
• 📦 The company has expanded its operations to include the production of packaged chapatis, with over 133,000 rotis (Indian flatbread) being made and sold daily.
• 💹 Lijjat has set an export target of 70 crore rupees and an annual target of 70 crore rupees, aiming to empower women and maintain quality without modern machinery.

Q & A

What significant change was happening in Mumbai in 1959 according to the script?

In 1959, Mumbai was experiencing a financial shift, with factories moving and the population increasing, particularly in the Girgaon area.

What was the revolutionary initiative that was being sown in the Girgaon area of Mumbai?

The revolutionary initiative was the establishment of a group of women, including Jasvanti and Ben, who started a movement that would later become a significant revolution.

What was the initial success of the group's initiative in the first day?

On the first day, the group managed to produce only seven packets, which was less than the expected target of at least five buildings.

What is the name that comes to mind when one hears 'paper' in India?

The name that comes to mind when one hears 'paper' in India is 'Lijjat Papad', which started with a small beginning and has now spread its roots across the country.

How many branches does Lijjat Papad have across India today?

As of the information provided, Lijjat Papad has 82 branches across India.

What is the role of the branches and nerve centers like the one in Pune?

The branches and nerve centers, such as the one in Pune, work to fulfill orders from Mumbai and provide raw materials to thousands of women who then make papads at home.

What is the daily production capacity of the Pune branch in terms of grams of dal?

The Pune branch has a daily production capacity of more than 4700 kilos of dal.

How does Lijjat Papad ensure the quality of the papads without modern machinery?

Lijjat Papad maintains quality by manually selecting and processing the dal, ensuring each piece is properly cooked and flavored, despite not using modern machinery.

What is the annual production capacity of Lijjat Papad in terms of papads?

Lijjat Papad produces more than 4.8 billion papads annually.

Where does Lijjat Papad export its papads?

Lijjat Papad exports its papads to various parts of the world including the UK, Europe, Middle East, United States, South East Asia, and some parts of Africa.

What is Lijjat Papad's current monthly export target and annual target in Indian Rupees?

Lijjat Papad's current monthly export target and annual target is 70 million Indian Rupees.

How does Lijjat Papad empower women in India?

Lijjat Papad empowers women by providing them with raw materials to make papads at home, thus creating an opportunity for income generation.