DID YOU KNOW? Lijjat Papad Is Valued At A Whopping Rs 1600 Crores! Let’s Take A Dive Into Co-Founder, Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat’s Audacious Journey-READ BELOW

Lijjat’s journey into Indian households is quite remarkable, and even after almost 64 years, it continues to achieve remarkable feats

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DID YOU KNOW? Lijjat Papad Is Valued At A Whopping Rs 1600 Crores! Let’s Take A Dive Into Co-Founder, Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat’s Audacious Journey-READ BELOW
Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad, popularly known as Lijjat, is one of India’s oldest and most popular companies that manufactures consumer goods. However, the name made its way to Indian households for its iconic papads, which are known to be the most common food item amongst countrymen. 

Lijjat’s journey into Indian households is quite remarkable, and even after almost 64 years, it continues to achieve remarkable feats.

Without further ado, let’s take a glimpse into the story of seven women who are behind the success of Lijjat Papad in India.


A group of seven Gujarati women, who lived in Bombay (now Mumbai), started a business venture with their sharpest cooking skills in 1959. The company’s sole purpose was to create a sustainable livelihood for themselves.

The company and its seven founding members targeted to become one of India’s biggest companies, with an initial investment of just Rs. 80, which they had borrowed from a renowned social worker, Chhaganlal Karamsi Parekh. With the borrowed money they bought the ingredients they needed to prepare papad, and during the initial days they manufactured merely four packets and sold them before attempting more.


Interestingly, it was the product’s top-notch quality and taste that took the consumer goods market by storm and they were credited to the experiences of seven women. Their new feat resulted in them getting wholesale orders from local vendors. 

Their company continued to scale great heights as a business with constant support from Chhaganlal Karamsi Parekh and under the leadership of, they continued climbing ladders.

The women-led venture soon grabbed the spotlight and the seven women decided to name their company Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad. In no time, they had 300 women working under them to meet the growing demand for their products. 


From setting 18 years as the minimum entry age to working with them to run it like a proper business enterprise, Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad became a major source of jobs for women.

There’s no doubt, Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad’s success was a result of the collaborated effort of the seven women. However, amongst all the women who founded this venture, it was Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat who deserves a little more appreciation. 

Well, several reports suggest that she was the one who shared the idea of starting a business venture and convinced the other six members of their group to be a part of their business idea.

However, a selfless Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat has always credited her success to all the women in her company. But, she was said to be the one who shouldered all the responsibility. 


On January 26, 2021, she was honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri award for her incredible food venture that went on to provide jobs to so many women in different parts of the country.

Today, Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat is known to be a symbol of women's empowerment and dedication. The way she teamed up with her six co-founders is exceptional, and even at 93, she is still quite active.

Reports suggest that Lijjat Papad has 82 branches in 17 different parts of India. To top it off, it also exports its products to more than 25 countries. Today, Lijjat Papad is valued at a whopping Rs 1600 Crores.

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