Goa, Nov. 2 -- From surviving days without food as a child to building a reputation in Siolim for her culinary skills and enterprise, Saroja Chodankar's life is a testament to the power of perseverance. Now in her late fifties, she makes everything from ghee, ladoos and pickles to curry masala and bedsheets, proving that neither hardship nor ill health can extinguish a determined spirit.

Arwin Fonseca

From a childhood marked by extreme poverty to a life shaped by personal loss and repeated health struggles, Saroja Chodankar of Tar, Siolim, has refused to let adversity define her. Now in her late fifties, she continues to make varied homemade products, run her family's masala mill and inspire others through her determination.

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