From the city of ‘Jins’

When Sminu Jindal proposed to take charge of her billion dollar family business, it wasn’t a common occurrence in a Marwari family. Today, years after her spirited efforts have borne fruit, the Jindal family heiress looks back at her achievements with much pride. “My family might have thought that it would be difficult since I was the first woman to enter into this domain. Seeing my tenacity, and being able to prove my point helped me get around. Besides, growing up in a business family background helped me realise that this is what I want to do in life,” says the managing director of Jindal SAW Ltd.

Having a distinguished last name could have its pros and cons, but for Sminu, it’s mostly the former. “Having anything positive always works for one’s life. My surname is no different. The rewarding part of working in a family business is that you grow amongst leaders and start imbibing their qualities at a very early stage of your life. Yet, one is always questioned and has a high bar set from the beginning,” she says.

Apart from making a mark in the gas, oil and steel sector, Sminu’s body of work revolves around her accessibility projects. Sminu, a student of the Maharani Gayatri Devi school in Jaipur met with an accident at 11, when she was travelling home to Delhi for a holiday. The near fatal accident has rendered her wheel-chair bound since. Hence, she finds herself fiercely fighting for the cause of the differently-abled and has spearheaded an initiative, Svayam. “Svayam as a whole is very close to my heart as its life objective is to bring meaningful change in the lives of thousands who face social as well as economic isolation due to disabling infrastructure. I believe dignity can only be brought in by providing equal opportunity to people — irrespective of age and abilities. My best achievement would be to sensitise people at large that when they work towards enabling environment, they are actually taking care of their future as their bodies grow older,” explains Sminu.

Sminu’s reward includes prime minister Narendra Modi’s support for the Accessible India Campaign. “I am very happy as finally we do have a PM who echoes my thoughts and speaks the same language — that accessibility doesn’t enable only disabled but elderly, children, pregnant women, young parents with strollers among others,” she says. Her achievements also include making accessible the Qutub Minar, Red Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

When she isn’t immersed in work, Sminu occupies herself with plenty of hobbies which help her unwind like music, painting, writing and reading. “I also dabble in holistic healing. My favourite holiday destination would be Dubai. Family time is significant to me and my after-work hours are dedicated to the family. Motherhood has added many new facets to my personality. I ensure whenever there are summer vacations in my kids school, I spend time with them,” she adds.

Ask her what the future holds and she says, “I truly believe that My Incredible India, can be Accessible India.”