Madhu Naithaini, a resident of Birch Court, Nirvana is one person for whom age is no bar! She has always been a fiery go-getter, from being raised single-handedly by strong women, riding motorbikes in Chandigarh, performing on theatre stages across India, and now foraying into the world of beauty pageants at 72. At the age of 50, she reignited her passion for creativity, transforming herself in multiple ways and inspiring generations along the way!! She started to learn Kuchipudi dance under the tutelage of eminent dancers Radha and Raja Reddy. She forayed into theatre, performed in plays, and even started modelling as a part-time career. Very recently, Madhu made the Nirvana community proud by winning the Marvellous Diva Crown and making it to the top 10 at the Marvellous Mrs. India contest. Sitting down with Shilpa Sonal, here’s a peek into what 72 looks like to a woman whose bucket list seems to have endless opportunities.
You’re 72, and one of the strongest women I have come across. How did that come about?
The thing is I lost my father when I was eight and my elder sister was twelve. So we were five sisters, twelve to one. My grandmother was very, very strong. Mother too, but she was lost for two years. But then she realized that she had to bring up five daughters.
But my grandmother really pushed us. My mother was well qualified and my grandmother was eighth pass at that time. So my grandmother always used to say- see your mother is educated and her education has helped. Why? Because my father didn’t get a pension till much later. So my mother started teaching. They gave us a good education. So much so that my eldest sister retired as the first woman Chief Architect of Chandigarh. Our youngest sister became a doctor and retired as deputy director of health. So my mother was very proud. She lived to see all this because she died at the age of 90. And in between, I did my masters in sociology; the younger to me did a masters in History. And the second one who we lost to cancer also did MSc Anthropology. So we were all very educated.
So you get your strength from your family?
Yes – my mother never stopped us from doing anything and always kept her sense of humour. So that’s the strength I got from the family. We have a picture of five daughters, my grandmother and mother sitting on a bench in a house. We always lived where women were empowered. So that gave us strength.
How was your early education and where was it?
In Chandigarh. I did my graduation from Chandigarh- Government College for Women. And then did my post-graduation in sociology, and passed out in 1973. I then taught for many years. I am a founder teacher of a very good school, St. Kabir School in Chandigarh.
What made you start a corporate career and embody this go-getting attitude?
In Parwanoo (Himachal Pradesh) which is close to Chandigarh, Purolator started a company where they were taking 50% women and 50% men. So I took the opportunity since teaching didn’t pay that much at that time. After this, I came to Delhi and started teaching again. I also opened my flower shop, which I ran for five-six years.
You just amaze me Madhu! You seem to have done most things women dream of doing in just one lifetime! You’ve done biking, you’ve taught children, and you’ve led a corporate life. So tell me a little bit about everything. What makes you go for it?
I think it’s very instinctive. I don’t know whether I’m strong or not. The same was with my mother. I don’t think she realized how strong she was to bring up five daughters. Fiery daughters instead of bechari daughters. But I think it comes from within. It’s not that when a setback comes I don’t feel down. But then I pull myself up.
This spirit to pull yourself out and up again, there is a message for people there. It is not easy. I think I inherited that from my mother. I’m the strongest among my five sisters. My strength comes from within.
I believe that you are also learning dance?
I started learning it from Radha and Raja Reddy. I did classical and learnt for 5-6 years. I even performed because Raja ji insisted. At that time I was 50, it was 20 years ago. When the performance day came, they choreographed a small portion for me.
Right now, I am learning light, semi-classical. Bollywood. I started during COVID, actually, so I learnt online. When COVID was over, I started going to his studio.
50 was a milestone year for you! You’re also an actor, I heard.
I’ve done lots of plays also. I did a course with Barry John. That was also when I was 50. I did everything at 50. I was too busy before that with the kids. My daughter got married when I was 50. After that, I had time, so I thought; let me fulfil my bucket list. So, I’m still doing it.
I did a play called Just Two More Minutes, where I did a double role. Those were quite contradictory to each other so that was a challenge. It was called Garam Chai Production. After that, I did an assistant role of Faizal Al Qazi, The Glass Menagerie, which was very good. I also did a mother’s role, Amanda. There were about 40 pages, which I had to learn, but that went well. We did at least seven shows.
There was another one, Bawarchi Diaries. It was a hilarious comedy. We did at least 10-12 shows for that too. I’m happiest when I’m on stage, whether dancing or acting.
And now, your latest episode, of your participation in this pageant, I want to hear about that.
Since the time I’ve started loving myself, I said, why not? Jab utho, tabhi savera hai. My niece, who has a production house in America, NRI Productions, called from America and told me to meet this girl, Aditi Govitrikar. She was the first Mrs. World. So, I went and met her. And she told me I should go for it. Those were the, one of the best days of my life. Those five days, it was bindaas, morning, evening, we were busy. We were given homework and morning rehearsal, evening rehearsal, they were shooting, morning shooting, evening shooting, western shooting, Indian shooting, talent round, interview round, arrival look, all those things kept us busy.
What was the name of the pageant and how did you feel while participating?
Marvellous Mrs. India. There were 26 participants. Four from America, one from Australia, two from Dubai.They were from all over, doctors and professionals. And everybody had to go through all the rounds.
I felt very confident and actually, I just took part in it for the fun of it. But I didn’t know I’ll come in the top 10 and they’ll give me the Marvellous Diva award. If I was younger, I would have definitely won it also [laughs].
What’s next on your bucket list?
Next on my bucket list is to get some work in the theatre. I’m really dying to do some. And you know, modelling offers also come. My initial push was also given by a fashion brand called Dmask by Dinesh Mohan. I got my portfolio made and I walked the ramp for their brand. I enjoy everything that has to do with visual arts, and creative arts.
What is the message that you have for others crossing 50?
So, there are two aspects of self-love. And it should be a continuous journey. Different people have different limitations. When you say that you love yourself that means you are liberating yourself from all the so-called conditions.
And what is self-love for you?
Actually, there was a question I was asked when I reached the top 10- what is the future of girls in India? So, I said, they have a very bright future because these days young mothers teach their daughters especially.- self-love, self-worth, and self- respect. I said these three must be given to the children, whether they are housewife or CEO.
That’s why I say, self-love means that you liberate yourself and there is no harm; to self-love, self-respect, and self-worth. Self-love is first you do what you feel like. Go back to your childhood and think, about what you wanted to do, what you wanted to do, and why you couldn’t do it for various reasons. Try to do that. Try to finish that. Try to; at least do what you dreamt of. Doesn’t matter if you have no dreams, but what are your present dreams? Try to do that.
Madhu, you got glamour back to Nirvana. Yes. Jab utho, tabhi savera hai. So, thank you. Thank you so much.
