Meet this 79-year-old woman, an Indian army veteran, who runs a food stall in Indore and is redefining independence. Watch viral video

In a world where retirement often signals rest, a 79-year-old woman in Indore is rewriting the rules with grit, grace, and idli-sambhar. A former administrative officer in the Indian Army, she’s now running a humble food stall on Khajrana Road — and winning hearts across the internet. Her story, shared in a viral Instagram video by Kashish Soni, is a powerful reminder that living life on your own terms doesn’t come with an expiry date.

In the video, she’s seen calmly preparing a plate of steaming hot idli-sambhar, her posture firm, her energy undeterred. When asked what she’s cooking, she simply replies, “Idli Sambhar,” flashing a smile that hides decades of discipline and resilience.

She informed Kashish that she has served in the Indian Army as an administrative officer, and after retirement, chose to start a food stall rather than slow down. Cooking, she says, isn’t her sole passion. She considers herself passionate about everything she does. A Fine Arts graduate who once travelled to Mumbai to pursue her artistic interests, she is a living example of reinvention at every stage of life.

When asked why she never married, she candidly shared that it would have come in the way of her hobbies and independence. In one touching moment captured on video, when Soni tried to pay for the food, the elderly woman gently refused and insisted that she take it without payment.

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A post shared by Kashish Soni (@tasty_trekk)

The clip resonated with thousands online. Many called her the true embodiment of independence, while others pointed out that her efforts weren’t driven by money but by sheer love for life and purpose.