Before becoming an entrepreneur while being a homemaker, most of Devni Devi's time was spent in the kitchen, where she cooked food for a large family group of more than twenty people. After marrying at the age of just 16, she became part of a multi-generational family of 25 in Bihar. Providing food for such a large family required daily kitchen management, menu planning, and portion control.
She had no formal education in business or specialized training, but years of cooking allowed her to master the skill of consistently creating delicious meals in large quantities, which later proved very useful.
Her life changed in 2002 when she moved to Patna for her children's studies. It was there that she noticed that the food eaten by medical students was of low quality and bore no resemblance to home cooking. Devni Devi clearly understood the problem: students living away from home needed affordable food that could give them a feeling of home comfort.
After this, she decided to start cooking food for students.
Devni Devi began cooking simple, homemade food and selling it for only 20 rupees per plate. Her first customer was a medical student named Saurabh, who helped her understand the principles of the food delivery service (tiffin or mess service). Initially, she did all the work herself: preparing, packaging, and delivering food to students, often covering long distances.
Through word-of-mouth, more and more people started talking about her food, and students began coming again and again, gradually calling her affectionately 'Amma'. However, this path was not easy; those around her questioned her decision to work outside the home and criticized it. The situation peaked when her husband stopped speaking to her for about six months. Despite this, she did not give up. This small job gave her something more than income—financial independence.
As her earnings increased, Devni Devi did not spend money thoughtlessly. She saved 80,000 rupees and used it to buy eight rickshaws, which created an additional source of income for her. In 2009, she took another step forward by opening 'Samriddhi Girls Hostel' in her granddaughter's name. Her former food delivery students were the first residents of this hostel.
Then came the pandemic (COVID-19). When students returned home and the hostel closed, her business almost stalled. Nevertheless, Devni Devi did not stop cooking. At that time, she delivered food to doctors' hostels when medical workers needed reliable food the most. When she herself contracted COVID, it was those same students whom she had fed for years who took care of her at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).
The most significant change in the business happened when her son suggested moving it online. In 2022, 'Amma Kitchen' transitioned to digital platforms. This step opened doors to new customers, and orders began to grow rapidly. The business expanded, and dine-in establishments were introduced, where the cost per plate ranged from 100 to 300 rupees.
What was once a tiffin for 20 rupees has turned into a full-fledged food brand. According to media reports, two 'Amma Kitchen' outlets operate in Patna today, employing over 30 people. The annual turnover of the business has reached approximately 2.5 crore rupees. Daily online orders of about 350 indicate the long journey of this small home kitchen.
Her eldest son, Jayashankar, who initially doubted her venture, later resigned from his job and got involved in managing the growing business.
The most outstanding feature of Devni Devi's journey is that she had no formal education in business, marketing strategy, or traditional startups. She started with a skill she practiced at home for years and recognized a real problem around her. Today, at 65, thanks to this daily mastery, she has not only built a large business but also provided jobs for many people.