MumbaiMirror.com - Back to the Vedas

Thu, 03/04/2010

By Meghana Kurup | View The Article

Meet Priti Mehta and Sucheta Khandwala who recently started their own store called Omved. The creative duo speak about their brainchild and the need for pure natural living in our day to day lives

In today’s scenario, how important is it to go back to our roots, our traditions and natural living?

Priti - My dadaji always told us “if you don’t know where you come from, how can you ever know where you want to go?” No one can deny that the way our ancestors lived was a complete holistic and scientific way of life. And on the other hand when we look around we undoubtedly know that we are not doing it right. Global warming, terrorism, general unrest, ill public health, stress, discord, disharmony, intolerance and the endless list goes on. For all the progress we claim to have made, our spiritual and mental health has not gone very far.

Sucheta - Logic says if there is no point A (the focal point) there can be no point B. We have knowledge of the ancient millennia, living philosophies that have worked and are still working. It is time to be aware, be conscious of our living. Time to awaken from our oblivion
 

How did you’ll come up with the idea of starting Omved?

Sucheta - Since both of us come from homes where Vedic traditions and natural living was the way of life when we started working together almost 20 years ago, there was a common thought process, a perspective which led us to creating the world’s first Vedic line of spiritual jewellery. Over the years the research for the same led us to meeting masters and scholars and hours of reading ancient literature.

Priti - During my pregnancy I found myself seeking tradition and wanting to follow old time-tested and lost ways of parenting, reading nutrition labels and becoming aware of the amount of chemicals and commercialism that has seeped in almost every aspect of our daily living. The search for completely natural living and spiritual healing began and thus was born the seed of Omved.
 

Now that everyone is turning health conscious and it is termed ‘cool’ to be eco-friendly, was this the reason that prompted the inception of the store?

Sucheta - The products we bring to you have their origin in ancient millennia, these are from the world of Sanatan dharma or eternal truths. They are timeless. For us Omved is not just a business proposition it is something that is close to our heart, a conviction we want to live by.

Priti - The numbers in fact say that Indian consumer awareness for the “organic” / “eco-friendly” is not even close to the tipping point of revenue generation required for an ambitious venture like Omved. But yes, if “cool” people, conscious of their choices, are looking for a one-stop shop for all products that are “safe for you and safe for the earth” then yes Omved is your natural choice.
 

What is the USP of Omved?

Priti - Omved was created under a simple but powerful conviction: Pure Natural Living, to live a holistic and balanced life, the way it was meant to be. Om (The absolute) and Ved (knowledge), to live in absolute and complete consciousness is the founding principal of our venture.
 

How are you going to bridge the gap between the modern life and the traditional Vedic wisdom?

Sucheta - Today’s customer wants beautiful products, well researched, designed and handcrafted. By translating the infinite knowledge of the masters into works of function, inspiring craftsmen and artisans from remote parts of this vast country and finally creating a range of products that satisfy stringent codes of quality and aesthetics will be our way to bridge the gap, revive our ancient Vedic traditions.

Priti - Our greatest strength is in creating ergonomical products that embrace design and sustainability, according to human needs, and in order to optimise human well-being and overall performance.
 

Why did you’ll choose the Vedas?

Priti - Our search for pure natural living, took us all around the world only to return home where we found our answers in the ancient Vedic civilisation of India. Herbs and healing formulas, devotional products, the whole philosophy of living has been tried not on a controlled study group like most new products today but has been successfully used by thousands since millennia.

Sucheta - Without modern laboratories and our modern tools of technology the seers of the past knew much more about all fields of life – be it astronomy, nutrition, medicine, botany and so on. Science has just started learning and verifying these eternal truths.
 

Any obstacles faced?

Sucheta - The biggest challenge is in the supply and logistics. Since most of our suppliers are craftsmen from small villages, small-scale units and NGOs getting consistent quality, on time deliveries, meeting of the quality standards and the transport is a logistical challenge.

Going back to the roots and traditions is fast becoming a fad…do you think this is just a phase or is it here to stay?

Priti & Sucheta - It’s definitely here to stay for eternity now!

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