Have you ever wondered what happens when two people choose purpose over comfort? When a couple with thriving careers decides to start over — not for fame, but for a village and its people? That’s where the story of Sonkan begins. And today, we are excited to share it with you: The Millet Story: Supporting Farmers with Additional Income | Clean, Chemical-Free Nutrition | Easy to Cook, Healthy to Eat | Instant Mixes Designed for the Modern Urban Woman.
Our founders, Nitin and Meenakshi Deodhar, didn’t begin with a business plan. They began with a feeling. A pull towards their ancestral village, Tetavli, tucked in the heart of the Konkan region. Every visit to the village made one thing clear: the place was changing. People were leaving. Farming traditions were fading. And so was the health of the land and its people.
Though they were thriving in their respective fields, they chose to return to college to learn what they needed for this mission. When the rest of the village had shifted to growing rice, the Deodhars knew it was time to bring millets back.
They called their approach 3E + H — Education, Entertainment and Employment + (access to) Health. Deodhars wanted to grow not just as a brand but as a community. Local villagers are now working in the farms, processing Millets, running the mills and handling packaging.
Who knew that a kitchen experiment would become Sonkan—a brand rooted in care, tradition, and the desire to make a difference. With no marketing strategy, just word-of-mouth and genuine demand, Sonkan grew. A logo designed by their daughter, a few shelves in local stores — and soon, customers kept coming back for the honest, fibre-rich, Preservatives-free Nachani Satva i.e. Ragi Malt.
Today, Sonkan offers over 22 healthy millet-based products under its signature breakfast line, “My 1st Meal of the Day.” These products not only promote better nutrition but also support over 30 local farmers. But Sonkan’s story goes beyond just food — it’s about returning to your roots while planting new ones. It’s about believing that a village can thrive again — one healthy, convenient meal at a time, crafted especially for the busy urban woman.
And it all began with a bag of ragi, a hope, and a whole lot of heart.
Written by: Srushti D