Interview Times 
By- Prisita Das
Dream is not that which you see while sleeping it is something that does not let you sleep.
Today we are in a conversation with the front women of Kar & Brothers who are leading this massive empire built by their beloved grandfather & the stalwart Late Shri. Bikalananda Kar. He was brought from a Brahmin family, & began the Rasagola journey in Salipur, Odisha. With skill in sweet making, business acumen, and social concern, he founded ‘KAR AND BROTHERS’. His hands crafted iconic khirmohan from Rasagola, setting an entrepreneurial example. Today, it dominates Odisha’s Rasagola industry with top Chena production.
Ms. Sai Sibani Kar, the Late BK Kar’s granddaughter during her school days she had a great interest in joining her family business. She and her sister Ms. Sai Priya Kar both have grown up seeing the same work around them & have always wondered about the way their father deals with the work and always wanted to be like him. So seeing him only they had this thing inside them that they wanted to take this legacy forward.
Ms. Sai Sibani after doing her B.Com Honours in Utakal University went for her MBA at Amity Noida. At Amity Noida she had chosen hospitality because her work is majorly in the food & service sector, whereas Ms. Sai Priya is also a commerce student, after her schooling at Delhi Public School, Kalinga, she joined Revenshah University after pursuing her graduation in accounting honors & did her double masters in HR & Finance.
These women being the third generation took over the business. After joining their family business Sai Sibani needed a good enough time to understand the work culture because in their business they deal with unskilled workers. “The major challenge of our business is workforce, that is human resource. So to understand that, I need time.”, states Sibani.
Kar & Brothers will celebrate their 100-year legacy in 2024, marking a significant milestone. Despite challenges, the stalwart women have a unique and personal experience. Overcoming gender bias, they faced resistance from rural workers unaccustomed to female leadership in a male-dominated field, making acceptance a major hurdle.
Today’s women, having witnessed their predecessors’ struggles, represent a generation of evolution. They exemplify that women can excel in any field, showing that challenges can be overcome. They inspire with the message that nothing is beyond their capabilities. Sai Sibani & Sai Priya find inspiration in women who balance home, work, and life effectively. They aim to become like them, contributing to a generation of empowered women breaking barriers. “But we think our generation is lucky enough that we have got all the support. When we were kids it was difficult for the girls and women to walk around. The environment was not that positive”. States Sai Priya.
The MSME department supports women entrepreneurs through promotional activities and higher subsidies, especially in the food sector. This financial aid and encouragement play a significant role. MSME also provides recognition platforms, like Mission Shakti in Odisha, allowing women to showcase and sell their products, empowering those who lacked earning opportunities. This highlights the government’s remarkable efforts in fostering women’s entrepreneurship.
Well, the market is the fuel for any business. “Your industry survives with the satisfaction that is created by the customers. Customers will get happy when you provide them a good quality of what you are into and then the right pricing with the right service”. States Sai Priya.
Along with all that, they also put that final traditional touch as they are dealing with an industry which deals with the traditional sweets, and confectionaries of the state or the country. So they need to maintain to keep the traditional touch where people will feel connected with their products. They have always welcomed healthy competition among the market players. Right. Because everyone is doing their best in their field where they get to learn from each other. So that’s how they grow collaboratively.
Lastly, they address, that change is the only constant in the business. If you don’t make sure that there is change in the business, your business won’t flourish. So you need to adopt new technology and new ideas, only then you will grow on a path.
