Madavi Nathan Oliver left India more than 25 years ago to go to graduate school in North America. After completing two Masters degrees - Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering she worked as a researcher for many years in Harvard School of Public Health.  In 2009, she took a year’s sabbatical and moved to Nagercoil (near Kanyakumari in India) to give her children a chance to get to know their roots. Says Madavi, "More than my children, I discovered my roots during this time, something I only vaguely remembered from my childhood days.  I discovered that my ancestors were a community of weavers and I hooked up with my first cousin who still hand weaves beautiful Kanchipuram silk sarees"

Tell us a little about your background?

My great grandfather, I learned, owned a pattu javuli kadai (silk shop) in Nagercoil.  When I moved back from India, something changed.  I thought a lot about colors and fabrics.  I decided to take a plunge into something different and indulge my creative side.  I said “Goodbye Engineering” and  Mayil Scarves was born.  Mayil means peacock in Tamil (spoken in southern India, one of the oldest surviving classical languages).  Like feathers of the peacock, Mayil scarves are a kaleidoscope of colors.  18th century tailors were known to use the peacock feather as a symbol for their fine fabric creations. With a Mayil scarf you can add a splash of color, peacock style - be it the jewel tones of ruby red, emerald green and sapphire blue; the spice colors of turmeric, saffron, cinnamon and clove; the soft shades of jasmine and rose; or the metallic zari and shimmering sequins.  I travel to India twice a year, scour around and handpick gorgeous fabrics to make into scarves.  They are few of a kind, designed by me and handmade by women from my husband’s (Gaugarin) village. 

Why did you chose to pursue your particular path?

The timing seemed right. Children are in high school and don’t need me as much. I like to think textiles and “javuli kadai” are my inheritance.  People have always admired the colorful duppatas I casually throw around my neck with all outfits, and I decided to bring a piece of India to here.

What are the personal /environmental attributes that have helped you succeed in your work?

I hope my open friendly nature will help me succeed in this newly chosen path.  Mayil Scarves right now is really a new and small business. I like selling a scarf direct to customer the most. Their joy as they try out the different colors and fabric is my joy.  I get as much satisfaction in selling one scarf as someone else may in closing a $100K deal. Sounds hard to believe but its true.

What advice would you give women trying to follow your career path

Follow your heart. It’s never too late to change your career.  I look at my career change as a midlife adventure.  Don’t look at the bottom line too much. If you are passionate about your work, it will turn out all right soon enough.  Every idea is worth taking a second look.

What lasting impact do you expect from your work?

 I like to think that my scarf is a happiness scarf. It adds a splash of color to someone’s life.  Like aroma therapy it can be color therapy.  But the real impact is providing empowerment and some financial independence to a few rural women in India and helping them stand on their own feet.  And I have to be honest, I didn’t start my business with this social aspect in mind.  Mayil Scarves is a hobby that turned into a nice business, with an extremely positive side effect.  One young lady who sews for me is now a proud owner of a fridge and washing machine – things she said she bought with her own earnings.

What is the secret to your maintaining a work -life balance?

Actually I have been very lucky. When I had my children, I decided to stay home with them. Then when I wanted to work again I got my research job back, part time. Now with kids grown up I have lot more time in my hands and am loving what I do.

What activities outside of work are you involved in ? (Charity, arts , community service etc)

I have been volunteering for North South Foundation (NSF) for more than 10 years starting with the Massachusetts chapter.  NSF is a volunteer run non-profit which encourages excellence in education by providing college scholarships in India for those in financial need.  NSF raises funds in the US by conducting education bees in over 80 chapters all over US for children K-8. Currently I lead the scholarships efforts by working with all our chapter coordinators in India and help oversee the application and scholarship disbursement process.  We are celebrating 25 years – from 1 scholarship in 1989 to close to 10,000 in 2014. 

I am passionate about the environment and joined a recently formed sustainability committee in my town (Littleton). It’s so exciting to be part of my town’s activity.  I also try to convince people to give up using plastic bags. I like to think of myself as a plastic bag buster.  It’s easy, you just have to say no to one bag, then two, then soon enough you are saying no to a hundred.  That’s my hundred bag challenge to people.  This year Littleton is celebrating 300 years and I am working on organizing a Taj Mahal themed float for the 300th year parade in September.

 What do you do for fun?

Lots of things - I like to paint and make egg-shell mosaics, catch up on Tamil movies with giggling girlfriends and read fiction based on history.  Weather permitting, I like to bike.

Who are the People who you admire/ inspired /emulate

People are always inspiring me. My family, my friends, acquaintances. You can learn something from everyone. When I was growing up it was my sisters. In school all teachers said “oh your are Alli’s (or Kumudha’s or Meena’s) sister, how come you are not studying and getting first rank like them” (my pet peeve).  When I got married I learned a lot about life from Gaugarin. When I became a mother I realized all that my mother had done for me and was motivated to be like her. As I take care of my my dad I am inspired by his healthy life style. He is 88 years old and I am excited to check off “NO” to all diseases in the doctor’s office form for him. Every day, I learn from my children.

What is your personal philosophy of living life

I believe in the power of positive thinking and finding something positive in everyone and everything. I use “breath of fire” to get rid of any negative energy

What was your happiest moment in life?

That’s a hard one. In every stage of life one has what thinks are the happiest moments of that time. I guess becoming a mother will be number one if I had to make a list.

When there were low points in your life.  What advice did you value the most to pull through?

I suffer from Psoriasis.  Whenever it flares up my low points occur.  My family and friends rally me on with “it’s not about your skin, it’s about the beautiful person inside it” I am lucky to be surrounded by loving people.

Do you have a fitness routine that you would like to share?

Yoga works best for me

Do you have a beauty routine that you would like to share

Lemon juice and honey on an empty stomach is a great cleanse

Do you have favorite book/author –--        Do you have a favorite song/ musician?

The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan. She brings to life Noor Jahan who was the 20th wife of Jahangir. Do you sometimes get a feeling when you read a good book, that you never want it to end?

I also loved the Kumki (Tamil movie) songs.

Do you like to cook? What is your favorite dish to make?

Me and cooking never got along.  We have come to a mutual agreement of mindful coexistence. I however can play the role of sous chef extremely well.

-- One fun fact about you

When I was in the 8th grade my best friend and I ran a mobile lending library on my bicycle, lending Enid Blytons, Mills and Boons and comics to girls who were stuck at home for the holidays.  First small business. We used to go to Moor Market (Chennai) and scour around for second hand books.  She sometimes comes with me to Parrys corner where I go fabric shopping in that crazy warren jostling with people, cyclists, autos, street vendors and sometimes even cows.

Words of wisdom

If you are overwhelmed make a to-do list. Ticking of even one kicks you out of the dumps

Any special words of advice for women?  Any piece of information you wish you had known growing up?

You can do anything. Never under estimate yourself.

For my MS thesis I had to build a machine which measured the instantaneous change in height when a person transitions from supine to standing. The key was measuring the change instantaneously. I had to learn a lot of shop skills - carpentry and drilling and used a system of pulleys. Now I wonder was it me who did that?

FB – Plastic Bag Busters; Mayil Handmade Scarves, website mayilscarves.com; email: madavioliver@gmail.com.

|