Madhur Bharwani

Raabel Owner, Jewellery Designer

“As soon as I was done with college, my father’s family fine jewellery business was waiting for me. As easy as it was to pick something I inherited, I was sure that I did not want anything served on a silver platter. I instead went on to graduate in Fashion Journalism and worked for a major Fashion publication and I was thriving! I felt like I was branching out, making something of my own. As excited as it began, I felt like I needed an identity of my own. I did not want to be known for any other association other than my own. And even then, I wanted to not live under my family business’s shadow nor did I wish for my life to be known only for the magazine I worked for. I wanted to have a goal and be able to enjoy the path as well!

As it turned out, due to my father’s ill health I found myself coming back to Lucknow to man the family business. It seemed as though life had made a full circle. I learned the tricks of the trade, the stratagems and then more! I founded my label Raabel – Statement Silver Jewelry based on what I had learned from my family and my passions and brewed a masterpiece!

Raabel is an extension of my individuality and empowerment of everything that I have gathered in my journey as an entrepreneur. Down the line, I’ve recognized that when something is authentic, it is received and appreciated remarkably well. As a woman, we doubt ourselves so much and to them, I say “like what you see in the mirror!”

An Artisan’s son would either follow the art or make something of his own for the sake of finding his own identity. Whereas, for many of us, we feel almost guilty for wanting the same goals. I had grown up experiencing the world of Jewelry and it felt like I wanted to build on what I knew and make it my own! Isn’t this what can also be highlighted in the age of Nepotism?

The only unfair advantage is when it becomes a manuscript to do nothing different. It can be reversed by building something new from it. No business remains unaffected by time. How long are we going to hold off acknowledging the maturation of inheritance rather, than being termed ‘ungrateful’ for not following a legacy?

With that said, we as humans evolve with what we see, make and learn in our own lives. It is ultimately our choice to make something good out of the inheritance we possess and the knowledge we gather out of our life’s experiences. Your legacy doesn’t necessarily need to be a burden, so long as you decide to use it constructively and grow."

Interviewed and transcribed by Maryam Syed