Ratna Gopal Manonmany

From Resilience to Reliance: Manonmany’s Legacy of Sesame Oil

In the quiet village of Anaikottai, Jaffna, 68-year-old Ratna Gopal Manonmany has spent over three decades transforming a humble sesame seed venture into a source of strength, not just for her family - but for an entire community. [1160, 1177]

What began 35 years ago as a small-scale initiative with her late husband has now flourished into a vital source of livelihood for many. The driving force behind her journey was necessity. Faced with financial hardship and the responsibility of providing for her family, Manonmany turned to a skill passed down through generations: crafting high-quality, unadulterated sesame seed balls using traditional methods. The flavor, texture, and purity of her seeds remain unchanged over time, an enduring legacy of taste and trust.[1171, 1183]

Following her husband’s passing, Manonmany carried the business forward, despite battling personal loss, loneliness, and deteriorating health. Today, she operates under the brand name “Kanna,” in honor of her son, who lives with a neurological condition. Though age and illness have slowed her, she continues the work with the support of a dedicated relative. [1187]

Her business has grown to employ 10 women, five of whom are leading their own households, and the rest from vulnerable backgrounds. Manonmany provides not just employment but emotional support. “Whenever they face problems, I try to help in whatever way I can,” she shares. “That’s why they stood by me even when I was hospitalized.”

The challenges have been immense: rising costs of raw materials, lack of reliable suppliers, transport difficulties, and physically demanding manual processes. A fall due to high blood pressure once forced her to pause operations. Still, she restarted with guidance and sheer determination.

In recent years, the business has received international assistance in the form of equipment and funding. Local initiatives like Viludhu and its Sanjeevi sales platform have helped expand her market, with over 300 sesame ball packets sold monthly, including 150 through Sanjeevi alone and sales across 15 outlets in Jaffna. [1192, 1168]

Now, facing possible retirement, Manonmani hopes to find a trustworthy successor to sustain her legacy. She offers this advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs:
“If you try, nothing is impossible. There will be struggles, competition, and jealousy. But if your product is good, it will always be needed.”

With profound emotion, she concludes, “No one gave me money - God gave me sesame seeds. It pays for food, medicine, everything. This business is what keeps us alive.”