I was born in 1947, in Sindh, in undivided India (Akhand Hindustan). That was the year India became independent from British rule, and my sisters used to say bells were ringing in the temples when I was born.
My family included four sisters and three brothers, and we had a beautiful upbringing. There was so much love and care growing up.
My father was a mentor, but he also was an entrepreneur, a businessman, president of the Rotary Club and a very spiritual person. So, he gave us that balance in life.
I was on the quiet side and wanted to learn things because I was very curious. My father used to read the Reader’s Digest, and I would sit by him.
There were always books in my childhood. He told me how people live in America and showed me pictures in books. I was taught to read the Holy Book, the Bhagavad Gita, and even today I still read it.
When I was young, members of my family were businesspeople, always starting a business. For example, there was this hospital, and we supplied the milk for it. Then, we got the contract to supply all the goods and services to the hospital. My brother started a timber business and would buy forests to supply it, so our businesses grew very quickly.
I moved to Saint Charles, Mo., because I wanted to get an education in America. That’s where my husband (Ramesh) and I got married.
At first, we had just come to visit Florida on holiday. But the Merrimac in Fort Lauderdale was for sale (1986) and that’s when we bought our first hotel.
My husband had scleroderma (an autoimmune disease exacerbated by the cold), and the doctors gave him 10 years to live. So, we decided to move here because of the weather.
After he passed away (in 1994), I had to run all the operations we used to do together, so I had 48 hours of work I needed to do in 24 hours.
Being a widow with two boys was very challenging. But I was committed. That was my focus. I could not afford to lose the Merrimac Hotel, not because I would be on the street but because my sons would.
I had a private mortgage on the hotel, and they gave me six months to pay it off, and at the time nobody was lending money, so I started going to the banks, which my husband used to do, and I went to 25 banks before I got a loan. But I was learning from all the questions they were asking me, so I knew what they were looking for.
Because I’m a woman and because of my color, people try to take advantage of you. I was so determined. I believed in myself, and I didn’t complain.
There’s a high demand for development in Florida. What’s being built is selling. Of course, we have to do smart development. Our family doesn’t just build buildings — we are part of the community. We live here. My grandchildren are here.
I’m very patriotic. I’m a proud American and very grateful. I salute this nation. America embraces you with open arms if you are willing to work hard and move forward.
I’m on about 15 boards, including global Indian boards. You play the role you need to, and I’m always there because of what I’m involved in at the state and local level.
I get up early and my messages start at 6 a.m. and I’m done with a lot of my work by 7 a.m. Retirement doesn’t exist because what I do doesn’t feel like work — it’s part of me.
I love to travel and I’m very adventurous. I’ve done ziplining, ridden in hot air balloons in South Africa, and I’ve been to Mount Kailash (a sacred site in Tibet).
I’m very excited about the Horatio Alger Award, which is given to people who have lived through adversity and succeeded, and who give back to their community, which we are doing through the Motwani Academy of Hospitality and Tourism.
For me, giving back is about education, and that’s something I’ve been very passionate about. When you educate the person, you change generations.
I fought the failures in my life because I stood determined. I always carried a positive energy forward. When you are about to lose everything, everything suddenly matters. Failures teach us and make us stronger, if we can survive them. When you say to yourself ‘I’m going to make it,’ then you will make it. You have to learn from that and walk away.
Attitude is the right word. We all have fears and tears. There were times that I didn’t know what the next morning would be like. But every morning I fought my tears, washed my face and put on a smile. I would always smile, whether I had nothing to eat or no time to sleep. I’m always smiling.