She’s 70, Alone, And Still Running Her Food Stall - Her Courage Is Inspiring Thousands
Ankita Shukla | Feb 13, 2026, 23:21 IST
But some people simply don’t know how to stop showing up for themselves.
When life gets tough, most people are told to slow down. Rest. Step back. Let others take over.
But some people simply don’t know how to stop showing up for themselves.
At 70, Deepali Ghosh from West Bengal is one of them.
While many her age move into old-age homes or depend on others to get through the day, Deepali chose a harder road. And somehow, a braver one too. A recent video of her quietly running her tiny rice hotel in Howrah has now touched thousands of hearts online.
For nearly 30 years, Deepali has been running a small eatery at Haroganj Market in Salkia, near Style Baazar. The space is humble. It’s not just her workplace - it’s also her home. After her husband passed away, she didn’t shut shop or give up. She stayed back. Took charge. And kept going, all on her own.
She opens shop every day
Every single day, she does everything herself. Buys the groceries. Cooks the meals. Serves customers. Washes the dishes. Cleans the floor. There’s no staff. No backup. Just her and her routine.
But things haven’t been easy.
After the lockdown, business slowed down badly. What once brought in regular customers now barely sees four or five people a day. The shop itself shows years of struggle - blackened walls from smoke, old utensils that have seen better days, and a roof that leaks when it rains. At night, she rests on a worn piece of plywood in one corner of the same room where she works all day.
Her health isn’t the best either. Her hearing is weak. Her body gets tired faster now. And she doesn’t have family around to lean on. Still, she hasn’t chosen an old-age home. She hasn’t asked for charity. She just wants to earn her way, as long as she can stand on her feet.
The video was shared by Instagram user Aradhana Chatterjee, who stumbled upon Deepali’s story and felt something needed to change. In her post, she wrote about wanting to fix up the tiny shop - not to make it fancy, but to make it livable. A place where Deepali can work and rest with a little more comfort, and hopefully attract enough customers to get by.
“We’re planning to give her space a makeover,” Aradhana wrote, asking people to share the video so more eyes could find Deepali’s story.
And people did.
The response online has been overwhelming. Messages of support started pouring in. Some offered to visit her. Some asked for the location so they could help in person. Others simply sent love.
Social media erupted
One person wrote that seeing Deepali work at this age made them rethink how casually they complain about small problems.
Another said her quiet strength hit harder than any motivational speech ever could.
Someone else put it simply: this isn’t just survival - it’s courage, the kind that doesn’t shout.
In a follow-up update, Aradhana shared that the renovation work has already begun and that Deepali’s temporary stay is being taken care of while her shop is being fixed. She also mentioned that they’re helping with doctor visits, medicines, and daily needs. A makeover video is expected to be shared soon.
But beyond the repairs and the help, what truly stays with you is Deepali herself.
No speeches. No drama.
Just a woman who wakes up every day, unlocks her little shop, and chooses dignity over defeat.
Her story isn’t loud.
It doesn’t beg for attention.
But it quietly reminds us of something powerful:
You don’t need a big stage to be strong.
Sometimes, courage lives in small rooms, behind smoky stoves, in people who refuse to give up on themselves.
Image: Aradhana Chatterjee/Instagram
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But some people simply don’t know how to stop showing up for themselves.
At 70, Deepali Ghosh from West Bengal is one of them.
While many her age move into old-age homes or depend on others to get through the day, Deepali chose a harder road. And somehow, a braver one too. A recent video of her quietly running her tiny rice hotel in Howrah has now touched thousands of hearts online.
For nearly 30 years, Deepali has been running a small eatery at Haroganj Market in Salkia, near Style Baazar. The space is humble. It’s not just her workplace - it’s also her home. After her husband passed away, she didn’t shut shop or give up. She stayed back. Took charge. And kept going, all on her own.
She opens shop every day
But things haven’t been easy.
After the lockdown, business slowed down badly. What once brought in regular customers now barely sees four or five people a day. The shop itself shows years of struggle - blackened walls from smoke, old utensils that have seen better days, and a roof that leaks when it rains. At night, she rests on a worn piece of plywood in one corner of the same room where she works all day.
Her health isn’t the best either. Her hearing is weak. Her body gets tired faster now. And she doesn’t have family around to lean on. Still, she hasn’t chosen an old-age home. She hasn’t asked for charity. She just wants to earn her way, as long as she can stand on her feet.
The video was shared by Instagram user Aradhana Chatterjee, who stumbled upon Deepali’s story and felt something needed to change. In her post, she wrote about wanting to fix up the tiny shop - not to make it fancy, but to make it livable. A place where Deepali can work and rest with a little more comfort, and hopefully attract enough customers to get by.
“We’re planning to give her space a makeover,” Aradhana wrote, asking people to share the video so more eyes could find Deepali’s story.
And people did.
The response online has been overwhelming. Messages of support started pouring in. Some offered to visit her. Some asked for the location so they could help in person. Others simply sent love.
Social media erupted
Another said her quiet strength hit harder than any motivational speech ever could.
Someone else put it simply: this isn’t just survival - it’s courage, the kind that doesn’t shout.
In a follow-up update, Aradhana shared that the renovation work has already begun and that Deepali’s temporary stay is being taken care of while her shop is being fixed. She also mentioned that they’re helping with doctor visits, medicines, and daily needs. A makeover video is expected to be shared soon.
But beyond the repairs and the help, what truly stays with you is Deepali herself.
No speeches. No drama.
Just a woman who wakes up every day, unlocks her little shop, and chooses dignity over defeat.
Her story isn’t loud.
It doesn’t beg for attention.
But it quietly reminds us of something powerful:
You don’t need a big stage to be strong.
Sometimes, courage lives in small rooms, behind smoky stoves, in people who refuse to give up on themselves.
Image: Aradhana Chatterjee/Instagram
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Spiritual, Travel, Life Hacks, Trending, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!