Passion For Music Began At Home
Revathi Kamath was born into a culturally abundant Brahmin family in Shringeri, where the harmonious sound of the Veena, a strong emphasis on education, and a reverence for ancient traditions shaped her early life. She is the tenth child of N. Krishnamurthy, a distinguished triple graduate and accomplished Veena player, and Shyamalamma. Her grandparents were renowned Sanskrit scholars, and her father-in-law was the founder of Mysore Sandalwood. In her family, music and education were of paramount importance. From a young age, Revathi was nurtured with a wealth of knowledge in both fields. Each morning, she would awaken to the enchanting sounds of the Veena, as her father, N. Krishnamurthy, who practiced law in Bomaby, later transitioned from his legal profession to his true passion for music, joining the Vanmaya School in Mysore as a Veena instructor. Revathi Kamath was trained under the esteemed Veena Venkatagiriyappa, began his day at 4 a.m. with a Veena session, creating a vibrant and joyful atmosphere in their home.
Discovering Her Talent
Revathi Kamath’s artistic journey began with the simple yet thoughtful gestures of her husband, Mr.Raghuram Kamath, who would bring her flowers from his workplace at the bank. Inspired by the beauty of these flowers, Revathi's creativity blossomed, leading her to recognize her talent for floral decoration. Determined to pursue this newfound passion, she decided to approach Wipro for a demonstration, investing 5000 rupees she borrowed from a friend. Her impressive floral arrangements caught the attention of the team, resulting in her first work order worth 45,000 rupees as a Floral Artist. Balancing her roles as a homemaker and mother, Revathi Kamath managed her household responsibilities, including cooking and caring for her children, before dedicating herself to her work. Her unwavering dedication and hard work paved the way for remarkable success from the very start of her career.
The Unwavering Path to Success
Revathi Kamath’s entrepreneurial journey took a significant leap when she rented a small space in Jayanagar for 500 rupees to start her flower business. Though sales were slow initially, her business quickly gained momentum and flourished. She approached major corporations like HP and many other multinational companies, eventually expanding her services to include flower decorations for weddings, receptions, and various events.
Her success led to the establishment of her own event management company, Calyx, through which she managed numerous prestigious events such as HP product presentations and events for MICO and BOSCH, hosted at renowned hotels and resorts like Westend, Leela Palace, Windsor Manor, Orange County, and Bangalore International Hotel. Revathi’s floral decorations were widely acclaimed for their aesthetic appeal.
An unexpected opportunity arose when the general managers at Bosch requested her to handle landscaping work. Despite her initial unfamiliarity with the field, she took a week to educate herself by reading books at Sapna Book House. Her subsequent presentation earned her a substantial project, her first landscaping assignment for the house of Albert Heironimus, Managing Director of MICO, resulting in earnings of INR 4.5 lakhs and high praise for her work. This project marked the beginning of her successful career as a Landscape expert at Calyx.
An unexpected opportunity arose when the general managers at Bosch requested her to handle landscaping work. Despite her initial unfamiliarity with the field, she took a week to educate herself by reading books at Sapna Book House. Her subsequent presentation earned her a substantial project, her first landscaping assignment for the house of Albert Heironimus, Managing Director of MICO, resulting in earnings of INR 4.5 lakhs and high praise for her work. This project marked the beginning of her successful career as a Landscape expert at Calyx.
Revathi Kamath’s talent and dedication quickly gained recognition. She worked on notable landscaping projects for Kuvempu University, Mysore University, Tumkur Industrial areas, Cauvery Filtration Unit in Talakadu, Chinnaswamy Stadium Statue, Windsor Manor Circle, Domlur Signal, the Income Tax Department, Nitesh Lexington Avenue, Hirani Andani projects, and US-based companies like CBRE, Heiden, Intel, and Citadel Hotel. Her work also extended to prestigious resorts, farmhouses, the Country Club, hospitals, and more.
Continuously advancing her company, she collaborated with builders and architects and later worked as a contractor for Site Concept International, where she undertook the landmark Elita Horizon project worth INR 7 crore. Her career further flourished with Peridian, completing 26 ready-structure projects and 23 swimming pools. Ultimately, she was hired by Jurang to work on one of India’s most prestigious projects for TATA Steel in Orissa. Among ten shortlisted landscape artists from India, Revathi Kamath was chosen to execute the landscaping work for TATA Steel, solidifying her reputation as a top-tier landscape expert.
Commitment to Giving Back
After 23 years of distinguished work as a Floral Artist, Event Manager, and Landscaping Specialist, Revathi Kamath shifted her focus to her deep-seated passion for environmental conservation, particularly tree plantation and lake rejuvenation. Her concern for the environment is driven by a vision of providing shade and relief to people walking under the sun, reflecting her compassionate nature.
After 23 years of distinguished work as a Floral Artist, Event Manager, and Landscaping Specialist, Revathi Kamath shifted her focus to her deep-seated passion for environmental conservation, particularly tree plantation and lake rejuvenation. Her concern for the environment is driven by a vision of providing shade and relief to people walking under the sun, reflecting her compassionate nature.
Revathi Kamath has achieved a remarkable milestone by planting over one lakh trees, a testament to her dedication to environmental preservation, which has been recognized by various newspapers. One of her significant achievements was adopting and revitalizing the ailing Somanahalli Lake in Kanakapura, Karnataka. Through her efforts, the lake was transformed from a state of decline to a thriving ecosystem, benefiting 28 acres of land and recharging 300 borewells and 200 open wells. This success was featured in the Indian Express, showcasing her impact on the environment.
Building on this success, Revathi Kamath extended her environmental efforts to adopting and revitalizing other lakes, including Naganayakanahalli Lake in Anekal, Mukond Lake, and Katte Lake. Her work has notably improved the surrounding communities and ecosystems.
Her environmental contributions led to her appointment as the 7th Director for ‘Rally For Rivers,’ an NGO founded by Sadhguru, which is renowned for its transformative work on India’s rivers. Additionally, Revathi Kamath adopted a school in Hallegere, Madya, Karnataka, initially intending to build a toilet. However, her vision expanded to fully digitalize the school during the pandemic, with support from US-based Cisco and Finland-based Nokia, who provided further development and robotics education.
Building on this success, Revathi Kamath extended her environmental efforts to adopting and revitalizing other lakes, including Naganayakanahalli Lake in Anekal, Mukond Lake, and Katte Lake. Her work has notably improved the surrounding communities and ecosystems.
Her environmental contributions led to her appointment as the 7th Director for ‘Rally For Rivers,’ an NGO founded by Sadhguru, which is renowned for its transformative work on India’s rivers. Additionally, Revathi Kamath adopted a school in Hallegere, Madya, Karnataka, initially intending to build a toilet. However, her vision expanded to fully digitalize the school during the pandemic, with support from US-based Cisco and Finland-based Nokia, who provided further development and robotics education.
In an interview with Icons of Indian Business Magazine, Revathi Kamath expressed her commitment to combating child labor through education, stating, “In many places in India, a child is sent to school until they are strong enough to leave for labor. This cycle will only end when education is prioritized, allowing each child to learn and uplift future generations.”
Looking ahead, Revathi Kamath plans to adopt more schools, continue extensive tree planting initiatives, and establish a stream from Raja Canal to various lakes, furthering her mission of environmental and educational enhancement.
How Revathi Kamath as a Mother helped her son Nithin and Nikhil Kamath in their Journey from students to business tycoons.
In the world of finance and entrepreneurship, Nikhil and Nithin Kamath have become synonymous with innovation and success. As the founders of Zerodha, India's leading online brokerage firm, their remarkable journey has always captivated the business community. However, behind their achievements lies the guiding influence of their mother, Revathi Kamath.
Revathi Kamath’s approach to parenting was rooted in a belief in the power of education and holistic development. While academics were important, she placed a strong emphasis on critical thinking and the value of extracurricular activities, particularly chess. “My father told me playing chess makes your mind sharp,” she shared in an interview, recounting how she introduced her sons to the game at a young age. This strategic game played a crucial role in honing their analytical skills and fostering a love for strategic thinking.
Throughout her sons academic journey, Revathi Kamath was a steadfast source of support, encouraging her sons to embrace both successes and failures with a calm mindset.
She fondly remembers the values of empathy and compassion she and her husband instilled in their sons, noting, "I think contributing to society and all they got from me and my husband, he used to help people a lot." Recognizing the entrepreneurial spark within Nikhil and Nithin, she nurtured their talents, drawing from her experiences as a florist and envisioning a future where her sons could lead and innovate in the business world.
Revathi Kamath’s influence on Nikhil and Nithin’s journey is a testament to the impact of thoughtful parenting and the importance of nurturing a well-rounded, compassionate, and innovative mindset.
She fondly remembers the values of empathy and compassion she and her husband instilled in their sons, noting, "I think contributing to society and all they got from me and my husband, he used to help people a lot." Recognizing the entrepreneurial spark within Nikhil and Nithin, she nurtured their talents, drawing from her experiences as a florist and envisioning a future where her sons could lead and innovate in the business world.
Revathi Kamath’s influence on Nikhil and Nithin’s journey is a testament to the impact of thoughtful parenting and the importance of nurturing a well-rounded, compassionate, and innovative mindset.
