Gargi
Sandu
From a 125-year Ayurvedic legacy to India's first senior companionship startup. Building bridges across generations.
Where heritage
meets purpose
Gargi Sandu stands at the intersection of tradition and innovation.
As the next generation of Sandu Pharmaceuticals, an Ayurvedic institution founded in 1899, she carries forward a 125-year legacy of holistic healing while forging new paths in social entrepreneurship.
A lawyer by training with expertise in corporate law, Gargi serves as Legal Counsel at Sandu Pharmaceuticals, guiding the fourth-generation family enterprise through the complexities of modern business while honoring its Ayurvedic roots.
Beyond the boardroom, Gargi co-founded Goodfellows India, the country's first senior companionship startup backed by the late Ratan Tata, as well as Mumbai Bookies, a community movement bringing the joy of reading back to city life.
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125+
Years of Legacy
Est. 1899
5,000+
Seniors Served
Across India
4
Cities
& Growing
3
Ventures
Co-founded
Three missions,
one vision
Goodfellows India
India's first senior companionship startup. Pairing young adults with elderly individuals to combat isolation through meaningful, intergenerational relationships.
Sandu Pharmaceuticals
A 125-year Ayurvedic pharmaceutical legacy, founded in 1899. Guiding the fourth-generation family enterprise through modern corporate governance while preserving its commitment to traditional healing.
We are not just looking for empathy.
We are looking for reliability, grit,
a kind of presence that can weather silence.
Gargi Sandu
|The Week Magazine
In motion
Selected interviews, features and conversations. Stories behind the work — in her own words.
Thoughts & reflections
Why Intergenerational Companionship Matters More Than Ever
India's elderly population is growing rapidly, yet loneliness among seniors remains an invisible crisis. The answer lies not in technology, but in genuine human connection — and the rare discipline of presence.
Lessons from a 125-Year-Old Family Business
Sandu Pharmaceuticals has survived two world wars, India's independence, and the digital revolution. Five lessons from the fourth generation on balancing tradition with transformation.
How a Silent Reading Club Is Rebuilding Community in Mumbai
In a city that never stops talking, Mumbai Bookies created a space where silence speaks volumes. A Saturday morning experiment that became a four-city movement.