Dr Jayasree Harikumar is a perfect example of a self- made businesswoman who by sheer will power and passion for holistic living has endeavoured to spread cheer and harmony in the lives of expatriates in the Gulf. As an active Volunteer member of Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living, she served as a teachers’ coordinator, newsletter editor, and seva projects coordinator. This spiritual organisation has provided her the necessary Grounding and platform to blossom professionally and personally.
Dr Jaya, who always had an interest in holistic living is founder of JH Lifestyle, a company set up to teach and help individuals live life holistically finding Joy and Happiness is whatever they do using traditional vedic methods. She is co-founder of Yoga studio named Yoga Ashram in Jumeirah Lake Towers, inspiring people to live in health — physical and mental naturally using yogic techniques. After working as a Business Analyst with Emirates Airline for 20 years, she ventured into her own business, as a consultant for Vastu and feng Shui. Apart from managing the yogic lifestyle centre, she is a Life coach on Holistic living, and she dabbles in chemical-free gardening.
Born in 1961 as the daughter of late Major M.S.G. Kutty and Sarojini, who originally hailed from Palakkad in Kerala, India, Dr Jaya had a pan-Indian education that shaped her future vocation.
After the unexpected demise of her husband P.M. Harikumar in 2011, she took over his business — a construction company named AI Abaar & Associates, a hotel in Karama, Karma Hotel and Amrita Medical Clinic in AI Satwa. She had no exposure or experience in business until then, but she was able to succeed in it owing to her strong will power, strong support from sons and staff and desire to ensure the staff are taken care. Her belief that everyone has the potential to blossom if they have a positive attitude to life and willingness to put necessary efforts for same. She did not want any liability for her children and wished to give them the freedom to pursue their own interests and careers, so she sold the hotel and the clinic as and when right opportunity came.
Travelling is Dr Jaya‘s favourite hobby. She believes that travelling should be undertaken not only for fun and relaxation but also for learning and exploring a new place and its culture.
Of her two sons, the older one is Arjun Kumar, an entrepreneur who is an engineering graduate from BITS Pilani Dubai and an MBA from the University of London. He owns a general trading company and also looks after AI Abaar Constructions. His wife, Michelle, works in her own family-owned furniture fitout business.
Dr Jaya’s younger son Adarsh Kumar completed his engineering studies from Purdue University, USA, and is managing a 32-bed hospital, Vedic Life Care in Nigeria, specialising in orthopaedics and gynaecology. His wife, Sanam, is a marketing and advertising professional based in Nigeria.
The family has more than 100 acres of land in Radhapuram, Tamil Nadu and are in the process of setting up an aqua farm. Dr. Jaya has a special long-term project in the place as she is working towards setting up a sustainable eco-resort which will focus on ’going back to earth “, it will be a haven where people can come to detoxify and declutter their minds and escape from the e-life that has engulfed mankind.