Dr. Lalitha Raman: A Lifetime of Science, Service, and Small Business Wisdom
By Somdatta Basu
What do a little girl from Burma, a PhD in biophysics, and Houston’s first Indian restaurant have in common? The answer: Dr. Lalitha Raman. At 83, she isn’t just rewriting the rulebook — she’s lived every chapter of it. In June’s IACCGH Business Hour segment on Open Forum, Dr. Raman captivated listeners with her incredible life story, one that seamlessly weaves science, entrepreneurship, and mentorship into a single, inspiring narrative.
Dr. Raman began her extraordinary career in science, earning a PhD in Biophysics from Michigan State University after working at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in India. She went on to hold postdoctoral fellowships at Carnegie Mellon and Baylor College of Medicine, focusing her research on the structure of the retina and electrical impulses in the brain. “Being in Houston is a blessing for someone like me,” she said, “just track the James Webb Telescope and you’re reminded of how vast and beautiful the universe is.”
But her scientific journey was just one chapter in a life characterized by grit and a drive to uplift others. Born in Burma and displaced by war, Dr. Raman moved to India with her family after World War II. Her father, a civil servant, walked over three months on foot to India — an experience that instilled in her the lifelong values of perseverance and service. “My father taught me never to give up and to always help people. That’s what I live by,” she reflected.
After a successful stint in research, she transitioned to public service, working in environmental services for the City of Houston, managing trust funds for Parks and Recreation, and overseeing infrastructure asset tracking in Public Works. “I didn’t plan any of it — I just kept learning,” she noted, recounting how she earned a Master’s in Accounting and a CPA certification in her late 40s.
Her entrepreneurial ventures included co-owning Houston’s first Indian restaurant —Maharaja in Rice Village — in the 1970s, and later, a travel agency. These experiences —some successful, some cautionary — formed the basis of her candid insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. “Everyone wants to start a business, but few know what it really takes,” she said. “I’m not discouraging anyone — just preparing them.”
As a mentor with SCORE Houston, a national nonprofit that partners with the Small Business Administration (SBA), Dr. Raman offers free guidance to aspiring and established entrepreneurs across industries. “We have over 150 volunteers in Houston—retired executives, business owners, CPAs — ready to help you with every step, from forming an LLC to understanding SBA loans.”
She emphasized the importance of evaluating why one wants to start a business. “Many people are unhappy with their jobs and think business will offer freedom. But it’s not 9 to 5 — it’s 24/7. Your family must be onboard, and you must do your homework—know your market, analyze your competition, and plan your cash flow.”
The conversation also covered various business structures, SBA loan programs, franchise models, and local resources like the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council, the Port of Houston, and the ION innovation district.
IACCGH Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia called in live to thank both Open Forum and Dr. Raman. “She is a pillar of guidance to the business community. As a SCORE mentor and speaker at our Small Business Series, she continues to serve selflessly and with extraordinary clarity.”
Wrapping up the hour, co-host Dr. Bhuchar summed up the sentiment in the room: “You are someone anyone would want to talk to — approachable, enthusiastic, and deeply wise. I hope you keep helping people for another hundred years.”