“A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” – Melinda Gates, Philanthropist

Life has never been a duck soup for women folks. Though, rich or poor, they might have faced the wrath of autocratic society at some point in time. The loopholes in the society in terms of the social hypocrisy are just outcomes of the mindsets of some people who are making the lives of women miserable in every walk of life. But, the question is - Who is going to bring them out of their current gross situations? Every person is his or her own savior; it is necessary to stand up again on your feet to fight against the atrocities inflicted on you and to save others facing the similar brunt of destiny just like Sindhutai from Maharashtra.

Sindhutai Sapkal: A Woman of True Zeal

A 70-years old Sindhutai Sapkal, about half a century ago, was just another woman from the crowd. But, today she has attained a milestone of being a “Mother of Orphans” to 1,400 children still striving hard to provide them a better standard of living and a good disciplined life. She is certainly a God’s gift to the orphaned children who had no one to go in times of distress and hunger. Though, an unfortunate child, Sindhutai didn’t let her burdened by the brunt of harsh destiny, but rose again with great strength and courage to fight for children like her in the society. Her life story gives us jitters shaking our very souls, but, at the end, is a true inspiration for people who have accepted their destinies as the final call of God.

Working as a well-known and active social worker, Sindhutai has actively dedicated her entire life to the orphaned children adopted by her. Taking real life examples from her life story, her main aim is to save other children from facing the identical fate like hers and provide them with everything which she lacked in her childhood. As a child, she went through a phase where she didn’t have anyone to support her. Abandoned by her very own parents at such a young age, standing by the needy and homeless children became her life’s mission, so much so that she begged for her entire life to provide her adopted children with food, water, and shelter.

In one of her speeches she even said, ‘I am with everyone who has no other people to look after them’ which shows her generosity and benevolence towards the deprived ones.

Her Real Life Story: Greatly Moving Yet Inspirational

On 14th November 1948, a year after India gained Independence, Sindhutai Sapkal was born into a cattle grazing family residing in the Wardha district of Maharashtra. Being an undesired child, she was called “Chindhi” meaning a torn piece of cloth. Even though, her father wanted to support her education, but, her mother was adamant to not continue her studies. Sindhutai was just ten, when she was made to marry a man 20 years elder to him.

Being married to such a senior man while she was just a child, her life was full of challenges. Even after being fallen a victim to the clutches of child marriage, the young Sindhutai was optimistic towards life. Rather, her enthusiasm to help the vulnerable and mistreated aggravated. After settling down in her husband’s home, she stood against the exploitation of women by the landlords and forest officers.

She didn’t know that her life will take a 360 degree turn for the worse after this fight. While she was pregnant at the age of twenty, an enraged landlord spread the disgusting rumor of infidelity which ultimately led to Sindhutai’s rejection from her community. Her husband badly scolded her in such a critical condition and threw her out of his house. The same night, she, feeling extremely dejected and heartbroken, gave birth to her daughter in the cowshed. She somehow struggled to reach her parental home, but faced the similar rejection from her mother. Sindhutai resorted to begging on the streets and railway stations to make her ends meet. Her life was no less than a struggle for existence of herself and her daughter which forced her to make cowsheds, stations, and cemeteries her home.

In her journey of utter struggle to survive, Sindhutai came to Chikaldara in Maharashtra where a tiger preservation project was carried out which resulted in the evacuation of 24 tribal villages. She decided to raise her voice against this grave situation of the helpless tribal people. Her persistent efforts were recognized by the Forest Minister who ordered for making relevant alternative relocation arrangements for the tribal villagers.

Situations like these made her acquainted with the harsh realities of life like abjection, poverty and homelessness. During this time, she came across numbers of orphaned children and helpless women brazenly avoided by the society. She adopted these children and worked tirelessly for them in order to satiate their hunger. To save herself from being partial towards her daughter, she even sent her to a trust in Pune just for the sake of her adopted children. After working hard for several years, she incepted her first Ashram at Chikaldara. She visited numerous cities and villages to raise funds for her ashrams. Till date, she has 1200 adopted children who affectionately called her as ‘Mai’. Many of them are now working as doctors and lawyers in reputable places.

Sindhutai: An Epitome of Kindness & Affection

The life story of Sindhutai Sapkal is all about amazing fortitude and determination. She has remarkably demonstrated how hardships can perfectly bring out the best in you. Even after being born in an Independent India, she had played a victim of the societal tyrannies very much present in the Indian society. Taking lessons from her life, she got built six orphanages for orphaned children in Maharashtra to provide them with food, education, and shelter. The organizations running by her even assisted helpless and homeless women.

She never spread her hands in front of anyone for money to run her orphanages; rather she delivered inspiring speeches at public forums and asked for public support to help the deprived and ignored sections of the society. In one of her incredible speech, she expressed her desire to the public to circulate her story everywhere to provide motivation to other people. Her popularity never overpowered her persona. Her happiness is all about being with her children, realize their dreams, and in settling them down in life.

Awards and Recognition Received by Her

The comprehensive social work of Sindhutai has been rewarded by way of several awards like-

1. - Prestigious national award for Iconic Mother
2. - Mother Teresa Awards for Justice in 2013
3. - ‘The Mind of Steel’ Awards in 2010 for her zeal
4. - Prestigious Ahilyabai Holkar award by the Maharashtra government for her remarkable contribution to society in 2002.
5. - Ahmadiyya Peace Prize at the National Peace Symposium held at London in 2014
6. - Nari Shakti Puraskar on International Women's Day 2018 by President Ram Nath Kovind

Her impeccable work is not just limited to the conferment of awards, but has garnered several other recognitions like-

1. - Bestowed with conferred a Doctorate in Literature by the DY Patil Institute of Technology and Research, Pune in 2016.
2. - A Marathi film, Mee Sindhutai Sapkal, was made on her life in 2010. It was chosen for 54th London Film Festival.

Even today, she is working relentlessly towards shaping the future of her children as according to her, an underprivileged child is an underprivileged nation.