Sindhutai Sapkal became the mother of orphans who were abandoned by their own mothers or because of circumstances. She has also begged by singing songs at railway stations and in trains for the maintenance of those children. Not only this, she did not discriminate against children, so she adopted her daughter to someone else. Padma Shri awardee Sindhutai Sapkal, who has adopted more than 1500 children, has dedicated her entire life to orphan children. That's why she is called Mai.
Sindhutai Sapkal was an Indian social worker. She is known as the mother of orphans. She is also known as Mother Teresa of Maharashtra. In the year 2016, she was awarded Doctorate in Literature by DY Patil Institute of Technology and Research for her social service work.
That great soul passed away at the age of 74 in Pune (Maharashtra) on 4 January 2022 due to a heart attack.
Due to some conservative practices of society and social hypocrisy, many restrictions have been imposed on women. However, now women have given a befitting reply to every tyranny.
It is very important to understand that it is our own responsibility to make our life successful and capable. Our condition is the result of our choices. Dr. Sindhutai Sapkal is a perfect example of fighting without fear even in adverse circumstances.
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Biography
Dr. Sindhutai Sapkal was born on 14 November 1948 in Pimpri Meghe village of Wardha district, Maharashtra. Her father's name is 'Abhiman Sathe', and she was a shepherd. Due to gender discrimination i.e. being a daughter, she was called Chindhi (a torn piece of cloth) at home. Her father was in favor of her education so he sent Sindhutai to school despite her mother's opposition.
Due to her mother's opposition, and financial problems, there were obstacles in her education and then due to domestic responsibility and child marriage, she could study only till the fourth standard.
Sindhutai was married at the age of only 10 to the 30-year-old man Srihari Sapkal. By the age of 20, she had given birth to 3 sons. She was full of optimistic thoughts towards life even after falling into the trap of malpractices like child marriage. After marriage, she never shied away from raising her voice against the exploitation of women by landlords and forest officials.
Sindhutai was always alert to abuse and ready to help others. This behavior only shaped their coming struggle.
Sindhutai had complained to the District Magistrate about the village headman not paying the villagers for their wages. To avenge this insult, the headman threatened Srihari to throw Sindhutai out of the house.
That chief spread disgusting rumors of illicit sex on Sindhutai, 20 years old and 9 months pregnant. And her husband threw her out of the house after accusing her of characterlessness.
The same night she gave birth to a daughter in a semi-conscious state in the cow shed. She had cut her umbilical cord by hitting her with a stone.
Desperate and disheartened, Sindhutai somehow reached her mother's house, but her mother did not give her shelter. Her father had passed away, and probably she would have supported her daughter.
Sindhutai used to beg for food at the railway station and on the roads with her newborn daughter and used to go to the crematorium at night to keep herself and her daughter safe. There she used to wear discarded clothes and eat roti on the burning pyre of the crematorium. Then she got acquainted with some tribals.
24 tribal villages were evacuated under the Tiger Conservation Project in Chikhaldara. Sindhutai decided to raise her voice against this dire condition of the helpless tribal people. Her persistent efforts resulted in recognition by the Forest Minister, and an order to make relevant alternative rehabilitation arrangements for the tribal villagers.
During her struggling period, she realized that there are so many orphan children in the country who need a mother. This idea shook her and thus she decided that any orphan child she could find would become her mother. She found a child at the railway station, whom she adopted. Similarly, other children were also adopted. Begged for their maintenance. Gradually people came to know Sindhutai by the name of Mai and voluntarily started donating to her adopted children.
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She gave her own daughter Mamta in adoption to 'Shri Dagdusheth Halwai, Pune, Maharashtra' trust so that she can become the mother of all the orphans and they are not discriminated against even unknowingly.
After many years of struggle, Sindhutai established her first ashram Sanmati Bal Niketan Sanstha in Pune. She visited many cities and villages to raise funds for the ashram. She has adopted more than 1500 children, all of whom fondly call her Mai.
Her own daughter is a lawyer and many of her adopted children are doctors, engineers, and lawyers today and many of them also run their own orphanages.
Sindhutai built 6 orphanages for orphans in Maharashtra, provided them with food, education, and shelter, and the organizations she ran also helped helpless and homeless women.
Her family today has more than 1500 sons and daughters, 382 sons-in-law and 49 daughters-in-law, and more than 1000 grandchildren.
To run her orphanages, Sindhutai gave motivational speeches in public forums and sought public support to help the underprivileged and neglected sections of society. With the aim of getting foreign grants easily, she established the Mother Global Foundation organization.
Sindhutai's husband came to live with her at the age of 80. Sindhutai accepts her husband as a son, saying that she is only a mother now.
She considered all children as her son or daughter and there was no difference between anyone for her. The first child he found at the railway station is today his eldest son. And the management work of the ashrams is on his shoulders.
Sindhutai was honored with more than 750 awards for her excellent work of social upliftment. There is the "Ahilyabai Holkar" award which is given by the Government of Maharashtra to social workers working for women and children. In 2021, she was awarded the Padma Shri award. She always used the prize money for the expenses of orphanages.
In 2010, her biopic 'Me Sindhutai Sapkal' was made in the Marathi language. This biopic was also selected for the world premiere of the 54th London Film Festival.
Sindhutai also used to write poetry. The essence of life is found in her poems. She was grateful to her mother because if she had supported her at home after her husband had thrown her out of the house, she would not have become the mother of so many children.
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Other peer institutions established by Sindhutai
- Bal Niketan Hadapsar, Pune
- Savitribai Phule Girls Hostel, Chikhaldara
- Abhiman Bal Bhawan, Wardha
- Gopika Cow Protection Center, Wardha (Gopalan)
- Mamta Bal Sadan, Saswad
- Saptasindhu Mahila Aadhaar Child Care and Education Institute, Pune
Many times in the journey of life, one has to face defeat in the objectives of life, but instead of making oneself helpless and weak by converting defeat into frustration, it is very necessary to strengthen the journey of struggle.
Jagdisha's heartfelt salutations and tribute to Sindhutai. The struggle of your life is going to excite even the desperate and hopeless person.
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