Late Sindhutai Sapkal, also known as the Mother of Orphans, was an active working Indian social activist for orphans and deprived sections of society. Her life could be described as a struggle, and dedication with the ultimate focus on the poor and needy. She started her life in poverty, with countless adversities, fought her way through, be it with willpower or compassion, helped single-handedly mother more than 1,500, and transformed the lives of millions of people through her story.
Early Life and Struggles
Sindhutai was born on 14th November 1948 in Pimpri Meghe, Wardha district in Maharashtra. She had a lower class background as she was from a family of a cattle grazing man Abhiman Sathe. However her family was very poor, her father however stressed the importance of education and thus prodded her to study even when her mother did not approve. Her father used to sneak her to school where she performed well academically. However, she had to leave school after fourth grade due to problems with fees and cultural expectations concerning women.
When Sindhutai was 12, she was married to a man named Shrihari Sapkal, three decades her senior. It was not only necessary in culture but also important to help her parents to free themselves from the financial problem. This was the kind of life a young bride deserved, one of suffering and abuse. However, despite all these, she remained focused on her dream to have a better life a life that will make a difference.
Sindhutai one day was accused of being unfaithful to her husband when she was pregnant with their fourth child at the age of 20 and was dumped by him. She was left without any place to go and no way to make her living. In order to make her live outside the home, she delivered her daughter in a cow shed. Later on, Sindhutai got into a stage where she had to beg for herself leaving all the bad habits behind. She roamed the country switching from one place to another, she even slept in cemeteries for fear of the darkness.
The utter destitute into which this primordial woman descended cast the nascent germ of her mission. During her time begging she was able to meet many orphaned children out there, who as well had been left to struggle for their own lives. Sindhutai saw the plight of these children and her self-pity motivated her to take up the responsibility of providing for these helpless children who were also sexually abused like her.
Turning Pain into Purpose
Sindhutai kicked off her mission by taking up the responsibility of a one-year-old girl she found abandoned in a forest. She was barely making ends meet, however, she couldn’t ignore the poor crying orphan and thus became more consumed by work. Later she began placing more kids from the street since they were cast out by society, Pt. 137. Despite she had not many funds to spare she resolved not to send any child away. She used to say that when she grew up she did not have any dreams, except that she did not want to let any child suffer like she had to.
I think that her experience was very challenging during the first part of the process. To take care of the many children she adopted she kept continuing to beg on railway stations and roads singing songs for money. She also had to perform small jobs to earn money. She highlighted the fact that it was not charity for the children, she adopted them and they got a home, school, education, and above all love. She had taken the time to show them how to stand up for themselves and how to look beyond their station in life.
Foundation of Orphanages and Growing Impact
Sindhutai started opening many orphanages in Maharashtra of which, Sanmati Bal Niketan at Pune which took home hundreds of children. Here the children not only got fed and housed but also educated and emotionally supported and brought up as a family.
What made her story more unique was that she took care of abandoned children and also provided a mother figure to her husband. Her husband who had once chased her away came looking for her after thirty years. Furious with the man, Sindhutai told him, “I am just a mother now.” I have forgiven him. And I can only give my love to you, nothing else.” This particular selflessness is one of her many ways of showing that she can forgive and accept anyone with open arms.
Altogether, Sindhutai gave birth to 1500 children, most of them grew up to be doctors lawyers, engineers, and teachers. Her children, being grown-up, continued her work, so that continued her work. Sindhutai always used to say that she was successful because her children were successful.
Recognition and Awards
Sindhutai’s tireless work did not go unnoticed. Over her lifetime, she received more than 750 awards, including the Padma Shri in 2021, one of the highest civilian honors in India. Some of her notable awards include:
- Ahilyabai Holkar Award for social work
- National Award for Iconic Mother
- Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice
Each time she received an award, she would use the prize money to further her mission of supporting orphaned children. Despite the accolades, she remained grounded and always attributed her achievements to the children she helped.
Personal Philosophy and Resilience
Sindhutai was always an activist for women’s rights, the rights of children, and socially unheard and neglected causes. These abandonment and difficult childhood experiences were reflected in most of her productions. As is seen, her biggest beliefs were compassion, forgiveness, and perseverance formed the main belief system about herself. Looking at her, you could hear that she repeated countless times that through pain and suffering only comes strength and empathy. She was the epitome of demonstrating that the pain of one individual can turn into a mission that helps numerous people.
She once remarked, “God has given me a life full of struggle and suffering to prepare me to become the mother of orphans.”
Legacy
Sindhutai died from cardiac arrest on January 4th, 2022 at the age of 73. But her memory lives on through the institutions she began and the hundreds of families she altered inexhaustibly. Her story was also portrayed on screen through the movie; “ Mee Sindhutai Sapkal’ released in 2010 which gave a glimpse of her struggle from a beggar woman to the most honored social worker.
By now everyone knows about Sindhutai’s life story; it is one of hope and strength that reveals that even those around us suffering in the darkness of life can be given a ray of hope and strength by us. She finally rose from the grave forgiving – a power that still echoed to the generations of the world or hell that scorched generations yet unborn because of this angel’s goodness. Today they are still operating similarly to orphanages that take care of thousands of children and her goal to help the abandoned children is still actively being manifested.
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