The Day Two Grandmothers Made Every Young Athlete Question Their Excuses
Who says women don’t support each other?
Meet Prakashi and Chandro Tomar, two sister-in-laws who didn’t just chase their dreams together at 65 and 67 – they shattered every stereotype while holding each other’s hands, proving that the most powerful force in the world is women lifting women up.
At workwellwomaniya.com, we’ve selected both Prakashi and Chandro Tomar as our Women of the Week because telling the story of one would make it incomplete. These extraordinary women from Johri village in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, didn’t just become legendary shooters – they became a movement.
When Life Begins at 65
Think about it: It’s 1999. While most 65-year-olds are settling into quiet retirement, Chandro Tomar accompanies her apprehensive granddaughter Shefali to a shooting range. After observing for two days, curiosity gets the better of her. She picks up an air gun, takes aim, and hits a perfect bullseye. When asked to repeat it, she does it again.
But what’s even more inspiring about Chandro Ji is that instead of keeping this newfound talent to herself, she becomes the catalyst for her sister-in-law Prakashi to join her. “If taiji can do it, why not me?” became the rallying cry that changed two families forever.
The Power of Partnership: Prakashi & Chandro Tomar
What makes their story exceptionally inspiring isn’t just that they started shooting in their 60s , it’s how they did it together. Every morning at 4 AM, they’d tackle their household chores side by side. Milk the cows, work in the fields, cook for their large joint family, and then “sneak off” to training together, facing family disapproval as a united front.
When the elders objected, they persisted together. When society ridiculed them for competing in traditional ghaghra and kurta alongside young men, they endured it together. When success came, they celebrated together.
Breaking Barriers, Building Legacies
Together, these “Shooter Dadis” won over 250 medals and trophies. But their real victory was the social revolution they sparked:
- Prakashi’s daughter Seema Tomar became India’s first woman to win a shotgun silver at the ISSF World Cup
- Chandro’s granddaughter Shefali competed internationally in Hungary and Germany
- 40-45 girls from their region now compete at international levels
- Families that once saved money for dowries now invest in their daughters’ shooting academies
Their Philosophy: Age is Just a Number
When we hear “Age is just a number”, It feels like a cliche but how many of us take it seriously even today?
Thankfully we have Tomar Dadis example.
“Tann buddha hota hai, mann buddha nahin hota” (The body ages, the mind doesn’t) – this wasn’t just their motto, it was their lived reality. They proved that passion doesn’t have an expiration date, dreams don’t come with age limits, and it’s never too late to rewrite your story.
Recognition and Legacy
Their incredible journey earned them:
- Stree Shakti Puraskar from President Pranab Mukherjee (2016)
- A Bollywood biopic “Saand Ki Aankh” (2019) starring Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar
- The title “Shooter Dadis” that became synonymous with breaking age and gender barriers
A Bittersweet Present
Today, Chandro Tomar is no longer with us. She passed away due to COVID-19 in 2021 at age 89. Prakashi Tomar, now 88, faces health challenges but continues to inspire. Her daughter Seema’s recent plea for prayers reminds us that even legends face human struggles.
Why They’re Our Women of the Week
At WorkWellWomaniya.com, we celebrate Prakashi and Chandro Tomar not just for their sporting achievements, but for showing us what sisterhood looks like. In a world where women are often pitted against each other, these two chose to lift each other up.
They proved that:
- Support systems matter – They succeeded because they had each other
- Representation matters – Seeing them compete gave other women permission to dream
- Persistence pays off – They faced ridicule but never gave up
- Legacy lives on – Their impact continues through the generations they inspired
The Takeaway
The next time someone tells you it’s too late to start something new, remember the Shooter Dadis. The next time someone says women can’t support each other, remember these sister-in-laws who turned their shared dreams into a social revolution.
Prakashi and Chandro Tomar didn’t just learn to shoot – they shot down every limitation society placed on them, proving that when women stand together, they’re unstoppable.
At WorkWellWomaniya.com, we believe every woman deserves to be celebrated. These Shooter Dadis remind us that it’s never too late to rewrite your story – especially when you have someone cheering you on.
Your Turn: The Shooter Dadis started at 65. What’s your excuse?
✅ Take Action Today: Write down ONE dream you’ve been postponing
✅ Set a Date: Give yourself 30 days to take the first step
✅ Find Your Prakashi: Identify one woman who can support your journey
Share your commitment below – let’s hold each other accountable like the Shooter Dadis did.