From Abandonment to Becoming ‘Maai’: Sindhutai Sapkal’s Journey of Survival, Sacrifice, and Unwavering Love.
The life of Sindhutai Sapkal is straight out of a movie. It has ups and downs that are as dramatic as a movie plot.
Sindhutai Sapkal was born in November 1948 in Pimpri Meghe village, Wardha district, Maharashtra. Sadly, she was an unwanted child and was nicknamed “Chindi” (meaning worthless in the local dialect).
She was an intelligent child who survived all her childhood struggles triumphantly, despite ending her formal education in the fourth standard.
But her real struggle started after her marriage at the tender age of 12 to Shrihari Sapkal, a cowherd from Navargaon village in Wardha district. Her marriage did not last long.
She fearlessly spoke against the exploitation of local women who collected dried cow dung. This enraged her husband, who abandoned her when she was 20 years old and heavily pregnant. Thrown out of her husband’s house, Sindhutai gave birth to her baby girl in a cowshed.
She had to sever the umbilical cord using a sharp stone as no one was there to help her. Homeless and destitute, she survived by singing and begging on the streets and trains in Amravati.
At one point in time, she sought shelter in a crematorium as she was concerned for her safety.
One night, she saw a dead body burning. The last rites were over, and the relatives had left behind some flour as part of the final rituals. Starving, she took the flour, prepared a bhakari (roti), and baked it on the fire that was still consuming the corpse.
How She Became the Mother to Orphans
During her struggle in the streets, Sindhutai saw many orphaned children begging. She could visualise herself in them and took them under her wing by offering them whatever food and shelter she could manage. This was not easy for her, but she was not cut out to do easy things.
It started as a small act of kindness but soon became the mission of her life. These children lovingly called her “Aai” (Mother). To ensure no favouritism between her biological daughter and her adopted children, she entrusted her daughter to the care of the Shrimant Dagdushet Halwai Trust in Pune.
Sindhutai devoted her entire life to caring for orphans. Unlike conventional orphanages, where children leave at 18, she kept them under her care until they found jobs or got married. She became their lifelong guardian.
She was the personification of compassion
Sindhutai’s dedication extended beyond just caring for children. She also established the Gopika Gai Rakshan Kendra to save old cows from slaughter.
Over the years, her work has been recognised and celebrated. She was conferred the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, in 2021, along with numerous other honours.
Her life came full circle when her estranged husband, now old and destitute, sought her forgiveness. Instead of holding a grudge, she took him into her orphanage, introducing him as her eldest child. This act of boundless kindness defined her legacy.
She passed away on 4 January 2022 at 73 in Pune.
Today, her work continues through the efforts of her children and supporters. Sindhutai Sapkal, lovingly called “Maai,” was more than just a mother. She was an institution of love, resilience, and selfless service.