PERSONAL INFORMATION
Names Earned: Mother of Orphans [1] Indian Express Limited , Anathanchi Maye [2] Indian Express Limited , Mai [3] CNN-News18
Profession: Social Worker/Social Entrepreneur
Known For: Raising over 1200 orphaned children
Date of Birth: 14 November 1948 (Sunday)
Birthplace: Pimpri Meghe village, Wardha, Central Provinces and Berar, Dominion of India (present-day Maharashtra, India)
Age (at the time of death): 73 Years
Zodiac sign: Scorpio
Nationality: Indian
Religion: Hinduism
Age: 73 Years
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EDUCATION
Educational Qualification: Class Four [5] Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education
PHYSICAL STATISTICS
Height (approx.): in centimeters – 161 cm in meters – 1.61 m in feet & inches – 5’ 3”
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Hair Colour: Salt and Pepper
FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
Marital Status (at the time of death): Married
Husband/Spouse: Shrihari Sapkal
Children: Son – Deepak Gaekwad (adopted) Daughter – Mamta Sapkal
Parents: Father – Abhimanyu Sathe (Cowherder)
Husband: Shrihari Sapkal
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Awards, Honours, Achievements: • Shivlila Mahila Gaurav Award • Rajai Award • Sahyadri Hirkani Award • 1996 – Dattak Mata Purskar, given by Non Profit Organization Sunita Kalaniketan Trust • 2008 – Women of the Year Award, given by daily Marathi newspaper Loksatta • 2010 – Ahilyabai Holkar Award, given by the Government of Maharashtra to social workers in the field of women and child welfare • 2012 – COEP Gaurav Puraskar, given by College of Engineering, Pune • 2012 – Real Heroes Awards, given by CNN-IBN and Reliance Foundation • 2013 – The National Award for Iconic Mother • 2013 – Mother Teresa Awards for Social Justice • 2014 – Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize • 2016 – Social Worker of the Year award from Wockhardt Foundation • 2016 – Honorary doctorate by the Dr. D.Y. Patil College of Engineering, Pune • 2017 – Nari Shakti Puraskar from the President Of India • 2021 – Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2021 in Social Work category
OTHER INFORMATION
Date of Death: 4 January 2022 at 8:10 PM
Place of Death: Galaxy Care Hospital in Pune, Maharashtra
Death Cause: Cardiac Arrest [4] India Today
INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Sindhutai Sapkal, a remarkable Indian social worker and social entrepreneur, dedicated her life to nurturing orphaned children and transforming their futures through her extensive network of NGOs. With a profound commitment to social justice, she successfully raised thousands of children, many of whom have gone on to establish successful careers as doctors, engineers, and lawyers. Among her numerous initiatives, one notable NGO operates out of Maharashtra, serving as a testament to her unwavering resolve in providing care and support to those in need.
The impact of Sindhutai’s work has been recognized both nationally and internationally, earning her over 270 prestigious awards, including the Nari Shakti Award presented by President Ram Nath Kovind in 2017. In a generous gesture, she utilized the monetary prize from the award to purchase land for the orphaned children under her care. By 2012, she had nurtured approximately 1,442 children, creating a vast family that includes 207 sons-in-law and 36 daughters-in-law, showcasing her far-reaching influence and the deep sense of community she fostered.
Born into a family struggling with poverty, Sindhutai faced significant challenges from an early age. Her father, a cow herder, valued her education and secretly sent her to school, despite her mother’s opposition. At just eight years old, after completing the fourth grade, she was married to a man twenty years her senior. Following her marriage, she moved to Nawargaon village in Seloo, Wardha, where her life took another tragic turn. Abandoned by her husband at the age of 20 due to unfounded rumors, she found herself alone and pregnant for the fourth time, navigating a world filled with hardship and despair.
In the depths of her struggle, Sindhutai faced unimaginable challenges, including the traumatic birth of her child in a cowshed, where she had to rely on a sharp stone to cut the umbilical cord. Her return home was met with rejection from her mother, pushing her to the brink of despair. With nowhere to go, she resorted to begging and singing on the streets, finding shelter in cemeteries and cowsheds, where she often witnessed the harsh realities of life and death. While scavenging for food, she made a roti using leftover flour from a cremation ritual, a testament to her resourcefulness amid adversity.
Determined to change her circumstances, Sindhutai’s heart was moved by the plight of orphaned children she encountered on the streets. This inspired her to adopt nearly a dozen of them, marking the beginning of her lifelong mission. In her pursuit of justice, she also fought for the rights of tribal villagers displaced by a tiger preservation project. Her passionate advocacy caught the attention of Chhedilal Gupta, the then Minister of Forests, who agreed to halt the displacement until viable alternatives were provided. During a meeting with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, she raised the urgent issue of compensation for human lives lost to wild animals, leading to significant changes in policy.
In 1970, Sindhutai established her first ashram in Chikaldara, Amravati, and later founded the Savitribai Phule Girls Hostel, followed by the Sanmati Bal Niketan Sanstha orphanage in Pune. Her extensive contributions to social work have left an indelible mark on countless lives. Even years later, when her estranged husband approached her, she graciously accepted him back as a son, reflecting her transformation into a maternal figure for many. Her life story inspired the Marathi film “Mee Sindhutai Sapkal,” which premiered at the 54th London Film Festival, further immortalizing her legacy. Following her passing, actress Tejaswini Pandit described her as “sabki maye… a farishta (angel),” encapsulating the profound impact Sindhutai had on the lives of those she touched.
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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.