Sindhutai got married at the age of 12 to Shrihari Sapkal, who is almost 26 years older than her. There is no educational environment in her new family. sindhutai used to bring home the pieces of paper found in the forest while collecting wood and dung and hide them in rat burrows. Rarely did she try to study when she was alone at home. By the age of twenty, sindhutai had three children. when she was pregnant for the fourth time, the first struggle of her life started.
After being evicted by her husband, the villagers also evicted her from village. After she came back to her senses she went to her maternal village but everyone shunned her and rejected her. Even her mother closed the doors to her. Sindhutai was alone in the world with her little daughter to look after. She was hungry and the baby was hungry two. Pangs of hunger were intolerable. Later sindhutai wander town to town singing and begging in railway stations, temples. Sindhutai used to beg all day. But she never ate there alone.She call beggars at the station and then all the beggars would sit together and eat And the same beggars were protecting Sindhutai. Because she feared being picked up by men at night, she often spent the night at cemeteries. Such was her condition that people called her a ghost since she was seen at night in the cemeteries.
In 1986 Sindhutai Founded organasation called Vanwasi Gopalkrushna Bahuudeshiya Mandal during the period of struggle, she purchased one acer land for the organizations future resources. She planned to start her future project in this place. With the understanding of the state of the affaires in chikhaldara and the consequences of the hunger pangs,the food for starving was decided to be the first step. Healthy means medical care and proper facilities for the expecting mothers will ensure healthy children.
Sindhutai has devoted her entire life for orphans. As a result she is fondly called 'Mai' (mother). She has nurtured over 1050 orphaned children. As of today, she has a grand family of 207 son-in-laws, 36 daughter-in-laws.
She still continues to fight for the next meal for her children. Many of the children whom she adopted are well-educated lawyers, lecturer and some including her biological daughter, are running their own independent orphanages. One of her children is doing a Ph.D. on her life. She has been honoured with more than 750 awards for her dedication and work. She used the award money to buy land to make a home for her orphan children. Because of her dedication and sacrifices, today the children have their own building at Manjari, Dist. Pune with all facilities i.e. Computer room, Big hall for cultural activities, Solar System, Water filter, Library, Study room, and all required facilities. Mai is always trying to give a good standard of living to her children along with food, clothing, shelter, education and rehabilitation.
At the age of 70, her husband came back to her apologetically. She accepted him as her child stating she is only a mother now! If you visit her ashram, she proudly and very affectionately introduces him as her oldest child! In person, she comes across as a bottomless source of energy and inspiration, with absolutely no negative emotions or ill will for anybody. A marathi film 'Mee Sindhutai Sapkal' released in 2010, is a biopic inspired by the true story of Sindhutai Sapkal. The film was selected for world premiere at the 54th London Film Festival.
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