Ramabai Ranvir
Pune: Ramabai Ranvir had never trained for a race before in the 47 years of her life. Back in her village of Potra in Hingoli district, she was a daily wage worker for several years, earning Rs100-200 per day. Last year, when her elder daughter Pooja Ranvir (22) expressed her desire to attempt recruitment to the police force, Ramabai found work as a cook in the same police recruit training academy in Ambajogai of Beed district, where her daughter was enrolled. She said, “Every month, I have to send Arti Rs5,000-7,000 in Nanded, where she stays to study. I couldn’t believe it when she won in the above-30 age category,” he said. “I earn Rs9,000 per month. I make 120 chapatis in the afternoon and again at night.
When Pooja said she wanted to try out for police recruitment, I didn’t know what to do or how to go about it. I boarded a train and came here,” she said. Datta Darade, who heads the Dnyanadeep Academy for police, military and para-military recruit training academy, where Ramabai works as a cook, said her story of struggle and determination had moved him. I was going to take my students to the marathon anyway, when she said she also wants to come along. She said, ‘I will run. I was surprised, but told her to tag along. This work gives me money and I get to feed hungry children, which is a blessing,” she said.
I was worried. She lives alone and needs money for food. There is no pain worse than that of not being able to take care of your children. So, the moment I came to know of the race and reward, I boarded that pickup vehicle, I had decided I would win, no matter what happened. I needed that money desperately. Ramabai has exhibited this fearless spirit before, too. “I was a farm worker earning Rs200 per day, while my children studied in village schools. There were days when there was no work and hardly anything to eat. Some children from our village had cracked the exam after going to a centre in Ambejogai. I was scared and didn’t know anyone here. But Babasaheb Ambedkar has taught us to work hard and get educated. “We had enrolled her elder daughter free of cost and gave work to Ramabai as a cook, along with a room to stay at the academy. I was honestly taken aback. I asked her: ‘What will you do there? After the run, while most people celebrated, Ramabai was back at Dnyanadeep Academy at 10am, ready to work.
When she asked me for some funds on Friday, I told her I would send it, but had none.
She used to get Rs100 for 7-8 hours of work when we were younger, which in later years became Rs200. Currently in her second year of a BSc in computer science, Arti said when Pooja called her to say their mother won a race, she was dumbstruck.
So, if she decided to win a race for her family, I am not surprised,” the proud daughter told TOI . “My mother studied till Std VII and then worked all her life, without even taking breaks when she was unwell. she never compromised on our education Although we were always short on cash. After my father’s death, nobody was there to help us, but she didn’t hesitate to send me to Nanded and put me in a private hostel for my studies. She works more than anyone I know, all for us.
“My husband died 14 years ago, and I have been unable to procure his death certificate despite running around hospitals and govt offices. Because of this, i am unable to apply for educational concessions for my daughters.
I just want my daughters to be educated, get jobs and stand on their own feet,” she said. Though she has been flooded with interview requests and congratulations in the aftermath of her feat, Ramabai has just one appeal. I need help to get these documents to help my children study further. I don’t want anything else.