In a saree and slippers, then barefoot: Actor Madhavan salutes 47-year-old Maharashtra mother who wins marathon to fund daughters' education

She did not have running shoes, sportswear or a track-ready outfit. She had a saree, a pair of slippers and a reason bigger than the race itself. Ramabai Ranveer, a 47-year-old cook from Ambajogai in Maharashtra’s Beed district, won a 3-km marathon to help fund her daughters’ education. When her slippers began slipping on the muddy track, she took them off and ran barefoot. Her determination caught actor R Madhavan’s attention, prompting him to reshare a post about her.

Ramabai Ranveer ran for her daughters

As reported by The Hindu, Ramabai Ranveer, 47, is a cook and a native of Beed in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. She participated in a running event in Ambajogai with a clear goal: to win the prize money and use it to support her daughters’ education.

The event was organised on August 29, 2026, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Bharatiya Shikshan Prasarak Sanstha, an educational institution in the Kholeshwar region. The race covered about 3 km, beginning at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk and ending at Bhagyanagar Chowk in Ambajogai. Ramabai eventually finished first and won the Rs 3,000 prize.

Race in a saree and slippers

Ramabai did not arrive at the marathon dressed like a conventional runner. She wore a simple saree and slippers. But the conditions on the track soon became a problem. The route was uneven and muddy, with rainwater pooled in several places. Her slippers began slipping as she ran. Instead of giving up, Ramabai removed them. She carried the slippers in her hand and continued the race barefoot.

With every stride, she kept moving despite the increasingly difficult track. She eventually overtook several younger participants and crossed the finish line first. Her barefoot run later went viral on social media, drawing praise for her determination and resilience.

A cook and sole breadwinner

Behind the race was a deeply personal reason. Ramabai is the sole breadwinner for her family following her husband’s death. She works as a cook to support her two daughters and help them pursue their education.

As reported by The Hindu, one daughter is pursuing a B.Sc. degree, while the other, Pooja Ranveer, is preparing for the police recruitment examination.Pooja was the one who encouraged her mother to take part in the race. Pooja Ranveer said her mother finished first while she came second. She had encouraged her mother to run alongside her and assured her that even a second- or third-place finish would be fine, as long as she did not exhaust herself. Pooja added that her mother never gives up, a quality that has helped her overcome challenges.

Pooja also spoke about her own ambitions and her mother’s love for education. She added that her mother has always been passionate about education. She recalled that her father died in an accident in Mumbai and said she dreams of becoming a police officer, which is why she is continuing her studies. Before pursuing her education, Pooja said she worked in farming.

R Madhavan salutes her determination

Ramabai’s story soon travelled beyond Ambajogai. Official India shared an Instagram post dedicated to her barefoot marathon run, which was later reshared by actor R Madhavan on his Instagram Story. The actor’s gesture brought further attention to the 47-year-old mother’s story.

What began as a 3-km local race became a story about a mother determined to create better opportunities for her daughters.