Barefoot mom in sari runs 3 km to win Rs 5,000 for daughters' education after sleepless night over daughter's food and rent

Ramabai Ranvir had never run a race before. In fact, she barely knew what taking part in a race involved. All she knew was that the winner would receive Rs 3,000, money that could help her support her daughters. So, when she heard about a running competition near the Dnyandeep Academy in Beed, Maharashtra, the 47-year-old widow decided to give it a shot.

She joined a group of police aspirants heading to the event, despite having no training for a long-distance run. She was also the only participant without shoes.

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47-year-old mother runs 3 km barefoot in sari

Ramabai began the 3 km race wearing her sari and slippers. But when her slippers gave up midway, she simply continued running barefoot. Her motivation was simple, she needed money to help fund the education and living expenses of her two daughters.

“I ran like my life depended on it. I didn't know how much time I needed to cover the distance. I only stopped once I was past the finish line,” she told TOI.

Her determination paid off. Instead of the expected Rs 3,000 prize, Ramabai was given Rs 5,000.

“I am so happy they gave me Rs 5,000 instead of Rs 3,000. I bought notebooks and pens for my daughter Pooja. The remaining money is for Arti,” she told TOI.

Why Ramabai Ran In The Race

Ramabai works in the kitchen at Dnyandeep Academy, where she makes more than 200 chapatis every day. She earns Rs 9,000 a month.

A native of Potra in Hingoli, she took up the job to support the education of her two daughters after her husband died in 2012.

Her younger daughter, Arti, 20, is studying BSc Computer Science and lives alone in Nanded. On August 28, Arti called her mother asking for money to pay for food and rent.

Ramabai had no spare cash to send her daughter and spent a sleepless night worrying about her.

“There is no pain worse than that of not being able to take care of your children. The moment I came to know of the race, winning was the only thing on my mind,” she told TOI.

Dnyandeep Academy head recalls her determination

Datta Darade, who heads Dnyandeep Academy, said Ramabai's decision to participate surprised him.

He was taking students from the academy to the marathon when Ramabai asked if she could join them.

“I was taking my students to the marathon. When Ramabai said she wanted to come along, I asked her, ‘What will you do there?’ She said, ‘I will run.’ I couldn't believe it when she won in the above-30 category,” Darade told TOI.

The academy has also played an important role in helping Ramabai's family. It enrolled her elder daughter, Pooja, 22, free of cost and provided her with employment and a room to stay.

Ramabai’s daughter also won a race

The family had even more reason to celebrate. Pooja finished second in the 18-30 age category and won Rs 2,000. For Arti, hearing that her mother had won was an emotional moment.

“Our mother studied till Class 7 and has worked all her life, not taking breaks even when she was unwell. She didn't hesitate to send me to Nanded for my studies. I am not surprised she decided to win a race for her family,” Arti told TOI.

For Ramabai, the race was never really about running. It was about making sure her daughters could continue studying, even when money was tight. And for 3 km, she ran with one thing firmly in mind, getting them the help they needed.