Harsh Goenka’s inspiration is a West Bengal woman who is coaching young girls football for past 17 years in saree

Harsh Goenka recently shared an inspiring story of a rural woman who is teaching young girls to play football while dressed in a saree. Sharing a video where the woman is seen teaching the girls in a saree, Goenka said he was filled with awe by the many inspiring people across India who have dedicated themselves selflessly to a cause.

"It fills me in awe when I see so many inspirational stories in our country- of people who have dedicated themselves selflessly to a cause. And here is an example…." said Goenka in a post on X.

Check Harsh Goenka's post about his inspiration here:

Who is the woman that Harsh Goenka is talking about?

Media reports suggest that the woman in the video that Goenka shared is Bharati Mudi from a small village in West Bengal's Bankura district. Mudi teaches the girls football moves with the same passion she carried decades ago as a girl who dreamed of playing the sport herself. That dream of hers never worked out. But rather than let it die quietly, she turned it into something else: a mission that has shaped the lives of dozens of girls over 17 years.


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Her story is proof that one determined woman can genuinely change what an entire community's future looks like.

Bharati Mudi's childhood

Bharati Mudi grew up in Dumdumi village in Bankura’s Chhatna block, with a natural love for sport and a particular dream of playing football. She made a name for herself in athletics, but her football ambitions were eventually pushed aside by family responsibilities, financial constraints and the social barriers that often limit opportunities for women in rural India.

Like many women, Bharati put her own ambitions on hold to care for her family. But she never quite let go of the dream. Instead, she found another way to stay connected to the sport she loved.

A football academy where girls train for free

In 2009, encouraged by her daughter Tania Mudi and driven by her own determination, Bharati set up a football training centre in her village. From the beginning, she made one promise: no girl would be charged for training.

More than a decade later, that promise remains unchanged. Around 25 tribal girls regularly train under Bharati, who continues to coach them without charging a fee. For her, the academy is about giving young girls the opportunity she herself never had.

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More than just football training

Bharati’s coaching goes beyond teaching the basics of the game. She trains the girls in kicking, passing, ball control and scoring, while also teaching them to understand and read a match.

But the lessons extend beyond the football field. Bharati works to build the girls’ confidence and repeatedly reminds them that their background should not determine how far they can go. In each young player, she sees a reflection of the girl she once was.

Changing lives, one player at a time

Bharati’s work has produced results well beyond her village. According to News18 and other media reports, at least 18 girls trained by her have represented West Bengal at the state level, while several have competed at national events in cities including Goa, Chandigarh and Bhopal. Some of her students have also secured government jobs through the sports quota.

One of her most personal success stories is her daughter, Tania Mudi, who trained under Bharati and went on to become a football referee.

Keeping the academy running against the odds

Running a free football academy has not been easy. Footballs, boots, jerseys and other equipment all cost money, and Bharati has had to shoulder much of the financial burden herself. Her husband has supported her throughout, including by contributing financially when needed.

Together, they have kept the academy going despite persistent financial difficulties, ensuring that a girl’s inability to afford equipment never becomes a reason to keep her off the field.

For Bharati, football is more than a sport. She sees it as a way to help girls become confident and independent. Her own unfulfilled dream has now taken a different shape: she hopes that one day, a player from this remote corner of Bankura will wear the Indian jersey and represent the country on the world stage.

“Even after eating only Panta Bhaat, we never missed practice”

Her students’ memories offer perhaps the clearest picture of the impact Bharati has had on their lives. Mampi Bauri, one of her trainees, told News18 that Bharati’s constant encouragement kept the girls going even during difficult times.

Mampi recalled periods when money was so scarce at home that the girls would come to practice after eating only Panta Bhaat — the starchy water left behind after rice is cooked. Yet, they rarely missed training.