Social activist Sindhutai Sapkal, whose bio-pic is making waves, talks about her ‘power of one’ philanthropy

Sumedha Raikar-Mhatre (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 02, 2011)

A social activist from Vidarbha, Sindhutai Sapkal, 62, is a mother to over a thousand destitute children. She runs a chain of orphanages in Maharashtra.

Her rise from a horrifyingly impoverished childhood and an unbelievably regressive marriage is an inspiring story that is now part of the recently-released biographical film Mee Sindhutai Sapkal.

Married at 9 and abandoned by her husband at 20 along with her infant daughter, Sindhutai is an exemplary rebel who fought against a patriarchal social order and used resourceful ways to start life anew.

Her speeches, which have inspired philanthropy, are a rare demonstration of the ‘power of one’. After the film’s release, there is a renewed interest in Sindhutai’s packed calendar of public engagements. She talks about how the film energises her to take on the management of four resource-poor orphanages.

Did your bio-pic impact your work?

Oh yes, I am warmly received at airport lounges and other sophisticated places. My public speeches, which have always been vital to donations, are now booked months in advance. When the film was released, all political outfits in Mumbai and Pune booked shows for their grassroots women workers.

The experience of watching the film, as a chief guest, with other toiling lower-middle class women was great. More >