She is 47 years old. She had no shoes or other equipment to take part in the competition. But with the sole aim of fulfilling her daughter’s dream of education, the woman, wearing a simple saree, participated in the marathon barefoot and managed to win the first prize. 47-year-old Ramabai Ranvir won the title in the ‘Amrit Run’ marathon organized on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of an educational institution in Ambajogai town of Beed district in Maharashtra. She achieved this feat by leaving behind many younger, trained competitors equipped with modern facilities.
It may be noted that after her husband’s death, Ramabai, who has been supporting her family by working as a cook in others’ houses, has been single-handedly bearing the responsibility of educating her two daughters. Thinking that if she won the prize money of three thousand rupees in the competition, she would be able to pay her children’s school fees and buy books, she entered the race.
As the simple pair of sandals she was wearing caused difficulty on the muddy track, she took them off midway through the run and carried them in her hand. With no training or energy drinks, thinking only of her children’s future, she continued to run barefoot towards the finish line.
The organizers were stunned to see the mother crossing the finish line as the winner, holding her sandals in her hand. After receiving the prize money of Rs 3,000, Ramabai said, “I will spend this money only for my daughters’ education.”
After visuals of the mother’s effort spread on social media, one user commented, “Mother is the biggest warrior in the world, she has proved it.” Meanwhile, many conscientious people have also called for special steps to provide her with financial assistance.
