Mother Runs Barefoot to Fund Daughters’ Education Sparks Debate on India’s Education System
Photo Credit, Kiran Sakle/BBC
Rambai Ranveer, from western India, had no formal training for running and did not own any shoes for the race.
Competing in her first race, she ran barefoot and finished first.
Widowed, 47-year-old Rambai participated in a 3-kilometer community race held in August with one goal—to win the prize money to fund her two daughters’ education.
After finishing ahead of others, she was overjoyed. She won 3,000 Indian Rupees (approximately 4,800 Nepali Rupees), which, though modest, helped purchase books and study materials for her daughters.
The amount she won is small and unable to cover even a fraction of the high costs of higher education in India. One of her daughters is currently taking preparation classes for government job exams, with fees that exceed the prize money.
However, the video of Rambai running barefoot went viral on social media and newspapers, drawing widespread attention and sparking renewed debate over India’s education system.
“Is this a matter of pride or a shameful reflection on our society?” questioned one social media user.
The woman, who had never imagined becoming a runner, has become a symbol of a larger issue: the immense struggles many Indian families face to provide better education for their children.
Entering the race was an easy decision for Rambai.
“My elder daughter came early and said, ‘Mother, I want to participate in the running competition’,” she said from her home in Beed district.
“I asked her where the race would be, and she said it was nearby. She also said that if she won the prize money, it would help with education expenses.
It was becoming difficult to gather money to buy textbooks for her younger daughter Aarti, who lives in Nanded.
“After I couldn’t send money to buy her books, she didn’t talk to me on the phone for eight days. That’s when I decided I must run the race and win,” Rambai explained.
Mother and Daughters Also Compete in the Race
Photo Credit, Kiran Sakle/BBC
During the race, her slippers broke. She removed them, tied her sari securely, and ran barefoot. She finished first in the women’s 30 to 60 age group, outrunning everyone else.
Her elder daughter, Pooja, secured second place in her age group and also won a prize, but she praises her mother for being particularly courageous.
Since her husband’s passing in 2012, Rambai has been the sole earner for her family.
“I did whatever work I could find. I picked pigeon peas and chickpeas in others’ fields, collected and ground turmeric to sell,” she recounts.
She dropped out of school at age 13. She wants her daughters to have the opportunities she never had.
“I will do everything I can while I am alive to ensure my daughters receive a good education,” she says.
This aspiration is shared by millions of Indian families. Securing sustainable employment through education requires years of preparation and tough competition, often involving significant financial burdens for many families.
One of Rambai’s daughters is preparing for a police recruitment exam, while the other is preparing for a civil services exam. Both require intense competition to secure these secure and prestigious government jobs.
Millions of Indian youths spend years preparing for such exams, often spending heavily on coaching and study materials. However, repeated controversies such as question paper leaks and other irregularities have eroded trust in the exam system.
These issues have deepened widespread disappointment among India’s youth over education, employment, and securing a stable future. This frustration has fueled student-led protests and youth movements demanding reforms in the education system.
“May My Daughters Not Endure the Hardships I Faced”
Photo Credit, Kiran Sakle/BBC
Families like Rambai’s make daily sacrifices for education.
Following the death of her husband, Rambai has been raising her daughters by doing any work she could find. Now, when her younger daughter attends police entrance preparation classes, Rambai takes on cooking duties at home.
Her barefoot run attracted the attention not only of ordinary people but also of Indian officials. Recently, India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant directed local authorities to provide her with financial support of 50,000 Rupees.
Sukhdev Thorat, former chairman of the University Grants Commission, observed that this family’s story highlights widespread structural challenges.
For Rambai, the broader debate over education is secondary; her priority is ensuring a bright future for her daughters.
“I want them not to suffer the difficulties I endured,” she states.
“I want them not to struggle through mud, not to walk under the scorching sun and rain as I did. I do not want my daughters to face the hardships I faced.”
Additional reporting by Leni Baran
This report is also available on YouTube and other social media platforms.