Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth14 November 1948
Age73 Years (at time of death)
BirthplacePimpri Meghe village, Wardha, Central Provinces and Berar (present-day Maharashtra, India)
ProfessionSocial Worker/Social Entrepreneur
NationalityIndian
Marital statusMarried
SpouseShrihari Sapkal
FamilyChildren: Son - Deepak Gaekwad (adopted); Daughter - Mamta Sapkal; Father - Abhimanyu Sathe
Sindhutai Sapkal Biography
Sindhutai Sapkal (14 November 1948 – 4 January 2022) was an Indian social worker known for raising more than a thousand orphaned children and founding a系列s
Early life and backgroundSindhutai Sapkal was born on 14 November 1948 in Pimpri Meghe village in Wardha, in what was then the Central Provinces and Berar (now Maharashtra). She grew up in a poor family; her father worked as a cowherd. Her formal schooling ended after fourth grade. Married very young, she endured a difficult early adulthood that included abandonment by her husband and extreme hardship while caring for young children on her own.
Those early years were marked by severe deprivation. Forced to beg and seek shelter in cemeteries, crematoria and cowsheds, she also survived episodes of childbirth and single parenting under harsh conditions. These experiences shaped her lifelong commitment to children who had been orphaned or abandoned.
Career
Sindhutai turned her personal struggle into sustained social action. In 1970 she opened her first ashram in Chikhaldara, Amravati, and later established the Savitribai Phule Girls Hostel, registered there. Over the decades she founded and ran multiple organisations and orphanages across Maharashtra, including Sanmati Bal Niketan Sanstha in Pune’s Hadapsar area.
Her work focused on rescuing, sheltering and raising children who had no one to care for them. By 2012 she had nurtured more than 1,400 orphaned children; many of those she raised went on to become professionals such as doctors, engineers and lawyers. In some cases she formalised family ties—her household grew into a large extended family that included hundreds of sons‑in‑law and dozens of daughters‑in‑law.
Sindhutai combined direct care with grassroots advocacy. She intervened on behalf of tribal villagers displaced during a tiger preservation project, pressing officials for fair treatment and compensation. Her efforts brought her into contact with public officials and helped secure protections for marginalised people.
Public profile
Sindhutai’s work earned widespread recognition. She received more than 270 national and international awards over her life. Among the honours listed are the Nari Shakti Puraskar presented by the President of India in 2017, the Padma Shri in 2021 in the social work category, and the Mother Teresa Awards for Social Justice. She also received honours such as the Real Heroes Award (CNN‑IBN and Reliance Foundation), the Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize, and an honorary doctorate from Dr. D.Y. Patil College of Engineering, Pune.
Her life and work inspired wider public attention. A Marathi film, Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (2010), dramatized her story, with actress Tejaswini Pandit portraying Sindhutai; the film premiered at the London Film Festival. An autobiography titled Aamchi Mai was published on 1 January 2015. Sindhutai was often referred to in media and public discourse by titles that reflected her role as a mother to many, including monikers such as "Mother of Orphans."
Personal life
Sindhutai was married to Shrihari Sapkal. She had children, including an adopted son named Deepak Gaekwad and a daughter, Mamta Sapkal, who later ran an orphanage. At one point she gave her biological child to a trust in Pune in an effort to eliminate any sense of partiality between biological and adopted children.
Health and death
In late 2021 Sindhutai underwent surgery for a large diaphragmatic hernia. Although she initially appeared to recover, she developed a lung infection and died on 4 January 2022 at Galaxy Care Hospital in Pune. She was 73 years old. Authorities and public figures expressed condolences and paid tribute to her decades of service to children and marginalised communities.
Legacy
Sindhutai Sapkal’s life is remembered for turning personal hardship into lifelong care for children without families. Her organisations and the many people she raised constitute the principal legacy of her work. She received numerous awards and public recognition during her life, and her story continues to be cited as an example of grassroots social entrepreneurship and maternal service to the most vulnerable.
Latest updates
Following her death, national leaders and state officials publicly expressed sorrow and highlighted her contribution to social welfare. The film and writings about her life remain part of how the public recalls her work and influence.
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Recent Work
A Marathi feature film released in 2010 based on her life; Tejaswini Pandit portrayed Sindhutai. The film had a world premiere at the 54th London Film Festival.
2010An autobiography about Sindhutai’s life published on 1 January 2015 by author D.B. Mahajan.
2015Career Highlights
- Founded first ashram in Chikhaldara in 1970 and established multiple NGOs and orphanages across Maharashtra
- Raised over 1,400 orphaned children by 2012, many of whom became professionals
- Recipient of numerous national and international awards including the Nari Shakti Puraskar (2017) and Padma Shri (2021)
- Subject of the Marathi film Mee Sindhutai Sapkal and the autobiography Aamchi Mai
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sindhutai Sapkal born?
Sindhutai Sapkal was born on 14 November 1948.
What is Sindhutai Sapkal known for?
Sindhutai Sapkal is known for social Worker/Social Entrepreneur.
What is Sindhutai Sapkal’s marital status?
Sindhutai Sapkal's marital status is listed as Married.
Who is Sindhutai Sapkal married to?
Sindhutai Sapkal is publicly listed as married to Shrihari Sapkal.
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