Mother’s barefoot race victory highlights education struggle in India

A 47-year-old widow from India has become an internet sensation after winning a 3km race barefoot to earn prize money for her daughters’ education.

Ramabai Ranveer, from Maharashtra’s Beed district, had never trained as a runner and did not even have running shoes when she entered the community race in August.

Her motivation was simple. She wanted to win enough money to help her younger daughter buy books and study materials.

When her slippers repeatedly slipped during the race, Ramabai took them off, gathered her sari and continued running barefoot. She eventually finished first in the women’s 30-60 age category and received a prize of 3,000 rupees.

Her daughter had reportedly struggled to afford study materials while preparing for a competitive government recruitment examination. Ramabai said she decided to participate after learning that winning the race could help support her daughter’s studies.

Videos of her run quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread attention to the sacrifices made by families trying to provide better educational opportunities for their children.

Ramabai has supported her family since her husband died in 2012. After leaving school at the age of 13, she worked in agricultural fields, collected and processed turmeric and took other jobs to support her daughters. She now works as a cook at a coaching centre.

Both of her daughters are pursuing competitive career paths. One is preparing for police recruitment, while the other is studying for civil service-related examinations.

Her story has also triggered a broader discussion about the cost and accessibility of education in India. Many young people spend years preparing for highly competitive government examinations, often relying on expensive coaching, books and other study materials.

Concerns over examination irregularities and alleged question-paper leaks have also contributed to public frustration surrounding competitive recruitment.

Education experts say the difficulties faced by families like Ramabai’s reflect gaps in the implementation of government education support programmes. Former University Grants Commission chairman Sukhadeo Thorat said the struggle faced by the family showed that existing schemes were not adequately reaching those who needed them.

The attention surrounding Ramabai’s story has also led to official support. Earlier this month, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant directed local authorities to provide her with financial assistance of 50,000 rupees.

Despite the wider debate, Ramabai remains focused on her daughters’ future. She says she wants them to receive the education and opportunities that were unavailable to her and hopes they can avoid the hardships she experienced throughout her life.