A 47-year-old widow from Maharashtra, in western India, has become an unlikely symbol of the country’s education struggles after a video of her barefoot sprint went viral. Ramabai Ranveer entered her first-ever race, a 3-kilometer (1.86-mile) community run, with one goal: winning enough prize money to buy books for her two daughters.
When her sandals slipped off mid-race, she kicked them away, hitched up her sari, and ran the rest of the course barefoot—crossing the finish line first in her age category. The win earned her 3,000 rupees, roughly $31 (£23), a modest sum that nonetheless meant everything to a family that has survived on farm labor and odd jobs since her husband’s death in 2012.
Footage of her determined dash spread quickly online, prompting many Indians to reflect on the extreme measures families take to secure their children’s futures. Ramabai’s daughters are each preparing for notoriously competitive government exams—one for police recruitment, the other for civil service—paths that promise stability but often require years of costly coaching.
Her story has struck a chord partly because public trust in India’s exam system has been shaken by scandals involving leaked test papers and irregularities, fueling broader frustration among young people over education and job prospects.
Read the full original story on BBC News for more on Ramabai’s journey and what it reveals about India’s education pressures.
Source: Mum's viral barefoot race sparks debate over India's education crisis (feeds.bbci.co.uk).
Image: Chris Hunkeler, BY-SA 2.0 (via Openverse).