Sindhutai Sapkal
Social worker who raised more than a thousand orphaned children
- Lived
- 73 yrs
- 1948 – 2022
- Works listed
- 0
- Career highlights
- Honours
- 1
- Most recent 2021
- Profile views
- 1
- 0 followers
Sindhutai Sapkal was a social worker from Maharashtra who, after being abandoned and surviving by begging, devoted her life to caring for orphaned children. Called the “mother of orphans”, she raised more than a thousand children in homes she founded. She died in 2022.
Biography
A hard childhood
Sindhutai grew up in a poor herding family near Wardha and was married at about twelve to a much older man. She had little schooling and suffered abuse, and was eventually thrown out of her home.
Survival
With a baby daughter, she survived by begging on trains and at railway stations. She later said that seeing other abandoned children made her decide to care for them.
Mother of orphans
She began adopting orphaned children and set up homes for them, including Sanmati Bal Niketan in Pune, raising funds through speeches across India and abroad. Many of the children she raised became doctors, lawyers and teachers.
Recognition
Her story was told in the Marathi film Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (2010). She received many awards, including the Padma Shri in 2021, and died in Pune on 4 January 2022.
Timeline
-
1948
Born in Wardha district, Bombay State (now Maharashtra)
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2010
Biopic Mee Sindhutai Sapkal released
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2021
Padma Shri
-
2022
Dies in Pune
-
2022
Died, aged 73
Awards and honours
-
Padma Shri
2021
Did you know?
-
1
She survived by begging on trains before starting her work.
-
2
Children called her “Mai”, mother.
-
3
A Marathi film tells her life story.
Connections
Related people
Also born on 14 November
Frequently asked
Who is Sindhutai Sapkal?
Sindhutai Sapkal was a social worker from Maharashtra who, after being abandoned and surviving by begging, devoted her life to caring for orphaned children. Called the “mother of orphans”, she raised more than a thousand children in homes she founded. She died in 2022.
When did Sindhutai Sapkal die?
Sindhutai Sapkal died on 4 January 2022 at the age of 73.
Where is Sindhutai Sapkal from?
Sindhutai Sapkal was born in Wardha district, Bombay State (now Maharashtra).
What is Sindhutai Sapkal known for?
Sindhutai Sapkal is best known for Caring for orphans; the Sanmati Bal Niketan homes; Padma Shri 2021.
What awards has Sindhutai Sapkal received?
Notable honours include Padma Shri (2021).
References
- Sindhutai Sapkal — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- Sindhutai Sapkal — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- Sindhutai Sapkal (Q7522263) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Sindhutai Sapkal”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 2 November 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Sindhutai Sapkal.” TrackFame, last updated 4 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/sindhutai-sapkal
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