As grandmothers in a Thane village were denied an education because of their gender, the ‘Ajjbaichi Shaala’ (grandmother’s school) was launched on International Women’s Day four years ago.
Promotion
Mandar hurriedly completes his chai and poha for breakfast as the clock strikes 10. He does not want to be scolded by his grandmother for being late again to school. The 12-year-old from Thane’s Fangane village runs to the courtyard only to find his ajji (grandmother) missing.
He lets out a sigh before loudly calling out, “You’re late this time. We have to finish revising the math tables today.”
Meanwhile, Shantabai, his ajji, scribbles something in a notebook and confidently walks towards Mandar, who begins the class.
At 76, Shantabai, who has age related-ailments, like hearing issues and joint pains, is keenly decoding the world of numbers so that she can boast to her friends once her school – Ajjbaichi Shaala (grandmother’s school) reopens after the…