154. Driven by education

 

Thousand Full Moon: Shrimati Suprabha Vasudev Bhate 90+

Contributed by: Suprabha Vasudev Bhate and Shakun Tulpule

We are grateful to Shrimati Suprabha Bhate for writing her own story for the blog. It is truly remarkable to read stories of strong individuals in their own words, sharing their life journey, passions, and convictions. Her daughter Shakun Tulpule edited her mother's work and transcribed it for publication. Attached is a scanned copy of the handwritten piece along with a summary in English.

Driven by Education

Suprabha Vasudev Bhate was born in 1933 on the banks of the river Pravara in Sangamner. She grew up with nine siblings and completed her elementary school education in Nashik. To help her family financially, she took up tutoring from 10th grade onward, that continued all the way up to the age of seventy-five. She used the money she had saved to get admission into a college. Following her path, her siblings followed suit with her mother’s steady support. Of the nine siblings, seven had successful careers in different fields.

After getting married, Suprabha moved to Karad and later to Koyna, where she started a preschool. There, she also participated in many activities such as women's clubs and organized different programs for children. During the 1962 War, all the ladies together made 170 kilos of chikki, a sweet made from jaggery and peanuts, and sent it to soldiers on the border. She temporarily moved to Karad for a couple of years after the Koyna earthquake focusing on her children’s education while her husband continued his job at Koyna. Recounting the earthquake she writes,

“After experiencing the devastating earthquake in Koyna, I realized how unpredictable life can be. During the earthquake, my husband happened to be in Karad visiting his father, which is why his bed was empty when the wall collapsed in the middle of the night. Thankfully, none of us were hurt. We were able to safely exit the rubble and join the others who had gathered outside. Despite the lack of outside assistance until 8:00 the next morning, I did my best to help my neighbors and ensure their well-being.”

Now in her nineties, Suprabha lives with her son and daughter-in-law in Pune.

We wish Suprabha a serene and contented journey ahead!