Oh Brother!
Thousand Full Moon: Shrimati Vimal Satpute 81+
Contributed by: Maureen and Ajay Satpute.
Shrimati Vimal Satpute (née Vimal Sriram Aher), at 81+, is an active and beloved member of her community. She regularly practices yoga and pranayama, takes long walks, and is always there to lend a helping hand. Known for her joyful spirit, she has a strong circle of friends and has supported many women in need with advice, meals, and care. Music and dance are her passions, and she loves being part of community activities. Born in Akola, Vimal attended the high school-- Manutai Kanya Shala, a girls’ grade school. Here, she shares two of her cherished memories.
Vimal reflects on two pivotal moments from her life where her brothers came through for her. Watch her narrate the events in her uniquely engaging style at the links below. Her two-part narration begins with an introduction in Marathi followed by a narration in English--
Narration Part 1:
Brief Summary of the narrations:
The first is about her struggle for education. Her family, mainly her elder brother and the middle uncle, strongly opposed her attending college with boys. He worried about her safety and what society might say. Upset and frustrated, Vimal withdrew from talking, even stopping eating, which deeply worried her mother. But her brother, Arvind, stepped in. Secretly, he arranged for her college admission, convincing their father to let Vimal accompany him under the guise of helping him set up his apartment. When their uncle eventually confronted them, scolding Arvind for defying tradition, Vimal felt guilty. But Arvind reassured her, and she went on to complete her first year of college.
The second memory revolves around her marriage to Bhaskar, a friend of her brother. As a newlywed in a traditional household, she faced many challenges. Bhaskar left for the U.S. for further education shortly after they married, leaving Vimal to manage his family. At first, she felt out of place and longed to continue her studies. Over time, she found small ways to break free from the strict norms, like taking her sister-in-law on outings to the library and college grounds. Despite some resistance, she was eventually able to resume her studies with the support of her brother, who brought her back to their family home. Despite the hurdles of war and other obstacles, she completed part of her education before joining Bhaskar in the U.S.
Her message to younger generations is simple: Complaints will always be there but if you have a positive outlook on life, life is beautiful!.
We, the team at Thousand Full Moons, are grateful to Vimal for sharing these beautiful memories and wish her continued health, happiness, and peace!
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