Ever Heard About A School For Our Naanis & Daadis?

Imparting knowledge has long been considered a noble profession. And imparting knowledge to the ones who have weathered the ups and downs of life and gained experience. Sadly these women didn’t have the privilege to receive formal education. 


Educating women has not been on our agenda in the good ol’ days. But we slowly and steadily getting there. We still have a lot of ground to cover. 


Yogendra Bangar started this unique school for elderly women. Aajibaichi Shaala is India’s first school for our grannies. They also have a uniform. Yes! Hot pink sarees. Aaji whose literal translation from Marathi is Grandmother and bai is a term of endearment. Shaala is a house.

Their oldest student is a 90-yr old (or youthful) Sitabai Deshmukh. Her grandchildren help her with the homework. Imagine the sense of fulfillment these women might be getting. 


For someone like me who didn’t had to struggle for education, this might not seem an extraordinary feat. Imagine an era where women were not even allowed to step out and take the decision to get educated. To empower themselves with education. There was a time like this. 


Savitribai Phule, India's first woman who started conversation on women's rights is one of the earliest feminist we know. Alongwith her husband Jyotirao, Savitribai opened the country’s first school for girls. Since those times strictly prohibited women from venturing out, Savitribai had to endure, stones and dung thrown at her while on her way to the school. She always carried a change of saree! 


From that to this. It’s a huge feat we have achieved. There are Samaritans like Yogendra, who realise that change comes from taking the initiative. Just because these elderly women have gone past the conventional age of receiving formal education, that shouldn’t stop them from getting some. 


They are learning to read, write and multiply in Marathi. The school is open for two hours from 4-6 PM, after these women are done with their chores. They attend the school with the zeal to learn something new, everyday.

Yogendra is of the opinion that he wouldn’t accept donations as it doesn’t cost much and also the fact that the initiative is close to his heart. Something which he wants to take the responsibility wholeheartedly. 


We congratulate the HERO among SHEROES, Yogendra Bhangar for taking this unique intitiative and educating our Nanimas and Dadimas. After all they are were our best buds while growing up. They had the best of stories to entertain and thrill us.

These women are well on the way to become kickass ‘Aajis’ by taking charge of their lives and most importantly, not shying away from learning at a ripe old age.

True, it’s never too late to learn anything :)