94-year-old busy with meetings, politics in Pune

Amidst the furore over retirement age in the country, 94-year-old Rukhmani Shitole nonchalantly attends meetings of Jijamata Mahila Bank and Santulan Trust. 

A native of Kolewadi village in Theur taluka of Pune district, Rukhmani, who is a great grandmother, is the oldest living person in her village. She was in the city to attend the 5th Shikshan Hakka Parishad organised by Santulan Pashan Shala recently. She was felicitated on the occasion for her association with the trust. The parishad focuses on the right of education of children of stone quarry workers. 

“I was born in June 1916. In those days, women had access to very limited things and thus they were did not know many facts,” she said. “But I was fortunate to have got the opportunity to work in public life. I was married off at the age of 12. However, my husband Kondiba was very avant-garde. I was active in politics because of him,” she said. 

Probably that was the reason Rukhmani forgave her husband when he married for the second time. “I had only one daughter and no son. So he got married again so he could have a son,” she said. Today she stays with her step-grandson. 

Rukhmani contested the gram panchayat elections in 1962 and won by two votes. She studied till standard VII, then considered as ‘final’ and ranked first in Purandar taluka. Her education background helped her to think of the plight of women in the village. She started Mahila Sanstha and Ganesh Dood Utpadak Sanstha to empower women. 

She then contested the Zilla Parishad elections in 1972 and won. She was Panchayat Samiti member for 12 years and is consulting president of Jijamata Mahila Bank. 

“Actually, I always liked to work in social life. I think I got this in my genes through my father who too was an active person in village politics. I had very few responsibilities at home, since my husband’s second wife would look after the home and hearth and even my daughter,” she said. 

Rukhmani lost her daughter 3 years ago. Today, when not busy with meetings, she spends time in the beautiful kitchen garden that she has developed. “I’ve planted fruits in my garden and I nurture them,” she said. 

Rukhmani travels alone by bus and autorickshaw when she has to attend meetings or conferences. “I can see with my spectacles. I’m not suffering from blood pressure or diabetes. So why should I be depend on others,” she asked. Rukhmani follows simple living and is an avid reader. She thinks women should come out of home responsibilities. “I don’t say home and children shouldn’t be priorities, but they should also do something which  gives them inner happiness.”