Chapter I

Introduction to Leadership
1.1

Definition:

Leadership is defined as the process in which an individual influences the group of

individuals to attain a common goal. The goal is attained by mutual cooperation and
cohesive behavior. A leader infuses a sense of positivity and directs others to reach the
specified goal.

1.2

Evolution:

Leadership styles have evolved over time, with a prominent shift from the autocratic and
directive leadership of the twentieth century to a more participative and democratic style of
the new generation. In a global study involving 389 leaders from 28 countries, The Centre for
Creative Leadership (CCL) found that 83% of the leaders surveyed believe that the definition
of effective leadership has changed in the past five years. These changes to leadership styles
can be attributed to a combination of issues including a shift in peoples attitudes as well as
advances in technology. There is an imperative for leaders of organizations, including HR
Managers, to plan ahead and adapt to the movement of these evolving trends to ensure the
best outcomes for their organizations. The move has shifted from Authoritarian leaders who
believed in top-down management, strict rules and exact orders, to a progression into white
collar careers with more individualized thinking and individual ownership over tasks. It was
here that participative leadership styles settled in, and this style is now one of the most
common leadership styles in contemporary society. Changes in leadership styles can be seen
across Asia-Pacific too as a Harvard Business School Professor explains that, As Asian

companies seek access to world capital markets, they will move toward professional
managers who will employ leadership styles more akin to those now used in the United
States. The participative style of leadership management is where the group is central to the
decision making process, and not the leader alone. The work environment is more flexible
and managers feel at ease in regards to drawing on the knowledge of experienced followers.
Todays leaders speak in terms of open dialogue and collaboration, and indeed if you ask
the great leaders of today they will invariably point to their close collaborators and mentors
as being part of the leadership.

1.3

Rules of a success leader:

Whether a leader is operating in the West or in India, these are someof the thumb rules when
it comes to successful leadership:
The six most important words: "I admit I made a mistake."
The five most important words: "You did a good job."
The four most important words: "What is your opinion."
The three most important words: "If you please."
The two most important words: "Thank you,"
The one most important word: "We"
The least most important word: "I"

1.4

Characteristics:
Proactive vs. Reactive: The exceptional leader is always thinking three steps ahead.
Working to master his/her own environment with the goal of avoiding problems
before they arise.
Flexible/Adaptable: How do you handle yourself in unexpected or uncomfortable
situations? An effective leader will adapt to new surroundings and situations, doing
his/her best to adjust.
Good Communicator: As a leader, one must listen...a lot! You must be willing to
work to understand the needs and desires of others. A good leader asks many
questions, considers all options, and leads in the right direction.
Respectful: Treating others with respect will ultimately earn respect.
Quiet Confidence: Be sure of yourself with humble intentions.
Enthusiastic: Excitement is contagious. When a leader is motivated and excited about
the cause people will be more inclined to follow.
Open-Minded: Work to consider all options when making decisions. A strong leader
will evaluate the input from all interested parties and work for the betterment of the
whole.
Resourceful: Utilize the resources available to you. If you don't know the answer to
something find out by asking questions. A leader must create access to information.
Rewarding: An exceptional leader will recognize the efforts of others and reinforce
those actions. We all enjoy being recognized for our actions!
Well Educated: Knowledge is power. Work to be well educated on community
policies, procedures, organizational norms, etc. Further, your knowledge of issues and
information will only increase your success in leading others.

 Open to Change: A leader will take into account all points of view and will be willing
to change a policy, program, cultural tradition that is out-dated, or no longer
beneficial to the group as a whole.
Interested in Feedback: How do people feel about your leadership skill set? How can
you improve? These are important questions that a leader needs to constantly ask the
chapter. View feedback as a gift to improve.
Evaluative: Evaluation of events and programs is essential for an organization/group
to improve and progress. An exceptional leader will constantly evaluate and change
programs and policies that are not working.
Organized: Are you prepared for meetings, presentations, events and confident that
people around you are prepared and organized as well?
Consistent: Confidence and respect cannot be attained without your leadership being
consistent. People must have confidence that their opinions and thoughts will be heard
and taken into consideration.
Delegator: An exceptional leader realizes that he/she cannot accomplish everything on
his own. A leader will know the talents and interests of people around him/her, thus
delegating tasks accordingly.
Initiative: A leader should work to be the motivator, an initiator. He/she must be a key
element in the planning and implementing of new ideas, programs, policies, events,
etc.

1.5

Objectives of study:
To provide the knowledge and skills necessary for participants to overcome the
barriers faced by women who desire to advance in leadership.
To build on and promote the talents and traits that women naturally possess that
benefit the leadership process.

1.6

Mission:

This Women's Leadership Project seeks to educate, inspire and empower women to be
leaders of tomorrow.

Chapter II
Profile of Sindhutai Sakpal

2.1

About (Sindhutai Sapakal ) Mai:

Mai Sindhutai Sapakal Mother of Orphan children. She has devoted her life for the

cause of orphan children. this is not a change of a day or two, it came after tremendous
struggle and up and down in her life.
Her father Mr. Abhimanji Sathe was shepherd, who was anxious for his daughters
education. He sends her to the school on pretext of grazing cow, much against of her
mothers wish. At the age of ten she got married with Mr. Shrihari Sapakal who was 30 years.
It was an end to her education.

Life keeps moving Mai became mother of three sons. A new turn took place in her
life when she was pregnant for fourth child. Forest Department used to collect dug and
auction it, they were keeping cash with themselves. Sindhutai demanded the right of the
womens that department should pay money for the dug Collected from the Women this
raised eyebrows of the landlords, they took action and she was refused shelter at her husband
and parents house.
At this crucial stage she gave birth to baby girl at mid night all alone, no one was
there to take care of her and the baby. All miseries, frustration and depression crowded her.
All alone she saw the real picture of the world. One needs specially women, support for her
survival. The situation brought turning point in her life.
Her hunger started her journey by singing at roadside , begging ,crying and loosing
confidence at every step. Her journey took her to a Adivasi (tribal) village called Chikhaldara
in the District of Amaravati. Here too she fought for the existence of the villagers ,she started
the work in the remote area but today is known personality.
Those miseries inspired her to build orphanages (ashrams), Institutes/hostels for
development and protection of women. In 1998 she gave shape to her dream by establishing
Saptasindhu An Ashram for development of widow, deserted women and orphan child. She
thought of establishing various schools & colleges.
She is rewarded by more than 172 awards for her work by various well known
institutes which Includes:
Savitribai Phule Puraskar by Government of Maharashtra.
Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holakar Puraskar by Government of Maharashtra.
FIE Foundation Award.

Mai is giving personal attention to each child as mother. Even today she goes door
to door for collecting donation & inspire people to donate generously. Institutes and donors
provide food, clothing & shelter to inmates of Organisation. The inmates are orphan children,
deserted women, widow, broken family members and victim of criminal families in the
backward areas.
In her journey of 35 years 'Mai' has groomed more than 1000 children, now a step
ahead she is proud to have 175 sun-in-laws and 36 daughter-in-laws.
At present there are above 350 inmates under motherly shelter of Mai. Inmates age at
the time of admission varies from day one to one or two or three months. Organisation takes
special care of the small children by keeping Grihamata (day & night) till age of four.
Organisation takes responsibility of providing nutritious food to the children.
Organisation tries to fulfill all the basic needs of children as well as provides books,
reading material, teaching aids for their education. School going children are given admission
onto Government schools and organisation keeps superiorly control over them. Various
activities are conducted to develop Moral and Social health of the inmates. Special health
camps are organized voluntarily by various Clubs time to time, like Rotary Club, Lions
Club, Medical Club. Organisation do conduct Cultural programs on the occasion of various
festivals as Dipawali, Ganesh Festival, Makar-Sankaranti etc. every year for social
development of children.
Organisation is proposed to built a Dream Home for the Orphan children & Deserted
women.

2.2

Journey:

She was born on 14 November 1948 at Pimpri Meghe village in Wardha district Maharashtra
to Abhimanji Sathe, a cowherd by profession. Being an unwanted child, she was nicknamed
'Chindhi' (torn piece of cloth). Her father was keen on educating Sindhutai, much against the
wishes of her mother. Abhimanji used to send her to school under the pretext of cattle
grazing, where she would use 'leaf of Bharadi Tree' as a slate as she could not afford a real
slate because of financial reasons. Abject poverty, family responsibilities & an early marriage
forced her to quit formal education after she passed 4th grade.

2.3

Marriage & Early Work:

At the tender age of 10, she got married to Shrihari Sapkal alias Harbaji, a 30 year old
cowherd from Navargaon village in Wardha District. She bore 3 sons by the time she turned
20. She put up a successful agitation against a local strongman who was fleecing the villagers
on collection of dried cow dung used as fuel in India and selling it in collusion with forest
department, without paying anything to the villagers. Her agitation brought the district
collector to her village and on realizing she was right, he passed an order which the
strongman did not like. Stung by the insult at the hands of a poor woman, he managed to
convince her husband to abandon her when she was beyond 9 months of her pregnancy. She
gave birth to a baby girl on 14 October 1973 in a cow shelter outside their house that night,all
by herself and walked few kilometers away to her mother's place, who refused to shelter her.
She had to set aside the thought of suicide and started begging on railway platforms for food.
In the process, she realized that there are so many children abandoned by their parents and
she adopted them as her own and started begging even more vigorously to feed them. She
decided to become a mother to anyone and everyone who came across to her as an orphan.

She later donated her biological child to the trust Shrimant Dagdu Sheth Halwai, Pune, only
to eliminate the feeling of partiality between her daughter and the adopted ones.

2.4

Contribution towards work:

She has devoted her entire life for orphans. As a result she is fondly called 'Mai(mother).
She has nurtured over 1050 orphaned children. As of today, she has a grand family of 207
son-in-laws, 36 daughter-in-laws and over 1000 grandchildren. She still continues to fight for
the next meal. Many of the children whom she adopted are well-educated lawyers and
doctors, and some, including her biological daughter, are running their own independent
orphanages. One of her children is doing a Ph.D. on her life. She has been honoured with
over 273 awards for her dedication and work. She used award money to buy land to make a
home for her orphan children. Construction has started and she is still looking for more help
from the world. Sanmati Bal Niketan is being built in Manjari locality at Hadapsar, Pune
where over 300 children will reside.
At the age of 80, her husband came back to her apologetically. She accepted him as her child
stating she is only a mother now! If you visit her ashram, she proudly and very affectionately
introduces him as her oldest child! In person, she comes across as an unlimited source of
energy and very powerful inspiration, with absolutely no negative emotions or blaming
anybody.
A marathi film 'Mee Sindhutai Sapkal' released in 2010, is a biopic inspired by the true story
of Sindhutai Sapkal. The film was selected for world premiere at the 54th London Film
Festival.

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2.5

Operating Organizations:
Sanmati Bal Niketan, Bhelhekar Vasti, Hadapsar, Pune
Mamata Bal Sadan, Kumbharvalan, Saswad
Mai's Ashram Chikhaldara, Amravati
Abhiman Bal Bhavan, Wardha
Gangadharbaba Chhatralaya, Guha
Saptsindhu Mahila Adhar, Balsangopan Aani Shikshan Sanstha, Pune

2.6 Awards:
2014 - BASAVA BHUSANA PURASKAR-2014,Awarded from Basava Seva
Sangh Pune.
2013 - The National Award for Iconic Mother ---- (first recipient) [4]
2012 - Real Heroes Awards,given by CNN-IBN & Reliance Foundation.[5]
2012 - COEP Gaurav Purskar, given by College Of Engineering, Pune.
2010 - Ahilyabai Holkar Award, given by the Government of Maharashtra to
social workers in the field of woman and child welfare [6]
2008 - Woman of the Year Award, given by daily marathi newspaper Loksatta
1996 - Dattak Mata Purskar,Given by Non Profit Organization - By Sunita
Kalaniketan Trust (In the memories of - Late Sunita Trimbak Kulkarni ), Tal Shrirampur Dist Ahmednagar. Maharashtra Pune.[7]
1992 Leading Social Contributor Award.
Sahyadri Hirkani Award (Marathi: )
Rajai Award (Marathi: )
Shivlila Mahila Gourav Award (Marathi: )

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Chapter III
Articles
Interview of Sindhu Sapkal :Telecasted on IBM Lokmat 28 march 2010
- Sunday, March 28, 2010
I haved watched the interview of Sindhu tai Sapkal telecasted on IBN Lokmat
SindhuTai Sapkal, a brave woman who fought back inspite of all adversities and now
has a numerous awards to her credit.She runs four ashrams for the basic rights of the
underprivileged children which includes education.
It is difficult to believe that this woman once contemplated suicide when she was
unable to feed her daughter. She used to make a living by begging in the train after she was
disowned by her husband and family. Hunger made me speak

Q.1) How did you begin social work?

I first went to Chikhaldara begging for bhakri (bajra roti) in 1975. Unable to feed myself and
my two-year-old daughter, I had almost decided to commit suicide. I was standing under a
tree when suddenly its stem caught my attention; I noticed that it had been badly axed, but it
was still giving me shade. I almost screamed, 'No I will not die'. I decided to take care of the
orphaned children of Adivasis. It is common among them for a man to desert his wife for
another woman; the woman then remarries, sometimes abandoning the children. Initially I
took care of the children in return for some kutki [a kind of rice], dal and buttermilk.

12

Q.2) You speak so well at public meetings?

When I used to beg at railway stations, initially I would only sing. Later I thought if I started
speaking I could earn more. I used to be so hungry. My hunger taught me to speak and the
pain within me taught me to sing.

Q.3) Who are your idols?

I draw inspiration from saints like Sant Gadgebaba, Rashtra Sant Tukdoji Maharaj and
Bahinabai Chaudhari. Among the gods, I like Lord Krishna. I don't like Ram, I have an
ongoing feud with him because he deserted Sita. I also like Veer Savarkar.

Q.4) Have any children run away from your ashrams?

Fortunately not. Even when I convinced people to adopt my children, they did not stay with
them, because they call me Mai and know that a mother cannot be replaced. The children
have been very cooperative. Whenever I brought home new kids, I told the others they might
have to drink dal instead of eating it, since it would be more diluted. But they never
complained. Many children are married now. Today I can proudly say I have 36 daughters-inlaw and 177 sons-in-law. I have always been more protective of girls.

Q.5) Would you like to return to your husband?

I cannot be a wife again. But if my husband comes to me as a child, I will serve him. I am not
angry with him, he was not educated, it is not his fault. Had my husband not abandoned me,
all this work would not have happened.

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CHAPTER IV
Conclusion
There goes an old adage, Education is one of the surest ways to escape from
poverty. Many individuals have taken this route in their odyssey of life and SindhuTai
Sapkal was no exception. But, reality in life compelled Sindhutai to give up her education
after fourth standard and settle down for an early marriage at the age of 12 to a man more
than twice her age.
Her passion towards the discipline of reading continued even after her marriage but
her partner in marriage was of the opinion that his wife was trying to demonstrate that she
was more educated than him.

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Bibliography

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