Durga Bai

Her father was a Congressman fighting for India's freedom from British imperialist rule. The news of her birth was announced to her father when he came back from a meeting by Durgabai Deshmukh (1908-1981). As a tribute to her, he decided to name his third daughter Durga Bai.

Durga Bai (in the picture) spent her childhood amidst riches -- her father had many businesses, including a fleet of 23 buses. But the days of luxury ended the day she got married. She wanted to come back home away from her drunkard husband but her parents asked her not to.

'There is nothing more demeaning to us than a married daughter coming back,' they told her. 'Try to adjust, we will give you as much money as you want.'

She adjusted all her life. Her parents gave her money till they died; her husband spent every single paisa till he died. This is one part of the tragic life of 76-year-old Durga Bai.

With her father's help, she educated her daughter. The daughter got a good job, and found a good husband too. Durga Bai saw some light in her life when she was entrusted with the job of bringing up her two granddaughters -- as her daughter had to attend to a job.

In 2001, when Durga Bai's husband died, she had no place to go except her to her daughter.

"When my granddaughters begged me to go with them, I did not think twice," said Durga Bai. "After all, I brought those two kids up; they were like my own daughters. Now I feel I shouldn't have done that. Even when my granddaughters forced me to go with them, my daughter did not utter a word; but I failed to notice her silence. Then I came to know that she was being tortured by her husband for letting me stay with them. That very day I walked away to Vishranthi. As a mother, I did not want to spoil my daughter's life. But my daughter did not even once say, 'Amma, don't go.'"

Now, Durga Bai is at peace with herself. "I don't expect anything or anyone. I am very happy here."

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