Interestingly, Kanta is taught by her own daughter-in-law

Sheetal who is a teacher at the school.

Besides teaching them alphabets, Sheetal also makes them learn the verses and hymns written by great Marathi saints.

The overwhelming enthusiasm of the women is also conspicuous in 87-year-old Ramabai's determination that remains undeterred despite suffering from a hearing impairment.

"We did not know the importance of going to school as children. But, now I can write and also do a bit of reading," says Ramabai, peeping through her thick glasses.

To make the school compound greener, each student has planted a sapling named after them, which they water everyday.

The idea for opening the Shala struck Bangar last year when he found that nearly all elderly women in the village were illiterate and were unable to recite the mythological epics on Shivaji Jayanti.

"I felt it was my duty to educate them. After receiving the initial funds from the trust a family offered to lend a small portion of their land to set up the school and we began our journey on International Women s Day last year with 28 grandmothers," he says.

Bangar, who travels 75 km everyday from the city to the school and back, says while any form of help from the government, particularly fellowships for their students would encourage encourage them and help take the initiative to other parts of the state.

"It would be really welcoming and encouraging if the government offers fellowship to our students. It would be a revolution if the efforts are replicated in other parts of the state," says Bangar, who claims that the initiative has helped the village achieve 100 per cent literacy.

Education among the women has also created an increased awareness about sanitation and hygiene, making the village free of open defecation.

"Each family in the village has managed to set up toilets in their homes," he says.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)