Abject poverty, child marriage, and abandonment are struggles that can break even the strongest souls. But for Sindhutai Sapkal, all of these challenges acted as the stepping stones for the bigger achievements of her life, including giving thousands of children a shot at a better life.At 68, Sindhutai, or the 'Mother of Orphans,' has garnered love and respect from the all over the country. However, it's her journey to being bestowed this endearing title that deserves to be known, appreciated and valued. Sindhutai was born in a village in the Wardha district in Maharashtra and, unlike the children she now fosters, had no semblance of a childhood of her own. While her father supported her education and secretly sent her to school, her educational aspirations ended abruptly at age 10 when she was married off to a man 20 years years older than her.