A 47-year-old mother from Maharashtra, India, named Ramabai Ranveer, recently made headlines after running barefoot to victory in her first-ever 3km race in August. Her goal was to win prize money to support her daughters' education. Ramabai won the women’s 30-60 age category without any prior training or running shoes. The 3,000-rupee prize would help her buy books and study materials for her two daughters. Her older daughter, Pooja, also won a prize after finishing second in her age group. Ramabai’s younger daughter, Arati, lives in Nanded and has been struggling to afford books. Ramabai said she hadn’t been able to send money for books for eight days, which motivated her to run and win the race. She has been the family’s sole provider since her husband died in 2012, working in fields and selling processed turmeric. She left school when she was 13 and now cooks at a coaching center where one of her daughters is preparing for police recruitment exams. The video of her barefoot run quickly went viral on social media and in newspapers, sparking discussions about the state of India’s education system. One social media user asked, "Is it glory or a source of shame for us as a society?" Ramabai’s story has highlighted the sacrifices many Indian families make to give their children a better future. Her daughters are preparing for competitive government jobs, such as police recruitment and civil services, which require years of preparation and often costly coaching. Recent controversies in India’s education system, including allegations of leaked exam questions, have fueled frustration among young people, leading to student-led protests and youth movements demanding reforms. Authorities have taken note of Ramabai’s story. Earlier this month, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant directed local officials to provide her with 50,000 rupees in financial assistance. Sukhadeo Thorat, a former chairman of the University Grants Commission, said the family’s story reflects broader structural challenges in the education system. He noted that government education schemes are not reaching people adequately, and implementation remains weak. For Ramabai, the debate over the education system is secondary. What matters most is ensuring her daughters have a better future. She said she does not want them to go through the hardships she has faced.