Age Is A State Of Mind—Tired Is Not In The Dictionary Of These Mothers

On 10th of May the world celebrates ‘Mother’s Day’—the “selfless, sacrificing mother is only one frame. But it is not the whole picture. They had decades of sacrifice, wisdom, patience stored up. Now they are using it as fuel for themselves. They are late bloomers with deep roots.

Mothers achieving remarkable feat after the age of 70 are shattering societal expectations, proving that passion, strength and innovation have no expiration date. Here are some inspiring stories of ‘Mother Achievers’ and senior women thriving after 70. These women demonstrate that this age of life is not for “slowing down”, but for pivoting, pursuing passions and living life on their own terms. Age is no bar for contributing to society, for entrepreneurship, for fitness or for creative pursuits. They are trail blazers in their second innings. They are rewriting a script that says a woman’s story ends at 60 or 70. It is not a past- tense role—it’s a part of a bigger, still unfolding identity. A time and opportunity, comes in life where you break free from the shackles set by the society. Here is a practical life story of 5 exemplary, septuagenarian Indian mothers who chose to walk the path less taken in the second innings.

Manorama Srivastava was deeply disturbed seeing children begging outside temples, mosques and restaurants. She resolved to end child begging. She made efforts to bring them into main stream and give them proper schooling as every child has right to education. Gradually success began to come. The children would study with her during the day and attend school too. They themselves realized how bad is begging. All these children continued their studies and some who were in dire need of money helped their parents financially by selling balloons etc. or doing other work.

So far abut 3000 children have quit begging. They sincerely engaged themselves in studies. Some of them were admitted to convent schools and some to government and private schools through her effort. The children now go to school wearing ties and belts, and their self-confidence is deeply rewarding. She established an organization for these children named ‘Jami Apni Asman Mera’. Her core goal and mission: end begging, ensure every child is educated, self-reliant, and lives with dignity and be a good, responsible human being.

She is a one-woman army—a moving force of compassion. Meet Indira Prahlad an altruist and an elderly care giver to other seniors. She is a super volunteer who springs into action the moment she learns someone is in need. Indira offers companionship, transportation, and help with daily tasks to those who are less mobile, isolated, have children living far away. She listens with endless patience the same tape repeated by them. She seems to be everywhere at once, helping at all hours. It’s hard to imagine where she finds the energy, or what drives her. Her voluntary act is for healthier, happier outcomes in older adults. She faces every challenge with confidence. Her aim is to inspire others in the community to volunteer and care for those senior citizens around them.

Meet Vishav Dhiman, the Cycling Mayor Dehradun. She is living proof of strength at any age. She believes age is just a state of mind. After years of battling a spine injury being prescribed bed rest, she chose a different path. She took up cycling and rode across the length and breadth of the country. A fitness enthusiast and marathoner, she rode to Khardung La, one of the world’s highest motorable passes, without acclimatization. She completed the Kashmir to Kanyakumari ride in record time. She gained widespread admiration for running marathons and cycling long distances after turning 70. Vishu actively promotes cycling among young and old. Her mission is to champion ‘Green Doon’ and help and protect Doon Valley from environmental harm and spread the message of health, peace, and sustainability as she rides.

For Veda Ramaswami, Covid-19 became an unexpected blessing. Confined to home, she finally had time to pursue a long-held passion—painting and drawing. She turned lock down into a master class. She picked up prismatic colour pencils and filled her walls with portraits of family and famous figures, then taught others through online workshops. But she did not stop there. Under the aegis of Samskrita Bharati she completed four online courses in Sanskrit. Her hunger for learning knows no age. Veda then explored Vedic astrology, Numerology, and Palmistry, deepening her knowledge across disciplines. Her passion extends beyond learning and personal growth. She is committed to social welfare—especially girls’ education. Her motto is to instill self- confidence in girls and promote their overall well-being. For Veda curiosity never retires, every stage of life is a class room—and age is never a barrier to learning.

For Hyma Moorty, age is just truly a number. Even after 70 she pours her heart into working with hearing impaired children. The joy and peace she, finds in their company is unmatched. Covid-19 was a turning point, with misery and uncertainty everywhere, simply staying alive felt heavy on everyone’s mind. She responded with action by stitching face masks from blouse pieces collected. That soon grew into assembling medical kits, sourcing oxygen concentrators, and arranging ambulances for the poor and needy. At the peak of the pandemic, she ensured 15-day ration kits reached at least 10,000 people including migrant labor. Post-Covid, her compassion only expanded. She now supports pediatric cancer patients with thoughtful care packages, and regularly helps old age homes and girl’s orphanages. She did not stop there. After 70 she picked up the pen. She has since published books and contributes articles to The Hans India daily. From masks to books, from ration kits to hope she proves that purpose has no expiration date.

These septuagenarian mothers instead of retiring they are refiring, They, challenged two biases at once: mothers exist only to give, and that old age means decline. Their curiosity and courage proved that growth does not have use-by date. They fill their own cup, and from that overflow, every one benefits. Turning 70 was a launch pad for these mothers not a finishing line.

You only live once, so achieve your dreams and do what you love.