Kumud Somkuwar, a dalit, resided in the Mahar colony, Maharpura, now Anand Nagar near Anand Talkies in Sitabuldi. She studied at Bhide Girls School and passed out as merit student. Inspired by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, who was not allowed to study Sanskrit, she joined Morris College to learn the subject, the then language of brahmans.
Her merit status armed her to overcome discrimination.“What days are we seeing, that we have to teach Sanskrit to dalits,” taunted her brahman professor, she told her elder son in later years. In her early 20s, she topped her masters in Sanskrit. She loved teaching but couldn’t due to caste discrimination, and remained unemployed for many years.
Around this time, Motiram Pawde, an upper caste Kunbi, entered her life. Son of a landlord from Narkhed, Motiram studied at New English High School in Mahal, and Hislop College. He was twice elected Nagpur University president while finishing his masters, with LLB and PG in five subjects.
A social worker, Motiram aimed to uplift downtrodden students via free education. He started Jawahar Night School with 1,200 students at Munje Chowk, Sitabuldi, the first institute in India for backward caste students, who worked in the day to make ends meet and studied between 6pm and 9pm. His search for a voluntary teacher ended when he met Kumud, and asked her father to let her teach.
In 1953, after Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in Nagpur, Motiram had questioned him, “Why did you change your religion from Hindu to Buddhist?” Ambedkar had asked in return, “Will you marry a dalit if I ask you to? I know you won’t, and that’s why I changed my religion.”
Motiram replied he was ready to marry a dalit, and would invite him to the wedding. By the time Motiram married Kumud in 1962, however, Ambedkar had died.
Their love story blossomed at Motiram’s night school. She was bright, friendly, popular among students and passionate about her work. After classes at 9pm, Motiram dropped all female students home safely, along with Kumud.
When they decided to marry, Kumud’s father agreed on one condition, “If you ditch my daughter, I will kill you.” However, they faced opposition from Motiram’s parents, two sisters, relatives, and the community.
They married anyway in 1962 at Amar Jyoti Mangal Karyalaya, off Wardha Road. Even the caterers had refused to cook and wash utensils on learning that Motiram was marrying a dalit. Kumud’s father had to threaten to lodge an FIR.
They left behind an inspiring legacy — three sons and a daughter. Eldest son Dr Apurva Pawde, 60, is professor at Gondia GMC. Second Amitabh, 59, retired as executive engineer from Airports Authority of India. The third son, Abhijit is a veterinary surgeon, 58, professor of surgery at Bareilly, UP. Their only daughter Dr Aparna, 53, is with NKP Salve Medical College.