"Fed up of people calling her 'untouchable', one day, she touched everyone in her class and ran away from the school." Today, for #DalitHistoryMonth, meet the coolest Dadi (grandmother) on this planet! - Divya Malhari ( @e3186f293e9c4e4) #TheyInspireMe

My aayi (grandmother), Shivabai was born in Honnutagi, Bijapur district of North Karnataka. She was given away as a devadasi to the village deity and very soon, her maternal uncle brought her back home and married her because his wife had just passed away. #TheyInspireMe

Despite being a first-generation learner, she was the brightest student in the class and was very angry when people called her an "untouchable", keeping her away from the rest of the class. #TheyInspireMe #DalitHistoryMonth

One day, she touched everyone in her class and ran away from the school, refusing to go back to the place that humiliated her. Her teacher pleaded with her to come back as she was necessary for the school "to do" well in the upcoming inspection by the English Education Officers.

She taught her children, brought them up, worked full-time as a school teacher and was also a farmer. She retired as a headmistress and toiled away at her fields, leaving behind twenty acres for each child. She stood for Panchayat elections when she was 98. #TheyInspireMe

She started from nothing and gave everything to her children, grandchildren and fellow Dalits in Devarahipparagi village. When my sister couldn’t find a suitable groom, aayi asked her what the problem was. #TheyInspireMe #DalitHistoryMonth

My sister confided in her and said the boys kept asking her to quit her job as they wanted a homemaker. “Never put a man before your career. You’ll always find a man. Nothing is more important than your independence" Aayi said firmly. #TheyInspireMe #DalitHistoryMonth

For a 104-year-old woman to say what people even today fail to understand, will always be what makes her the fiercest feminist I’ve ever known. #TheyInspireMe #DalitHistoryMonth