Bhimrao ka bachpan to kathin tha, lekin us bachpan ko sambhalne wale vyakti the — unke pita, Ramji Maloji Sakpal. Unka janm Maharashtra ke Ratnagiri district ke Ambavade gaon mein hua tha. Ramji ka jeevan bhi sangharsh se bhara tha. Wo British Indian Army ke Subedar Major the — ek aisa pad jo us samay ke liye kisi “achhoot” vyakti ke liye mushkil tha. Lekin unhone ye dikhaya ki mehnat aur discipline se kisi bhi pad tak pahucha ja sakta hai.
Ramji ek bahut hi sushikshit vyakti the. Unhone Marathi, English, aur Sanskrit mein shiksha prapt ki thi. Unhe “Subedar Schoolmaster” bhi kaha jaata tha, kyunki wo army mein bhi padhate the. Wo strict the, lekin unka vishwas tha ki shiksha hi sammaan ka raasta hai. Unki yeh soch unke bachchon mein bhi jaagi — khaaskar Bhimrao mein.
Ramji aur Bhimabai ke 14 bachche hue. Yeh parivaar gareebi aur jaati ke takleef ke saath jee raha tha. Ghar mein khana kam hota tha, lekin kitaabein kabhi kam nahi hoti thi. Bachchon mein zyada log bachpan mein hi bimari ya garibi ke kaaran duniya chhod gaye. Sirf kuch hi bachche bade hoke jee paaye — unmein se ek the Bhimrao, jinhone baad mein apne pita ka naam roshan kiya.
Ramji ka jeevan ek anushasit sainik ka tha. Wo subah jaldi uthte, pooja path karte, aur bachchon ko bhi padhaai ke liye prerit karte. Wo chahte the ki unke bachche samaj mein ek din izzat ke saath jeeyein. Bhimrao ko padhne ke liye unhone hamesha support diya. Jab school mein bhedbhaav hota, tab Ramji unka hausla badhate.
Lekin zindagi hamesha ek si nahi rehti. 1896 mein Bhimabai ka dehant ho gaya. Uske baad Ramji ne Bhimrao aur unke bhai-behen ki dekhbhaal ki. Lekin maa ki kami Bhimrao ko hamesha mehsoos hoti rahi. Kuch samay baad Ramji ne doosri shaadi ki — jo Bhimrao ko pasand nahi aayi. Usse ghar ke rishte thode thande pad gaye.
Phir bhi, Ramji ne Bhimrao ke career ko kabhi roka nahi. Jab Bhimrao ne Bombay jaakar college mein padhne ki baat ki, to Ramji ne apni savings laga di. Unhone apne sabse chhote bete mein ek sapna dekha tha — ek aise insaan ka jo samaj ko badal sake.
Unki shiksha ke prati lagan aur saaf soch ne Bhimrao ko bana diya ek focused aur vision wale vyakti.