Pawar said Shardabai was the driving force behind her seven sons and four daughters, all of whom acquired graduate degrees in various disciplines like law, engineering, architecture, metallurgy and agronomy. The Marathi book, 'Mu Po Aai', edited by journalist Sandeep Kale, has articles by 30 Maharashtrian editors about their mothers.
Pawar has penned the foreword for the tome. Pawar also recalled that as Defence Minister he insisted on inducting women into armed forces despite repeated rebuffs from the three services chiefs to his plans.