Women's Day: Here's The Story Of Kunwar Bai, The Woman Who Inspired PM Modi

She shot to fame in 2016 when the story of how she sold her goats to build a toilet at home got nationwide publicity.

New Delhi: On the eve of International Women's Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to celebrate the courage and spirit of a woman.

#महिलादिवस के अवसर पर नारी शक्ति को शत्-शत् नमन। हमें हमारी नारी शक्ति की उपलब्धियों पर अत्यंत गर्व है। pic.twitter.com/NKIF1qAulZ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2018

He also urged others to write about the women who inspire us with the hashtag #SheInspiresMe

Through their exemplary deeds, several women have left an indelible mark in the history of humankind. They continue to inspire generations. I urge you to write about some women who inspire you. #SheInspiresMe

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2018

Then he himself wrote about a 106-year-old woman who had inspired him. Kunwar Bai, who is no more, was a resident of Chhattisgarh. She shot to fame in 2016 when the story of how she sold her goats to build a toilet at home got nationwide publicity. Inspired by the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, she had sold off eight to ten of her goats, her only assets, to raise Rs 22,000 to build toilets at her house, in her village of Kotabharri, in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh.

#SheInspiresMe- Kunwar Bai, who died earlier this year at the age of 106. Hailing from Chhattisgarh, she sold her goats in order to build toilets. Her contribution towards a Swachh Bharat can never be forgotten. I am deeply inspired by her noble gesture. pic.twitter.com/eANQz01ZYE

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2018

The toilet, the first in the village, was built in 15 days. Now all 18 houses in her village Kotabharri in Dhamtari district now have toilets, earning the village Open Defecation Free status.

PM Modi had met her in 2016 when he visited Chhattisgarh to launch the ambitious Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Rurban (rural-urban) Mission. He had felicitated Kunwar Bai for her contribution towards the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The Prime Minister also addressed her as "Ma Kunwar Bai Yadav", during the rally.

I will always cherish the time when I had the opportunity to seek Kunwar Bai’s blessings during one of my visits to Chhattisgarh. Kunwar Bai lives on in the hearts and minds of all those who are passionate towards fulfilling Bapu’s dream of a clean India. #SheInspiresMe pic.twitter.com/Gdt5STszgr

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2018

She died on February 23, 2018 after a prolonged illness.