From Class 7 dropout to SBI DGM, she pursued her dream of naturopathy at 55

Pratiksha Tondwalkar rose from a part-time SBI sweeper to Deputy General Manager. Her journey highlights sustained education after widowhood and financial hardship.After dropping out in Class 7, Pratiksha bought old Class 8-10 books from a scrap dealer, studied at night after bank work, cleared Class 10 with 60%, and later graduated in Psychology from a Mumbai night college.

Widowed at 20 and left to raise a one-year-old child, Pratiksha Tondwalkar took up a job as a sweeper at the State Bank of India. Decades later, she rose to the position of Assistant General Manager (AGM) and Deputy General Manager (DGM) at the same bank and went on to pursue her dream of studying naturopathy.Life took an unexpected turn for Pratiksha Tondwalkar when she lost her husband in a road accident at just 20.

With a one-year-old son to raise and little financial support, she was forced to take up odd jobs to make ends meet. What followed was a remarkable journey of determination, education and professional growth.Born in Pune in 1964, Pratiksha had a financially challenging childhood.

She got married at the age of 16-17 and had to discontinue her formal education after Class 7.However, the death of her husband, Sadashiv Kadu, just three years after their marriage, left her with the responsibility of bringing up their young child. To support herself and her son, she initially took up tailoring and embroidery work.

Her search for a stable source of income eventually brought her to a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Mumbai, where she had gone to claim her late husband's pending salary.During her visit, she approached the branch manager and requested a job.FROM SWEEPER TO SBI EMPLOYEE After waiting for nearly five months, Pratiksha received a call from the bank offering her a part-time sweeper position.In 1985, she joined SBI with a monthly salary of around Rs 60-65. Her responsibilities included sweeping and mopping the premises, cleaning toilets and dusting furniture before the branch opened.But Pratiksha did not see the job as the end of her journey.

She recognised that education could open doors to better opportunities and decided to resume her studies alongside work.HOW SHE COMPLETED HER EDUCATION WHILE WORKINGWith limited resources, Pratiksha collected old textbooks for Classes 8, 9 and 10 from a scrap dealer. She studied at night after completing her daily responsibilities at the bank.Her efforts paid off when she cleared her Class 10 examination with 60 per cent marks on her first attempt.She subsequently enrolled in a night college in Mumbai's Vikhroli area, completed Class 12 and went on to graduate in Psychology from another night college.FROM BANK SWEEPER TO AGM AND DGMPratiksha's career at SBI progressed steadily.In 1990, she was promoted from sweeper to messenger.

Five years later, after completing her graduation, she cleared an internal departmental examination and became a clerk-cum-cashier.She married Pramod Tondwalkar in 1993, who encouraged her to appear for internal banking examinations and aim for higher positions.Through continued preparation and perseverance, she eventually cleared the required examinations and progressed to the position of trainee officer.Her professional journey reached a major milestone in June 2022, when she became an AGM at SBI. She later went on to become a DGM.PURSUING ANOTHER DREAM AFTER RETIREMENTEven after building a successful career in banking, Pratiksha continued to pursue her interests.At around 55 years of age, she completed a two-year course in naturopathy, fulfilling a long-standing personal ambition.From leaving school after Class 7 to studying again while working as a bank sweeper, and eventually rising to senior positions in one of India's largest public sector banks, her journey reflects the role of education and determination in overcoming difficult circumstances.Pratiksha Tondwalkar's story is a reminder that setbacks need not define the course of one's life, and that the pursuit of learning can continue at any age.- Ends