How a Beedi Worker Became a Poet, Author and TV Anchor

I interviewed Ms. Renuka Budharam, I was inspired by her life story and realized that I had met an exceptional person.  

It all started with my visit to Solapur which was not just about learning the trials and tribulations of beedi workers; it was also about knowing the cases of triumph among them.

I met a group of activists on the eve of our arrival at Solapur and among them was Dr Meena Gaikwad who had researched the beedi industry and workers; it was the subject of her doctoral thesis. She introduced me to Renuka.

Renuka was four years old when her father left the family. Etched on Renuka’s mind is the final send off when he put them on the train to Solapur and alighted. Renuka’s mother returned to Mumbai and waited at the mill gates, with little Renuka in the tow, in the hope of meeting her husband again but that was not to be.

After spending time with maternal uncle, the mother-daughter duo went to the in laws. Renuka in the meantime had become a voracious reader, she read several volumes of ‘Chandoba’ magazine. Her schooling initially began in a Telugu school, but she was shifted to Marathi medium.

Renuka belongs to Padmashali Samaj whose roots are in Telangana, and they speak Telugu, but in Solapur they have learnt Marathi too. They are also weavers by profession.

The schooling was a joy for her. She would sing ‘खबरदार जर टाच मारुनी …’ and ‘हिरवे हिरवे गार गालिचे’ and the class would follow her. Her family unfortunately applied brakes to her education. The family decided to pull her out of school when she was in the class 7, and Renuka became a beedi worker at the age of 14!

Renuka watched several movies with her mother and grandmother. Her favorite heroes were NT Rama Rao, Nageshwar Rao, Sobhan Babu and among actresses Savitri. They watched Marathi and Hindi movies too. Watching with full attention Renuka was quick to pick up catchy lines spoken by actors.

And Renuka wondered if she would ever be seen on a TV show, later in life this wish was fulfilled.

She was married to Purshottam Budharam when she was 17 or 18. Purshottam had an embroidery tailoring business, which suffered a downturn with computers invading industry, making skills redundant. But Renuka had managed one shop in the meantime which bolstered her confidence.

On the other hand, two activities continued – incessant reading and rolling beedies. Such was Renuka’s passion for reading that she used to read while rolling beedies, keeping her book in the cane tray along with tobacco! She rolled beedies for 30 years, she was a ‘card holder’ meaning she was entitled to many social security benefits and now draws a pension too.

In the meantime, Renuka also attended many ‘Satsang’ and ‘Kirtan’, the lyrics of bhajan (devotional songs) captivated her mind. She wrote four lines of a poem which found their way in a newspaper.

That was the turning point. Ravindra Jogi Petkar of Lokmat spotted her talent and guided her. At a Gudi Padva festival there was a poetry competition where Renuka sent six poems. She won the first prize. Thus began her journey as a poet.

Her poem ‘Mulagi’ (Daughter) was published in a local daily, Sanchar.’ She was then gaining recognition as a poet. Around this time a local TV Channel advertised the job of announcer. The lady who was selected did not know Marathi, so Renuka got a job as a translator. She had moved to the TV industry.

She soon moved up as an announcer. One day she was suddenly called upon to read the news. Renuka went to the change room and stood in front of a mirror, she was very nervous at the thought of facing the camera. There was nobody to reassure her, she realized. She had to take that challenge on her own. Renuka came out of the changing room with full determination to give her best. She has not looked back since then.

Two years later she moved to another local TV channel called “Swaranjali.’ She works there as an announcer and has done diverse work including scheduling a few programs. She runs ‘ChitraLahari’ which is akin to ‘Chhaya Geet’ of yesteryears at Door Darshan. ‘ChitraLahari’ is an immensely popular program on Swaranjali Channel. Renuka selects old gold songs for the program.

Renuka was often on air at Akashwani Hyderabad and Solapur stations and credited them for enriching her language. She was writing poetry in both Telugu and Marathi languages.

She had an opportunity to introduce Tanikella Bharani who is a superstar of Telugu films and a multifaceted personality. He is not only an actor but also a screenwriter, poet and playwright. He was impressed the way Renuka introduced him.

At another program the next day, Tanikella Bharani asked if Renuka was present. She was asked to come on the stage. Tanikella Bharani presented her with a flower and said that she deserves a Padmashree award! Some people now address her as ‘Padmashree Renuka.’

For Renuka, this was not the first recognition by a celebrity. When she went to buy bangles, she noticed a book shop nearby and entered it. On display was ‘Anandam’, a book by Dasari Venkataramana who has been awarded with Bala Sahitya Puraskar for Telugu language for the year 2014 from Sahitya Academy.

Renuka read a para, bought the book (did not buy bangles) and sought permission to translate. Her translated book was published at the hands of Sushil Kumar Shinde (former Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Power in the Manmohan Singh government) who hails from Solapur. This translated book received the State Award.

Dasari Venkataramana helped Renuka with the job of Asst Editor of ‘Adhunik Sarathi’ magazine where she worked for seven years.

Women roll beedies. Renuka wanted to present stories of triumph, so she selected 28 high profile people whose mothers rolled beedies. She presented them in a Marathi book ‘Veedi Kamgar Matanchya Mulanchi Yashogatha.'(Swarupdeep Prakashan, Solapur, Pages 175, Price Rs 350) Translation of the Title: ‘The success stories of the children of beedi worker-mothers.’

And the profiles are surprising. These are tales of how much influence beedi-worker-mothers had on their children. Women account for five out of the twenty-eight stories and that includes Renuka’s story too.

Here is a short list which will give you a glimpse of high-profile sons/ daughters of beedi-worker-mothers. Dr Ramdas Papayya Sabban (LLM, PhD in Law and Special Counsel of the Governor and Police Commissioner), Dr Shrikant Dattatray Makam (MS, FMAS, DNB), Vishnu Raghupati Dasari (B Com, LLB, Judge), Dr Lata Manjunath (Patil) Mitthakol (MBBS, DGO, FCPS), Umesh Ashok Gullapalli (Defense ME, Working at Rolls Royce Aerospace and Defense, Bristol, UK)

Renuka kept writing poetry and was invited at many a Kavi Sammelan. She has been a popular poet. Recently she was felicitated with an award.

In all this she enrolled at Yashwantrao Chavan Open University for BA classes. She was an odd person out there because of her age, but soon students accepted her, and they became friends. She was pulled out of her school in Class 7, but now she is a graduate!

What makes a person rise against all odds, emerge as a poet, and make a name for herself? That’s a question which will keep us awake for many nights. Nevertheless, some notes – all my thoughts.

One aspect on which all will agree is that such a rise happens as a result of a ‘Discovery’ process. Such a process is not the exclusive domain of the educated. Discovery is not learning. We discover ourselves (in bits and pieces) when we encounter unfamiliar situations. The discoveries are also aided by mentors, and Renuka had many mentors. Her first experience of mentoring was when she began publishing her poems.

In the discovery process what matters is going into an unfamiliar zone with confidence. It is about one’s courage and confidence. Renuka’s transition from a ‘translator’ to ‘announcer’ was not easy – she admits that she cried and had self-doubt but was determined to make it a success. Translation of stories from Telugu to Marathi would be a difficult task for an ordinary person with self-doubt. And here was a lady who had not formally studied beyond sixth standard. Renuka wrote to Dasari Venkataramana seeking his permission to translate his book. That was a big courageous step. Renuka’s proactive approach stands out and that is the hallmark of a leader.

One striking aspect is that Renuka is not at all negative in her approach. Life has not dealt with the best cards for her, but she has played the cards to her advantage. 

For all these qualities, and for rising from a beedi worker (she rolled beedies for 30 years) to a poet, author, translator and TV announcer, Renuka’s life holds many lessons for us. Her life is an example of ‘Becoming Yourself’ to use the words of Warren Bennis.

PS: Renuka mentions that she is deeply influenced and indebted to her mentors – Datta Halasgikar, Goma Pawar, Dr Laxminarayan Bolli, Nirmala Mathpati and Madhav Pawar. She is deeply indebted to her uncle Ramchandra and aunt Laxmibai as well as to her husband and family.

Vivek Patwardhan

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” All material copyrighted.