Shooter Dadis: Film will help all realise daughters are our future

For 87-year-old Chandro Tomar and 82-year-old Prakashi Tomar, age is just a number. “Tan buddha ho jata hain, mann nahin hota,” they assert.

The shooting sensations from Johri, Uttar Pradesh, started their journey 22 years ago. But their road to glory was not an easy one. And along the way, the octogenarian sharpshooters had to fight the battles of gender, age, family restrictions and illiteracy.

And now with the upcoming film, Saand Ki Aankh, based on their lives, they are hopeful their life stories will be conveyed to more people. “Beti bachao, beti padhao aur beti khilao bhi. Beti hamare Bharat ka naam karegi… Yeh ab sabko samjhna chahiye,” says Tomar senior, as sisterin-law Prakashi nods.

They are happy that they were involved with the film during its making. They even hosted actors Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Raj and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, in their house when the film was being shot. “They would eat and even sleep in our house the entire two-anda-half months. They still keep a check on us. Bhumi called the other day to ask about our health. Taapsee told us to stay fit as we’ll have to fly to Mumbai for the screening,” smiles Prakashi. And Chandro is quick to add, “They’ve asked us to stay with them and we have agreed.”

Chandro shares how it all started when she accompanied her granddaughter, Shefali Tomar, to the shooting range. “She was scared but I was like, ‘Darnewali ke baat hai’? I took the pistol and aimed at the target and it hit the bull’s eye, which surprised everyone,” she says. It was 15 days later that Prakashi went to the range and proved her worth.

That was just the beginning. And they continued even when people made rude taunts like ‘Kya dadi, Kargil ya border pe jana hai kya,’ or ‘Iss umar mein yeh sab nahin karte,’ and the like.

But they never gave up and neither did their former coach, Farooq Pathan. “Our family didn’t approve of our sport in the beginning. When everyone would sleep at night, we would practice. Par jab hamara photo aaya paper mein to sabko pata chal gaya,” Prakashi shares with a smile.

Over the years, they have trained many and want to continue to do so. Prakashi’s daughter, Seema Tomar, a trap shooter, is the only Indian woman to win a silver in shotgun at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup.

But they have a few regrets. “We wish we had started earlier and wish we had gone to school, but then jab jago tabhi savera,” they quip.

We wish we had started earlier, wish we had gone to school. But then, jab jago tabhi savera.

CHANDRO AND PRAKASHI TOMAR

SHARPSHOOTERS