Age, grit, and determination: These 5 women are redefining what’s possible

For women, age is frequently treated as a boundary rather than a milestone. It’s often assumed that ambition, determination, and reinvention belong to the youth. 

But women are dismantling these assumptions to prove that age is just a number, and you are as old as you feel. They are choosing purpose and adventure and focusing on giving back. 

Meet the women rethinking and reinventing ageing while being the change they wish to see in this world.

Aruna Sareen

At 83, Aruna Sareen—a retired teacher and former principal—starts her weekdays at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Central Jail in Jabalpur. Sareen has spent the last 25 years walking into prisons as a steady, compassionate presence. Through the Art of Living’s Prison Programme, she has worked closely with inmates across prisons, sticking to her principle—that no life is beyond reform.

Her journey into prison work began after retirement, and what started as volunteering gradually became a full-time commitment. Day after day, she entered spaces marked by despair, anger, and isolation, offering tools such as yoga, meditation, and breathing techniques to help inmates manage trauma and regain emotional balance.

Over the years, Aruna has witnessed quiet but powerful transformations. Many prisoners acquired vocational skills, repaired strained family relationships, and prepared for life beyond prison walls. For her, reform is not about punishment, but about restoring the human spirit.

Age, she insists, has never been a limitation, only a reminder of time well spent. Even in her 80s, Aruna continues to show up, driven by the belief that service is a lifelong calling. 

Vidya Singh

When Vidya Singh stood atop Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895 metres, she wasn’t just celebrating a personal milestone; she was rewriting the rules of ageing. At 72 years, Chennai-based Singh became the oldest Indian woman to summit Africa’s highest peak.

Singh’s relationship with fitness and adventure developed gradually over the years. Long before her climb to Kilimanjaro, she had taken on multiple treks across India and abroad, building strength, discipline, and mental resilience. For her, mountaineering was never about speed or competition, but about persistence, preparation, and respect for the mountains.

The Kilimanjaro climb was challenging. She had to face extreme circumstances—thin air, extreme cold, and long hours of ascent that tested her limits. But Singh relied on consistent training, breath control, and mental focus to keep going. 

Beyond sports, Singh has devoted herself to advancing women’s causes and social impact. She has served as president of the International Women’s Association, worked closely with FICCI FLO and Soroptimist International, and continues to support philanthropy as a patron of the Karunnai School for destitute and mentally disabled children.

Today, Singh hopes her journey inspires others, especially women, to embrace movement, curiosity, and challenge at any age. 

Vasanthy Cheruveettil

At 59 years, Vasanthy Cheruveettil—a tailor from Kerala’s Kannur district—reached Mount Everest Base Camp by watching tutorials on building stamina and technical confidence. She also spent four months walking daily through hilly terrain near her home.

Without formal trekking training, Vasanthy remained undeterred by setbacks. After her initial flight to Lukla was cancelled due to bad weather, she adapted her plan, struck up a connection with fellow travellers, and navigated an alternative route to Surke, Nepal. 

On February 15, she began her nine-day trek across uneven terrain and altitudes that would test her determination.

Each day on the trail was a testament to her resilience. She moved at her own pace, embraced the cold conditions, and focused on proper breathing and disciplined endurance.

Her efforts paid off when she reached the base camp on February 23, adorning her achievement with a traditional Kerala kasavu saree, a symbolic blend of culture and triumph.

After the trek, she returned home to sewing and storytelling, her story inspiring other women in her age group to chase their own dreams.

V Kittammal

At 82 years, V Kittammal from Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, has become an unlikely but powerful symbol of what ageing can look like when curiosity meets courage. 

A grandmother—who spent most of her life managing household responsibilities— Kittammal never imagined that her 80s would introduce her to barbells, deadlifts, and cheering crowds. Yet today, she trains regularly and competes in powerlifting events, challenging deeply held assumptions about age and physical strength.

Kittammal’s entry into powerlifting came from encouragement from her grandson, who pushed her towards fitness as a way to stay active and healthy. 

What began as light exercise gradually evolved into a structured strength training. As her confidence grew, so did the weights she lifted, and the belief that she was capable of far more than she gave herself credit for.

At competitions, Kittammal often finds herself surrounded by athletes decades younger. For her, powerlifting is less about records and more about independence and joy. Training keeps her mobile, engaged, and mentally sharp, giving her life a renewed sense of purpose. 

Roshni Sangwan

Hailing from Bhiwani in Haryana, Roshni Sangwan was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both knees after a slipping accident and years of gradual pain that made simple movements painful and difficult. 

Sangwan’s journey towards strength training began at the age of 68, after she moved to Delhi to live with her son, Ajay, following her husband’s passing. 

With patient encouragement and careful progression, she started with gentle stretches, slowly graduating to resistance training, and eventually embracing strength workouts that helped ease her joint pain and restore her mobility. 

Today, the septuagenarian—affectionately known on Instagram as @weightliftermummy—posts videos showing her deadlifting 97 kg on a trap bar, squatting 50 kg, and leg pressing 120 kg, alongside a disciplined fitness routine that includes both strength work and cardio. 

Her online presence with tens of thousands of followers proves what ageing can look like: active, curious, and undeterred by chronic pain.