In all major religions and cultures, mothers hold a revered place due to their immense sacrifices for their children, often surpassing reason and logic. Our world is filled with remarkable stories, one of which occurred in India, where a pregnant woman in her ninth month swam across a river spanning a full kilometer despite numerous obstacles and dangers. Her aim was simply to give birth in a hospital, a move that astonished both doctors and journalists.
This story took place in August 2014 in a remote village on the Krishna River in the Yadgir district, 400 kilometers north of Bangalore. The 22-year-old Indian woman, Yelavva, in her ninth month of pregnancy, decided to swim across the river because she wanted her baby to be born safely in a hospital. Her village lacked a medical center, and she was adamant about not giving birth at home. She managed to achieve her goal after an hour of swimming, covering a distance of one kilometer, starting from her village on the river island and reaching the southern Indian state of Karnataka.
The journey was far from easy. The only way to travel from the island to the mainland was by raft, which was out of service at that time. Yelavva described the water currents as numerous and strong, a challenge even for experienced swimmers. Despite her fears, the safety of her unborn child motivated her to overcome her anxieties and navigate the river’s dangers. Fortunately, she was not alone; her father, brother, and cousins swam with her. Her brother led the way while Yelavva followed, tethered to hollowed-out gourd pieces for buoyancy. Her father and cousins followed behind. Although the planned distance was slightly over half a kilometer, strong currents pushed them further, extending their swim to a full kilometer.
Upon reaching a government medical center in the nearby village of Kikker, Yelavva was exhausted. However, after being examined by doctors, it was confirmed that both she and her baby were in good health and only needed some rest. The news spread quickly, and Yelavva received widespread praise for her bravery. A doctor at the center, who had worked there for seven years, noted that while many people had crossed the river with some assistance, she had never seen a pregnant woman, especially in her ninth month, undertake such a feat. Venkatesh Dore, a local newspaper reporter who captured a photo of Yelavva, described her as a symbol of courage and determination, impressed by her unwavering resolve to cross the river.
