About a decade ago I did a photo profile of the very confident, outgoing Prakashi Tomar. Popularly known as the Bandook Wali Dadi or grandmother with a gun, she is now 89-year-old. That makes her, in all likelihood, the oldest rifle shooter in the country.

She picked a rifle ​at the ripe age of 62 years. This happened when she was accompanying her daughter, Seema, to a shooting range. Seema is also a shooter who went on to win many international tournaments including a historic silver medal in the women's trap event at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in 2010.

Prakashi fired some bullets for fun. The coach saw the talent, was impressed, and encouraged Prakashi, like her daughter, to pursue shooting seriously. She did.

It was not easy going. She was forthright about the challenges that came her way. Society in general and family in particular weren’t open to such a disruptive suggestion, particularly so in rural settings when it involves a woman.

Mother of four sons and four daughters, age was a factor and her husband was not particularly encouraging. He’d deride her; taunt her repeatedly to exchange jobs with their eldest son in the army and man the Kargil border.

Jibes and taunts only motivated Prakashi. She practiced in hiding and honed her natural talent. She’d hold a jug full of water, arm extended forward, to gain strength and balance. Luck favours the brave, she did well, is the nine times state level champion.

She told me with great relish: she had humbled the deputy inspector general of the region. He was the one who gave her the medal, and quipped, ‘Amma you have defamed my good reputation.’ It was a compliment.

Prakashi’s medals and trophies are displayed at her place in Baghpat, and there are some pictures too. One of them is with Sonia Gandhi. The latter has hosted her four times. She won the prestigious Stree Skhati Puraskar—women power award—conferred to her by Pranab Mukherjee, the then President of India.

Anurag Kashap made a biographical drama—Saand Ki Aankh—based on her life. She is an inspiration to women, particularly in rural areas.​ She has proved age is an ongoing journey of growth, not a countdown.