Dandavate started her schooling at age 5 and painting was her hobby. The Second World War had started and since Bombay was a part of the British Empire, there were rumours that Bombay could possible be attacked by the Axis powers. As a result, many middle class families from Bombay started sending their families to their ancestral homes in Konkan. Dandavate and her siblings was sent to Malvan and she completed her fourth standard (which was equal to today's eight standard) from the Anant Shivaji Desai Topiwala High School. At that time, Rashtra Seva Dal activists like Dnyaneshwar Deulkar used to hold the shakha and Dandavate started attending it.
