Hope Bios: Pandita Ramabai

  Pandita Ramabai

1858 – 1922

Change through Education

Her Calling

Indian social reformer, a champion for the emancipation of women, and a

pioneer in education. Ramabai was also a poet and scholar.

Her Faith

Ramabai’s father believed that women should be educated, based on his 

study of Hindu texts. He educated his wife and daughters. Other scholars 

did not approve, but were later amazed by Ramabai’s speaking and insight.

In 1883, Ramabai received a scholarship to train as a teacher in England. During her time there she converted to Christianity and joined the Anglican Church. In 1886, she was invited to America to study the kindergarten systems in America. When she returned to India, she started Christian churches, homes for the destitute and schools for girls. Ramabai combined her Christian ideals with her Indian culture to promote change in India. She also lectured across America for three years on the plight of women and child widows in India.

She translated the Bible into her native language to help women read the Bible for themselves.

Her Legacy

When her parents died in the 1877 famine, Ramabai and her brother decided to continue their father's work. She and her brother traveled all over India. Ramabai's fame as a lecturer grew. She spoke against the practice of child marriage and the resulting constraints on the lives of child widows. She married a man from a lower caste, a shocking act.

Later on, she traveled extensively to see for herself the plight of many young women and widows condemned to life as temple prostitutes in Northern India. In a lecture given in June 1882, she pronounced, "Men look on us women as chattels: we make every effort to deliver ourselves from this situation. But some will say that this is a rebellion against man, and that to do this is sin. To leave men's evil acts unrebuked and remain unmoved before them is a great sin.” Ramabai’s mission is still active today.

What can I do?

• Learn More: mukti-mission.org, also Pandita Ramabai's American encounter the peoples of the United States is available at our campus online library.
• Do you feel hesitant to share your voice, or have you been stopped by your gender, age, ability, or other reason? Journal about what you’ve learner, your story, and what you want to share with others.
• Volunteer in education, perhaps a local school with underprivileged children. Teachers can use volunteers to help by reading stories or giving homework help.
• Contemporary Indian issues for woman: Rape is a serious problem in India that’s been getting a lot of attention. Yet, misogyny, caste prejudice, poverty and other issues make it difficult to stop rape. Compassion and education are needed.
• Contemporary US Issues: read hashtags: #blacklivesmatter #MikeBrown #Ferguson 
• Interview one person this week who has a different background from your own. Ask questions, listen, rather than arguing or correcting them.