Pandita Ramabai (1858-1922)

“A life committed to Christ has Nothing to Fear, Nothing to Loose, Nothing to regret.

Pandita Ramabai was a scholar, poet, visionary, and eminent social reformer. She lived during the time when women were considered subordinate to men and their role in society was limited to procreation. During that time, child marriages were widespread and the child widows were left to abuse and slavery from family and society. They were considered a “curse” and often lived terrible lives filled with agony and pain.

Early Childhood

Pandita Ramabai was born into a Brahmin family. Brahmins, who were generally priests and scholars, were at the top of the caste system that governed the Hindu society. Her childhood name was Rama Dongre. Her father’s name was Anant Shastri, a social reformer who believed in educating girls. When he was forty, he married a 9-year-old girl. Learned in Sanskrit, he read the old Hindu Scriptures – the Puranas in temples for living. He taught Sanskrit to his young wife, for which he was highly despised and abandoned by family and society. Therefore, he went from one village to another with his wife and three children reading the Puranas in temples, fairs, and on auspicious occasions to the wealthy Hindu people who could not read. The Hindus believed they gained merit by listening to the sacred words and would donate money and give gifts to those who read the Scriptures on their behalf. Thus, the family traveled hundreds of miles on foot living a simple life with adequate food or clothing. They never had to beg or work to earn a livelihood. The sacred readings were enough to provide for all their needs.

When Ramabai was 13, her parents became sick and one of her siblings died. She and her older brother, Srinivas, were also struggling. Due to a severe famine occurring in the country at that time, people had very little to eat. There came a time when there was no food left. Occasionally they ate wild leaves and few berries. Sadly, in that destitute condition too weak and sick, her father passed away. Before dying, he took Ramabai and said, “Always go on in the path of God. Always make it your aim to serve God. I have given you into God’s keeping.” After a few months, the same conditions took her mother’s life.

Pandita (The Scholar)

Ramabai was left all alone with her Brother. She began to lose her faith in the religion in which she had suffered so much. They decided to give up their wanderings and settle in Calcutta. Here, they were welcomed by the Hindu priests, as they were high caste Brahmins. They were amazed to hear Ramabai read the Puranas in Sanskrit and were astonished by her wisdom. In those days, very few women were able to read Sanskrit but Ramabai even knew the grammar. Therefore, the priests bestowed her with the highest known title of “Pandita” (Scholar). Soon she was invited to give lectures and to visit places of learning.
The more she studied Hindu Scriptures, the more unhappy and restless she became. She could not find peace. After all the struggles and pain she went through, even her brother became ill and died. Now she was all by herself, alone in this world. She knew a lawyer named Bipin Behari Medavi, who was not a Brahmin but was from a lower caste called “Shudras.” He loved Ramabai and had asked her to marry him. She agreed. This was shocking and unheard-of to her friends and relatives as Ramabai was a high caste Brahmin. Her husband was very caring and he loved her.

People must not only hear about the kingdom of God, but must see it in actual operation, on a small scale perhaps and in imperfect form, but a real demonstration nevertheless. – Pandita Ramabai

A Little Book

One day Ramabai saw a small book in her husband’s library called the “Gospel of St. Luke.” It was in Bengali and she read it from beginning to end. When she inquired about it, he said he got it from the mission school. She wanted greater understanding, so her husband allowed a missionary to come to their home to explain more about the book. As she continued to learn more about the book, she became more peaceful. She wanted to become a Christian, but her husband was not in agreement.

After only 18 months of marriage, Ramabai’s husband contracted Cholera and he too passed away. They had a beautiful daughter named Manorama (joy of the heart). As a Hindu widow, she had no place in her husband’s home so she took her daughter and set forth to her hometown of Pune. Ramabai studied English here and wrote a book, entitled “Morals for Women.”

Across the Ocean

One day, while Ramabai was reading in her home, a little child widow came to her door. She was very sick and had nowhere to go. Ramabai took her inside and cared for her like her own daughter. This inspired her and gave her a new vision and purpose. She wanted to start a home for such widows where they would be loved and care for. Impassioned by this thought, she tried to raise the required money but encountered difficulties. Having little money of her own, it was a great disappointment.

Ramabai had made friends with an English missionary, Miss Hurford, during that time. She was planning to return to England and suggested that Ramabai accompany her. Ramabai’s book had brought in some money, just enough to pay for her and Manorama’s tickets. She was very afraid to cross the ocean and go to a foreign land but she knew that God was calling her, she knew she must go

In England Ramabai and her daughter went to the Sister of Mercy convent at Wantage. Here she felt that her long pilgrimage to find God was over. She found the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. She went to Cheltenham College, England, and taught Sanskrit in return.

From England, Ramabai traveled to America. She found the American people very enthusiastic and helpful. She gave many lectures and wrote the book, “High Caste Hindu Woman.” She started educating the West about the conditions of women in India. American women offered to assist her to fulfill her dream to start a home for widows. They formed Ramabai Association and promised that if she would start a school for young widows they would help her for 10 years.

The Mission

Ten years seemed like a lifetime to her. She returned to India overjoyed to start her mission. When she came to Mumbai, she was welcomed by her old friends. They were happy to help Ramabai in her mission only if she would not teach them anything about the new God she had found in the West. Ramabai agreed to do so. She would herself travel around the country and bring back young girls who are widows suffering in pain and agony.

Ramabai had seen some land in Kedgaon near Pune and bought it for the girls to stay. She started a school called “Sharda Sadan” (House of knowledge), in which she taught reading, writing, history, and nature study. She started with 20 girls. That year there was a famine, so Ramabai herself set out to find children left hungry and begging. She brought 200 children for whom she provided shelter.

Eventually, Ramabai found two helpers, one Indian and the other English, who shared her burden. She systematically taught the older girls first who in turn would take charge and help the younger girls. She set up a home called the Mukti Mission (The home of Salvation) and had 2000 girls living in it.

For the next 20 years, Pandita Ramabai went on working and caring for her large family. She passed away on the 5th of April, 1922. It has been over 100 years since the humble beginnings of the Mukti Mission. Her vision continues in the lives of many women and young girls today who have found hope and new life at Mukti Mission. Still today, the mission continues to thrive locally and around the world. For further information, please visit http://www.ramabaimuktimission.com/.

References

21 Responses

  1. WHAT WAS THE VISION OF PANDITA RAMABAI ,WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE SUCH A VISION POSSIBLE AND WHAT ARE THE REASOND OF ITS FAILURE?

    PLS. SEND ON MY EMAIL ID.

    THANKS.

  2. what were the vision of pandita ramabai
    what does it take to make such a vision possible
    what were the reasons behind its failure

    pls. send on my email address

    i shall be very thankful to you

  3. The service made by Ramabai is really matchless: which is still carried till today is Gods grace : and it will be carried till the coming of Christ ; which will be for His glory. Amen!
    May the work of the Lord continue in mulkti.

  4. Iam dr hemant kumar Iwould like to inform you that my mother VIRGINIA SINGH and Miss Kamalbai deshpande studied together at Union Biblical Seminary in Yeotmal with Y T Aghamkar.Kindly inform how is Miss DESHPANDE
    Dr Hemant Kumar Prof and Head Pediatrics
    Govt Medical College Bilaspur

  5. an introduction to pandita ramabai’s life.

    what were the efforts of pandita ramabai towards the emancipation and empowerment of women?

    social activism

    connection with women activists

    published works

  6. i m studying m.a. phi[. from mumbai univ.
    such life biography to be studied and explored to solve latest problem of society.
    ramabai had done her own work, now what v can do.
    on 8 march international women day. exp[ore new problems of girl, women, old people in india.

  7. She did well, builded a foundation for yahshua messiah’s, great work for women n widows, really admire

  8. It’s great, reading about the testimonies of the God’s people.
    You are doing wonderful job.God bless you all….
    May the work of the Lord continue in mulkti. .

  9. To be glorify Jesus name and to fulfill his will in her that is she the first women to translate Bible in Marathi from Hebrew & Greek language .so that everybody must enter in the kingdom of heaven for eternal life where there is no pain and sorrow .Have faith in Jesus so you and your household will be saved .

  10. God had fulfilled his plan through Ramabai. Just believing that, church in Mikti Mission will be there till Jesus will come. God bless to jeevanmarg team. Praise God…

  11. Hi,I check your new stuff named “Pandita Ramabai – Founder Of Mukti Mission | Testimonies Of Indians From Hindu Background” regularly.Your story-telling style is witty, keep it up! And you can look our website about proxy server list.

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