In the year 1882, Hunter Commission was appointed by the colonial government for the education department. Giving evidence at that time, Pandita Ramabai, while addressing the Hunter Commission, said, “In 99 cases out of 100, the educated men of India are found opposing women's education and their proper status. Even a small mistake on the part of women turns into a mountain out of a molehill and the character of the woman is defamed.”
Pandita Ramabai also suggested that teachers should be trained and women school inspectors should be appointed. Continuing her point further, she said that the condition of women in India is such that they can undergo medical treatment, hence Indian women should be given admission in medical colleges.
Her words caused quite a sensation and this news even reached the ears of Queen Victoria.
As a result, the Women's Medical Movement was started by Lord Dufferin.
In Maharashtra Pandita Ramabai contacted Christian organizations involved in women's education and medical missionary work. Particularly associated with the Anglican nuns of the Community of St. Mary the Virgin (CSMV).
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Adopted Christianity
In the year 1883, with earnings from the sale of her first book Stree Dharma Neeti and through contacts with the CSMV, Pandita Ramabai went to Britain to pursue medical training. But due to her progressive deafness she was not allowed to enter medical practice.
While living in England she converted to Christianity. Due to growing views on conservative Hindu religious policies and impracticality towards women, she accepted to convert her religion.
In England, Pandita Ramabai had a contentious relationship with her Anglican teachers, especially Geraldine. She did not compromise her personal freedom. She completely rejected those aspects of Anglican doctrine that she considered irrational.
Pandita Ramabai continued to follow a vegetarian diet. She never believed in the Trinity doctrine of Christianity.
In the year 1886, she traveled from Britain to the United States at the invitation of Dr. Rachel Bodley, Dean of the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, to attend the graduation ceremony of Anandi Bai Joshi, India's first female doctor.
Pandita Ramabai remained in the United States for two years, translating several textbooks as well as lecturing throughout the United States and Canada.
While living there, she published the book “The High Caste Hindu Woman”. She dedicated her first book written in English to her cousin Anandibai Joshi.
The book was her attempt to highlight the oppression women faced in Hindu dominated British India along with the dark aspects of what happened to Hindu women such as child marriage and child widowhood.
Through her oratory skills and large network of supporters she raised approximately Rs 60,000 for the purpose of opening a school for child widows in India.
While giving presentations in America, seeking support for her work in India, she met American suffragette and women's rights activist Frances Willard.
Pandita Ramabai was invited by Francis Willard to speak at the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union convention in November 1887. Where she got the support of that big women's organization.
She came to India in June 1888 as the national speaker of the WCTU. The first evangelist of the WCTU was Mary Greenleaf Clement Leavitt. Pandita Ramabai was officially associated with the WCTU in 1893.
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Establishment of Mukti Mission
In the year 1889, Pandita Ramabai returned to India. After coming to India, she established a school named Sharda Sadan for child widows in Pune. The school founded by her received support from many Hindu reformers including MG Ranade.
Although Pandita Ramabai was not a religious preacher, she also did not keep her Christian religion a secret. Many students converted to Islam, due to which they lost the support of the Hindu reform circles of Pune.
She then shifted her school to Kedgaon, a quiet village 60 km from Pune. And the school was renamed Mukti Mission.
In the year 1889, Pandita Ramabai visited Maharashtra with a caravan of bullock carts during a severe famine. There thousands of tribal children, orphans, child widows and other destitute women were rescued and given shelter in the Mukti Mission.
By the year 1900 the Emancipation Mission had 1,500 inhabitants and over 100 head of cattle.
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Daughter Supported
Pandita Ramabai was an independent-minded woman. After the death of her husband, she raised her daughter alone.
She sent daughter Manorama to be educated by the sisters of the CSMV in Wantage and later to the University of Bombay, from where Manorama obtained a BA degree. Then Manorama went to the United States for her higher education.
On returning to India, Manorama worked side by side with her mother Pandita Ramabai. Manorama served as the headmistress of Sharda Sadan.
During the year 1912, she fully supported her mother in establishing a Christian High School in Gulbarga, a backward district of South India, now in Karnataka.
In the year 1920, when Pandita Ramabai's health started deteriorating, she handed over the charge of the Liberation Mission to Manorama. But don't know what to call it, Manorama died in the year 1921.
Pandita Ramabai was deeply shocked by her daughter's death. And nine months after Manorama's death, on 5 April 1922, at the age of 63, Pandita Ramabai also left her life.
Pandita Ramabai died while battling septic bronchitis.
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Awards and Honors
The title of 'Pandita' and 'Saraswati' for her skill in Sanskrit
In the year 1919, she was awarded the Kaisari-i-Hind Medal for community service by the British colonial government of India.
On 26 October 1989, the Government of India issued a commemorative postage stamp in recognition of her contribution to the advancement of Indian women.
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