Ramabai Ranade

Ramabai Ranade (25 January 1862 – 25 January 1924) was an Indian social worker and one of the first women's rights activists in the early 20th century. At the age of 11, she was married to Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade, who was a distinguished Indian scholar and social reformer.

Ramabai, soon after her marriage, started to learn reading and writing with strong support and encouragement from Mahadev Govind Ranade. Starting with her native language Marathi, she strove hard to master English. In 1884, Ramabai with her husband and other colleagues established country's one of the first girls' high school Huzurpaga, in Pune.

Inspired by her husband, Ramabai started 'Hindu Ladies Social Club' in Mumbai to develop public speaking among women. After the death of her husband, Ramabai devoted the rest of her life to the betterment of women's lives mainly through the activities 'Seva Sadan Society' in Mumbai and Pune.

She was the founder and president of the Poona "Seva Sadan", which is the most successful of all Indian women's institution and is attended by thousands of women. The immense popularity of the institution was due to the fact that it was under Ramabai's close personal supervision.

Early life and background

Ramabai Ranade was born on 25 January 1862, as Yamuna Kurlekar in Kurlekar family, living in a small village, Devrashtre of Sangli District, Maharashtra. As educating girls was a taboo in those days, her father did not educate her. In 1873, at the age of 11, she was married to Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade, a widower who was twenty years older than her, and a pioneer of India's social reform movement. He devoted his time to educate her in face of opposition of the women in the house and helped her to become a worthy helpmate in social and educational reform. With his strong support and sharing his visionary path, Ramabai spent all her life making women self-reliant and economically independent. Her husband was a graduate of Bombay University with first class honours. He not only worked as the Professor of English and Economics at the Elphinstone College in Bombay, but was also as an oriental translator and a social reformer. He rigorously worked against evils that existed in the society. He was against untouchability, child marriage (but caved-in to his family's wishes by marrying a child himself). He took over the Sarvajanik Sabha and led a number of movements for social development. He had won the praise of the whole of Maharashtra by the time he was in his early thirties. His overarching thinking, dynamic vision, passionate and devoted social commitment strongly inspired Ramabai and illuminated her path for future social work.

Ramabai made it a mission to educate herself, so that she could be an equal partner in the active life led by her husband. In her efforts she faced obstruction and hostility from other women in her extended family. Justice Ranade gave regular lessons to young Ramabai in writing and reading Marathi, History, Geography, Mathematics, and English. He used to make her read all newspapers and discuss current affairs with him. She became his devoted disciple and slowly became his secretary and his trusted friend. When Pandita Ramabai came to Pune in 1882 after becoming a widow, the Ranades helped her. Both, Ramabai Ranade and Pandita Ramabai took English language lessons from a Christian missionary lady at the Ranade residence.

Career

Ramabai made her first public appearance at Nashik High School as the Chief Guest. Justice Ranade wrote her maiden speech. She soon mastered the art of public speaking, both in English and Marathi. Her speeches were always simple and heart-touching. She began working for Prarthana Samaj in Bombay. She established a branch of Arya Mahila Samaj (Arya women's society) in the city. From 1893 to 1901, Ramabai was at the peak of her popularity in her social activities. She established the Hindu Ladies Social and Literary Club in Bombay and started a number of classes to train women in languages, general knowledge, tailoring and handwork.

Social activism after the death of Justice Ranade

Ramabai started her public service around 1878, but it was after Justice Ranade's death in 1901 that she wholly identified herself with the cause of women in India.She lived for 23 years after her husband's death – a life full of activity for social awakening, redressal of grievances and established social institutions like Seva Sadan for rehabilitation of distressed women.Upon her husbands's death, she left Bombay and came to Pune and stayed at their old ancestral house near Phule Market. For one year, she led a secluded life. Finally, she came out of her self-imposed isolation. At that time at the urging of Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar and Mr. Bhajekar, she chaired the first session of Bharat Mahila Parishad (India Women Conference) held in Bombay in 1904.

She became a regular visitor to the Central Prison, especially the women's wing, to kindle self-esteem amongst prison inmates. She paid her visit to boys in reformatory school, spoke to them and distributed sweets to them on festive occasions. She regularly visited patients in local hospitals, distributing fruits, flowers, and books. She also went out to Gujarat and Kathiawar in 1913 to organise relief for famine-stricken people. Even in the final years of her life, she went to Alandi at the time of Ashadhi and Kartiki fairs, with volunteers from the Seva Sadan, to render help to women pilgrims visiting the shrine of Sant Dnyaneshwar. In taking up this activity, she laid foundations for a new type of social service for women.

In 1920 at the height of Non-cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, Ramabai even learned how to run a cotton spinning charkha.