Early Life and Personal Tragedies
Born on April 23, 1858, in the forests near the Western Ghats, India, Pandita Ramabai was raised in a Marathi-speaking Chitpavan Brahmin family. Her father, a Sanskrit scholar, defied societal norms by educating her and her mother in Sanskrit. Despite this enlightened upbringing, Ramabai faced immense personal loss during the Great Famine of 1876-78, which left her orphaned at 16. Undeterred, she traveled across India with her brother, reciting Sanskrit scriptures and gaining recognition as a scholar.
In 1880, she married Bipin Behari Medhvi, a Bengali lawyer, but was soon widowed with a young daughter when he succumbed to cholera in 1882. Her personal tragedies steered her towards social activism, leading her to establish Arya Mahila Samaj in Pune to advocate for women's education and challenge oppressive practices such as child marriage.
Indian Woman Finds Christ
In 1883, while in England, Ramabai encountered Christianity. As she later recounted, after reading the Gospel of John, she realized, "Christ was truly the Divine Saviour he claimed to be, and no one but He could transform and uplift the downtrodden women of India." This revelation led to her baptism and a profound commitment to serving others through her newfound faith.
Ministry to India's Outcasts
Returning to India, she founded the Sharada Sadan in Bombay in 1889, a refuge and school for child widows. Her dedication to Christ and her mission extended to the Mukti Mission, established in the late 1890s near Pune. During the famine of 1896, she rescued thousands of outcast children and women, providing them with shelter, education, and vocational training. By 1900, Mukti Mission was a sanctuary for 1,500 residents.
Revival and Lasting Legacy
In 1905, a spiritual revival swept through Mukti Mission, marked by a Pentecostal-style awakening. Women experienced profound transformations, confessing sins and expressing newfound joy and purpose. Ramabai's life and work were a testament to her belief that "a life totally committed to God has nothing to fear, nothing to lose, nothing to regret."
Pandita Ramabai's legacy continued beyond her death on April 5, 1922, as her institutions thrived, embodying her vision of a lived faith. Her story remains a powerful reminder of the transformative power of Jesus and the impact of unwavering commitment to serving others.
