A Scholar's Early Life
Pandita Ramabai was born into a traditional Brahmin family in Karnataka, India, on April 23, 1858. From a young age, she exhibited a remarkable aptitude for learning, mastering Sanskrit by the age of 12. Her early life was marked by trials, including the loss of her family during the Great Famine and the death of her husband, which left her a young widow with a daughter. Despite these hardships, Ramabai's resolve to uplift women never wavered.
Finding Christ in England
Dissatisfied with the constraints of orthodox Hinduism, Ramabai found herself drawn to Christianity during her travels in England. It was here that she was baptized in 1883 and began her journey to find a deeper spiritual truth. Her disillusionment with her previous beliefs led her to embrace Jesus Christ wholeheartedly. She later expressed, 'I realized after reading the fourth chapter of St. John's Gospel, that Christ was truly the Divine Saviour he claimed to be, and no one but He could transform and uplift the downtrodden women of India.'
Faith in Action
Ramabai's faith translated into action as she tirelessly worked to improve the lives of women in India. She founded the Arya Mahila Samaj and later the Sharada Sadan, both initiatives aimed at educating women and opposing child marriage. Her most enduring legacy, however, was the Mukti Mission, established in the late 1890s, which provided refuge and hope for thousands of destitute women and children.
Nothing to Fear
Through all her endeavors, Ramabai faced significant opposition, yet her faith remained unshaken. She declared, 'A life totally committed to God has nothing to fear, nothing to lose, nothing to regret.' Her commitment to Christ's teachings guided her efforts to translate the Bible into Marathi, ensuring that the message of Jesus could reach her people in their native language. Ramabai's dedication to social justice and education, fueled by her relationship with Christ, left an indelible impact on Indian society. Her work continues to inspire through the ongoing activities of the Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission. Jesus' transforming power in her life stands as a testament to how faith can drive profound change and hope in the world.
