2016-04-05 Tue

Pandita Ramabai - an eminent Indian social reformer and activist passed away 94 years ago on 5th April. She was well known as an activist who fought against the rigidity of caste system and for the women’s right.

Born in an intellectual family of a Marathi Brahmin Pandit, Pandita Ramabai received Puranic Sanskrit education in early life and achieved the title of “Sanskrit Scholar” when she was barely 23 years old.

She established Arya Mahila Samaj for the cause of women’s education at Pune as well as in various parts of the country. This led to the foundation of Sharda Sadan in 1889, which later blossomed into an umbrella organisation called Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission.

She was a learned woman proficient in seven languages. She also translated the Bible into her mother tongue - Marathi - from the original Hebrew and Greek which is why she was offered the titles, “Saraswati” and “Pandita”; both reflecting her scholarly nature.

Moreover, in 1919, the King of England conferred on her the “Kaiser-i-Hind award”, one of the highest awards an Indian could receive during the period of the British Raj.

The government of India issued a 60p stamp on the centenary of Sharada Sadan. Designed at India Security Press, the stamp depicts her portrait with the original building of Sharada Sadan in the background.

For more information on the stamp click here.