Pandita ramabai, the mukti revival and global pentecostalism. Christian institute for study of religion and society, bangalore. Pandita ramabai was born to a brahmin family in maharashtra in 1859. Ramabai acknowledges across her text that the us has a history of. See all books authored by pandita ramabai, including primary sources, historical collections. Pandita ramabai sarasvati 23 april 1858 5 april 1922 was an indian social reformer. She was a poet, a scholar, and a champion of improvement in the plight of indian women. Pandita ramabai also translated the holy bible into her native tongue of marathi. Ramabai dongre dongre was her family name, medhavi her married name was born into a highcaste hindu family. Thus by age 32, pandita ramabai had circumnavigated the globe, raised metropolitan funding for a feminist social reform in her native land, converted to a new religion but only on her own terms, and written two insightful pieces of social analysis.
Pandita ramabai was a truly remarkable woman who pioneered womens education and rebelliously championed for womens rights and empowerment. Pandita ramabai simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Synopsis in this classic study of pandita ramabais life, uma chakravarti brings to light one of the foremost thinkers of nineteenthcentury india and one of its earliest feminists. Book ruchira chapter5 pandita ramabai series easy explanation. In my travel writers class, were looking at pandita ramabais book on america, which has been recently translated by meera kosambi as pandita ramabais american encounter 2003. The work of pandita ramabai one revival in particular deserves special treatment because it took place in india, and because it preceded the azusa street revival. A poet and scholar, she tried hard to improve make better the lives of women in india. She combined ideas she had learned from the sisters and friends of different ethnicity and race at wantage.
Pandita ramabai whn march 11, 2011 on 11 march 1889 the indian activist known as pandita ramabai opened her sharada sadan or home for learning in chowpatty, an area of mumbai which was then, under the. The book was entitled the peoples of the united states and has since been republished in english as pandita ramabais american encounter. Ramabai went to america and started to educate the people of the west about the appalling conditions of women in india. Born into a brahmin family and widowed while still young, she.
In the 1880s, pandita ramabai traveled from india to england and then to the u. Ramabai sarasvati, pandita, 18581922, women india publisher london. Her unique life trajectory spanned across a panindian, orthodox hindu mould to being part of brahmo samaj and prarthana samaj, and further to. Pandita ramabai project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Pandita ramabai saraswati was a scholar, feminist and educator, who broke barriers and expectations as a woman living in the 19thcentury india. Oxford university press, 2000, as well as pandita ramabais the peoples of the united states 1889 forthcoming from indiana. The life and times of pandita ramabai uma chakravarti on. In this age of globalization, readers should value ramabais crosscultural perspective on american life and learn how a society can progress positively. Page 11 but god hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. A scholar and an eloquent speaker, ramabai was no stranger to controversy.
Pandita ramabai books list of books by author pandita ramabai. Pandita ramabai was the most controversial indian woman of her times. Her latest book is pandita ramabai through her own words delhi. Pandita ramabai was a remarkable woman who pioneered womens. The original book was written in marathi in 1889, and published as united stateschi lokasthiti ani pravasavritta, which translates to the peoples of the united states. This title introduces one of the foremost thinkers of nineteenthcentury india. She is probably the first literate woman in recent indian history. Pandita ramabai author of the high caste hindu woman. Following an orthodox hindu childhood steeped in sanskrit, she eventually converted to christianity during a stay in england and later became deeply involved in a feminist campaign in the us to raise funds for residential schools for widows in india. Pandita ramabai was born into the higher caste of hindu. Oxford university press, 2000, as well as pandita ramabai s the peoples of the united states 1889 forthcoming from indiana. By the time she was twenty, she could recite 18,000 verses of the puranas, a hindu holy book. Pandita ramabai also traveled in the united states in the 1890s, and wrote a book about it, recently published in translation as pandita ramabai s american encounter.
A simple wooden cross hidden in scrubby farmland near a railway line now marks the grave of pandita ramabai. Discover book depositorys huge selection of pandita ramabai books online. The life and times of pandita ramabai zubaan, 2014. Pandita ramabai 23 april 1858, maharashtra 5 april 1922 was an eminent indian christian social reformer and activist. Pandita ramabai 23 april 1858, karnataka 5 april 1922 was an indian christian who tried to change many things in india. Pandita ramabai whn march 11, 2011 on 11 march 1889 the indian activist known as pandita ramabai opened her sharada sadan or home for learning in chowpatty, an area of mumbai which was then, under the british raj, known as bombay. The high caste hindu woman by pandita ramabai sarasvati. Pandita ramabai was one of indias earliest feminists. Revell company, 1900 christian converts from hinduism 170 pages. She was one of the 10 women delegates of the congress session of 1889. A highcaste hindu widow, ramabai converted to christianity, an act that was seen as not only a betrayal of her religion but of her very nation.
A highcaste hindu widow, ramabai converted to christianity, an act that was seen as not only a betrayal of her. Presenting a profile of this woman, pandita ramabai through her own words will be valuable for scholars, teachers and students of womens studies, history, sociology, and religious studies, both as primary source material and for its analysis. She became a christian and built a mission to rescue brahmin widows. This work outlines the reconstruction of patriarchies in 19thcentury maharashtra through an exploration of the life, work and times of pambita ramabai, one of indias earliest feminists. Nov 14, 2018 pandita ramabai was the most controversial indian woman of her times, prof.
Mukti mission us provides avenues for our partners to bring hope, healing, and life for indian women and children. They formed the ramabai association and they committed to help her begin a school for young women in india. Pandita ramabai was a woman of brahman background from pune in maharashtra. Pandita ramabai and the high caste hindu woman first, lets look at a little background about the author and book. Her unique life trajectory spanned across a panindian, orthodox hindu mould to being part of brahmo samaj and prarthana samaj, and further to christianity. Nov 23, 2014 pandita ramabai 23 april 1858 5 april 1922 was an indian social reformer, a champion for the emancipation of women, and a pioneer in education. Appears in 584 books from 16112008 page 95 behold, i am the lord, the god of all flesh. Pandita sarasvati ramabai 18581922, that most famous indian woman, christian, reformer, bible translator and social activist, and in particular the revival. She wrote many books, such as her popular the highcaste indian woman, which showed the troubles of child wives and women in india conversion.
It examines the manner in which the colonial states new institutional structures, caste contestations, class formation and nationalism transformed and. Rewriting history the life and times of pandita ramabai. Jan 20, 2020 pandita ramabai saraswati was a scholar, feminist and educator, who broke barriers and expectations as a woman living in the 19thcentury india. Ramabai, dongre medhavi pandita ramabai sarasvati 18581922 indian christian social reformer, educator and bible translator. This book looks at the life of pandita ramabai, one of the major social reformers of 19thcentury india. To raise funds for the same purpose, she also wrote the book the high caste. Pandita ramabai sarasvati m rare book society of india. An index would have made the book of greater value as a reference resource. In this classic study of pandita ramabai s life, uma chakravarti brings to light one of the foremost thinkers of nineteenthcentury india and one of its earliest feminists. She was the first woman to be accorded the titles of pandita as a sanskrit scholar and sarasvati after being examined by the faculty of the university of calcutta. About the book in this classic study of pandita ranabais life, uma chakravarti brings to light one of the foremost thinkers of nineteenthcentury india and one of its earliest feminists. The book is a travelers account of the people and culture of the united states.
Pandita ramabai 18581922 is a key figure in the social reform movement underway in western india. At the age of 29, pandita ramabai wrote the book the high caste hindu woman where she denounced patriarchy and the treatment meted out to widows by society. The peoples of the united states 1889, and more on. Pandita ramabai 23 april 1858 5 april 1922 was an indian social reformer, a champion for the emancipation of women, and a pioneer in education. Ramabais critique of brahmanical patriarchy and her decisive break with its oppressive structure through her conversion to christianity were too much for those riding the high tide of history and for whom nationalism was synonymous with hinduism. A highcaste hindu widow, ramabai converted to christianity, an act that was seen not only as a betrayal of her religion but of her very nation. In this classic study of pandita ramabais life, uma chakravarti brings to light one of the foremost thinkers of nineteenthcentury india and one of its earliest feminists. Marathi, bengali, hindustani, kanarese, and english, clearly demonstrating that women are fully capable of learning.
Pandita ramabai bible translation wycliffe bible translators. Pandita ramabai faced considerable opposition from many indian reformers and the press for they perceived that she was influencing her students to christianity. Pandita ramabai simple english wikipedia, the free. Pandita ramabai also traveled in the united states in the 1890s, and wrote a book about it, recently published in translation as pandita ramabais american encounter. Ramabai became at best an embarrassment and at worst a betrayer. Pandita ramabai 18581922 has not only been acknowledged as an eminent social reformer and a scholar but also perhaps as one of the first feminists in the modern indian history who struggled for the emancipation of indian women. Pioneer in the movement for the education of the childwidow of india. Born into a brahmin family and widowed while still young, she converted to christianity while in england. When ramabai was eight years old, her mother began teaching her sanskrit. Pandita ramabai books list of books by author pandita. Her critique of brahminical patriarchy was in sharp contrast to annie besant, who championed the cause of hindu society. Pandita ramabai reclaimed rejects 18011900 church history.
Pandita ramabai was born in india in 1858 into a marathi speaking family, belonging to the priestly brahmin caste. Pandita ramabai sarasvati 23 april 1858 5 april 1922 was an indian social reformer, a pioneer in the education and emancipation of women in india. The peoples of the united states 1889, still in print. Panditaramabai sarasvati pioneerinthemovementfortheeduca tionofthechildwidowofindia by clementinabutler chairmanexecutivecommitteeamerican ramabaiassociation.
Pandita ramabai 23 april 1858 5 april 1922 was an indian social reformer, a champion for the emancipation of women, and a pioneer in. This book looks at the life of pandita ramabai, one of the major social reformers. Her story in her own words intl christian womens hall of fame series book 3 by. Joshi, the highcaste hindu womanto be specific a brahmin woman which showed the darkest aspects of the life of. Wycliffe, luther, tyndale, townsend all feature prominently on these pages and rightly so. Yet this petite and remarkable indian woman, of hindu descent, was one of the greatest social reformers of her time. In my travel writers class, were looking at pandita ramabai s book on america, which has been recently translated by meera kosambi as pandita ramabai s american encounter 2003. Restoring hope to women and children gripped by the hopelessness of poverty, rejection, and abandonment, renewing shattered lives by healing past scars and rebuilding life by shaping and empowering their futures. Ramabai saw caste as a great flaw in hindu society.
Pandita ramabai was the most controversial indian woman of her times, prof. Honored with the title of saraswati in calcutta in 1879, she soon alienated the men who had initially supported her. Pandita ramabai 23 april 1858 5 april 1922 was an indian social. Download pdf pandita ramabai life and landmark writings. Ramabai, dongre medhavi pandita ramabai sarasvati 1858.