Avanti Bai Ralegaonkar

19th-century Indian reformer who pioneered women's education and social justice in rural Maharashtra.

Avanti Bai Ralegaonkar (1848–1905) was a Maratha noblewoman and social reformer in Maharashtra, India. Breaking from traditional gender roles, she established one of India's first girls' schools in 1874, challenging the taboo against female education. She also founded the Pratapgad School for boys, emphasizing merit-based admissions over caste. Her advocacy for widow remarriage and property rights for women made her a precursor to the Indian women's rights movement. She collaborated with leaders like Jyotirao Phule to abolish untouchability and promote inter-caste marriages. Despite her efforts, her contributions were marginalized in mainstream narratives. Modern scholars like Sahapedia highlight her role in early feminist movements. Her legacy is documented in books like "Avanti Bai: Trailblazer of Women's Education". Her initiatives laid groundwork for later activists like Savitribai Phule, and her estate in Ralegaonkar village remains a historical site celebrating her work.