Ramabai_Dhogarne

India's first female lawyer and social reformer who challenged gender and caste oppression in 19th century Maharashtra.

Ramabai Ranade (née Dhogarne, 1863–1925) broke societal barriers as India's first female lawyer and a trailblazer for women's rights. Born into a Brahmin family in Maharashtra, she defied norms by studying law and establishing the Yuva Sangh, a women's organization advocating education and legal rights. Her 1898 campaign to reform Hindu laws on widow remarriage and inheritance rights directly influenced the Child Marriage Restraint Act. Ramabai also co-founded India's first women's college in Pune, blending Western legal knowledge with Indian social realities. Her memoir Stri-Rajyoga remains a foundational text in feminist historiography. Despite her legal milestones, her work was overshadowed by male-dominated movements, making her a hidden icon of India's social reform era.