Ramabai Dongre

A pioneering Indian social reformer who championed women's education and challenged caste discrimination in the 19th century.

Ramabai Dongre (1858–1900) was a visionary social reformer from Maharashtra, India, renowned for her relentless advocacy of women's rights and education. Born into a Brahmin family, she defied societal norms by becoming one of the first women to receive a formal education in a male-dominated society. Her work laid the foundation for modern Indian feminism and social justice movements.

At age 12, Ramabai lost her mother to starvation during a famine, an experience that ignited her passion for social reform. She married Lakshmanrao Dongre at 14 but remained committed to her studies. After her husband's death, she traveled across India, witnessing the plight of women and lower-caste communities. These experiences led her to establish the Arya Mahila Samaj in 1873, India's first organization dedicated to women's empowerment.

Her most notable achievement was founding the Shri Ramabai Mahila Vidyalaya in Mumbai in 1883, one of India's first girls' schools. She also authored Stri Dharma Paddhati, challenging patriarchal interpretations of Hindu scriptures. Ramabai's collaboration with missionaries allowed her to expand her work internationally, establishing the Mukti Mission in Pune to rescue and educate widowed girls.

Her legacy persists through institutions like the Ramabai Rehabilitation Centre, which continues her mission of educating marginalized girls. Ramabai's life exemplifies how education and activism can dismantle systemic oppression, making her a pivotal figure in India's social reform movement.