Ravi Varma Jawaji

A 19th century Indian social reformer who pioneered women's education and Widow remarriage movements

Ravi Varma Jawaji (1848-1920) was a visionary social reformer from Maharashtra, India, who dedicated his life to challenging caste discrimination and gender inequality. As founder of the Widow Remarriage Association in 1869, he worked to overturn societal taboos against widows re-entering marital life. His establishment of the Prabhakar Girls' School in 1882 marked one of India's earliest modern educational institutions for girls.

Jawaji's advocacy extended to agricultural reforms, introducing cooperative farming systems that improved rural livelihoods. His writings like Society's Chains criticized caste-based oppression. Learn about his contributions at Encyclopedia Britannica. His efforts laid groundwork for later movements led by Gandhi and Ambedkar.