Kumari Tikka Bai

Visionary Indian educator who established over 50 girls' schools in Rajputana (modern Rajasthan)

Kumari Tikka Bai (1865–1935) was a Rajput princess and social reformer who became one of India's most influential female educators during the British Raj. Born into the royal family of Kishangarh, she leveraged her position to challenge caste and gender norms through education initiatives.

In 1889, Bai founded the Laxmi Bai Girls' School in Jaipur, which evolved into a network of over 50 schools across Rajputana by 1900. These institutions emphasized vocational training alongside academics, teaching skills like handicrafts and home economics to prepare girls for economic independence. Her schools also introduced physical education - a radical concept in conservative communities.

Bai collaborated with British educator Annie Besant and Indian reformer Pandita Ramabai to develop progressive curricula. She pioneered the use of local languages in education instead of requiring students to learn English first, making education more accessible. Her 1903 report Education for Indian Women remains a foundational text in South Asian educational history.

Despite facing backlash from orthodox leaders, she established teacher training colleges and women's health clinics. The Tikka Bai Memorial Trust continues her work today through rural education programs. Her legacy is celebrated in Rajasthan's educational museums, including the Women's Education Heritage Centre in Jaipur.