I was moved this week by the biography of Pandita Mary Ramabai, commemorated in the Church of England calendar this past Tuesday (30 April). Pandita Ramabai was an Indian social reformer who was born into a high-caste (Brahmin) Hindu family in 1858. She was taught to read by her father who was a Sanskrit scholar, in stark contrast to the prevailing customs of her time. After she was orphaned at the age of 16, she continued in her father’s footsteps and travelled around the country reciting Sanskrit scriptures. Her reputation for learning was such that, having been examined at the University of Calcutta, she was given the novel title of ‘Pandita’ which means ‘mistress of learning’. She married a Bengali man of a lower caste, which was controversial at the time. Her husband died two years later, leaving her a widow with a young child. This experience gave her an insight into the suffering of Hindu women and widows less privileged than herself.
Ramabai became a significant social reformer, opening welfare centres and campaigning for better quality women’s education and healthcare throughout India. She travelled to Britain in 1883 to pursue a career in medicine and although she could not continue with this, she converted to Christianity during her time there. From the very beginning she sought to express her faith in an authentically Indian way. On her return to India she continued her work with widows, lower-caste women, unmarried women and orphans. She also continued her work as a scholar, lecturing widely on social issues and translating the Bible into Marathi.
Pandita Ramabai’s story is compelling, but also resonates with me on a personal level. Perhaps this is because I’m preparing for my wedding next Saturday – approaching this milestone has caused me to look back on my history and heritage as I prepare for a new chapter. My mother grew up in Sri Lanka – she had the opportunity to go to medical school and to work as a doctor before arriving in the UK. I was also fortunate enough to train and work as a doctor before training for ordination. The work of Pandita Ramabai and others like her has opened countless possibilities for myself and my female relatives which were not possible in Ramabai’s own time. Her life reminds me that the saints not only provide examples of Christian witness for us to follow – they are our ancestors in faith, people whose lives have bestowed blessings on ours.
Revd Angela Sheard
