Biography of Ramabai Ranade

(January 1862 - April 1924)

Ramabai Ranade was the wife of Govind Ranade. She became a great feminist under the guidance of her husband. She was born in January 1862 in a Brahmin family at Satara. She was very intelligent but she could not study as in those times girls were not supposed to read or write. She was married to Govind Ranade when she was only eleven.

Ramabai founded a 'Seva Sadan' for women where women were provided with studying facilities. Low caste women were encouraged to take up study. Through this institution, Ramabai tried to spread the message of social equality amidst different communities. She was always ready to help needy women. She whole-heartedly supported girl's education. She advocated that every girl has the right to study.

She was a successful writer. She has written her autobiography in a very simple and lucid style. She is considered one on the most prolific writers in the Marathi literature. Her reminiscences and recollections in Marathi are considered to be classics. She died in 1924.