Ramabai Ranade1862-1924

The Late Smt. Ramabai Ranade, whose birth centenary was celebrated in India on January 25, 1962, was born in January 1862 in a small village in Satara District near Pune. Despite the taboo on girls’ education during those times, she was married at the age of 11 to Shri Madhav Govind Ranade, a pioneer in the social reform movement. He played a crucial role in educating her, enabling her to become an ideal wife and a valuable partner in social and educational reform work.

Ramabai began her public life in the 1870s, but it was after her husband’s death in 1901 that she fully committed herself to the cause of women in India. She undertook various philanthropic activities, including visiting prisons and lunatic asylums, organising relief for famine-stricken areas, and providing assistance to women pilgrims. Her philanthropic efforts extended to hospitals, where she distributed fruits, flowers, and books to patients, offering them comfort and sympathy.

In 1904, leaders of social reform approached Smt. Ranade for her cooperation in organising the All India Women Conference, which she supported and led. She also played a key role in the establishment of the Seva Sadan, a society aimed at providing education and training to Indian women. Under her guidance, the Poona Seva Sadan expanded its educational departments, including a Women’s Training College and hostels for medical students and probationer nurses.

Smt. Ranade’s contributions extended to advocating for compulsory pre-primary education for girls and organising the women’s suffrage movement in Bombay Presidency in 1921-22. Mahatma Gandhi praised her as the embodiment of all that a Hindu widow could be, highlighting her dedication to continuing her husband’s work and her instrumental role in the growth of the Seva Sadan.

In commemoration of her birth centenary, the Post and Telegraph Department felt privileged to pay tribute to Smt. Ramabai Ranade by issuing a special postage stamp in her honor.