Also see Pandita Ramabai - A great woman liberated through Christ

A few words about Pandita Ramabai (1858 - 1922)

Born in Karnataka Pandita Ramabai a social reformer and a champion for the emancipation of women. Dongare was her surname prior to marriage. As a Sanskrit Scholar she acquired a great reputation. She translated the Bible into Marathi, which was her mother tongue. Sanskrit scholars at Calcutta University who were deeply impressed with her knowledge and ability conferred on her the titles of 'Saraswati' and 'Pandita'. She was baptized in England. She was determined that becoming a Christian should not be interpreted as a denial of her Indian culture and roots. In 1882, for the cause of women's education Ramabai established the Arya Mahila Samaj. This led to her founding Sharada Sadan in 1889, this school bloomed into the umbrella organization which came to be known as PANDITA RAMABAI MUKTI MISSION. She died on April 5^th 1922.

Views of Sadhu Sundar Singh on women

Sadhu Sundar Singh was asked about the position of women. He spoke of the great and good work which women have accomplished in the past in the world, going on to speak of many women of today through whom the world has greatly benefited in every aspect of life, especially the religious. Then he added significantly, "Spirit has no gender".

He often speaks of his mother and of what he owes to her. "My mother's lap was the best university in the world for me".

Someone asked him whether he thought it would be advisable to have Hindu women who have come to believe in Christ as their Saviour, baptised in the seclusion of their own homes. He said he did not believe in baptising secretly; there was no meaning in accepting Christ unless He were publicly confessed. The persecution and suffering which that entails, whether for a man or a woman, is the very best thing for the testing and strengthening of the new believer's faith and love towards the Lord.

The Sadhu constantly stressed the importance of confessing our Lord before men and bearing testimony to Him; while at the same time recognizing the great difficulties which women in especial must face in India in order to confess Christ, because of social conditions and social customs, referring in this connection to some of his own relatives.

The Sadhu has a sister. He tells her sometimes, "You are my sister after the flesh but do you know that I have many sisters in the world who are real sisters of mine and we shall dwell together in Heaven? In this spiritual sense you have not become my sister yet."