In appreciation of the work of Pandita Ramabai for the advancement of Indian women, the government of India approved the issuance of a commemorative stamp of Pandita Ramabai in 1989.

The following is taken from the official brochure for the stamp from the Department of Post, India.

Pandita Ramabai, the youngest daughter of Anant Shastri, was a social reformer, a champion for the emancipation of women, a pioneer in education. Left totally alone by the time she was 23, Ramabai acquired a great reputation as a Sanskrit scholar.

Deeply impressed by her prowess, the Sanskrit scholars of Calcutta University conferred on her the titles of "Sarawati" and "Pandita". She rebelled against the caste system and married a shudra advocate, but was widowed at 23, having a baby girl In 1882, she established the Arya Mahila Samaj for the cause of women's education in Pune and different parts of Western India. This led to the formation of the Sharada Sadan in 1889 - which school completes a hundred years this year - a school which blossomed into an umbrella organization called Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission, 40 miles outside Pune.

In 1896, during a sever famine Ramabai toured the villages of Maharashtra with a caravan of bullock carts and rescued thousands of outcast children, child widows, orphans, and other destitute women and brought them to the shelter of Mukti and Sharada Sadan. A learned woman knowing seven languages, she also translated the Bible into her mother tongue - Marathi - from the original Hebrew and Greek. Her work continues today, a memorial to her life and path.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Back to reference How do we enter into the relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ about which Pandita Ramabai has told us? We need to understand that God truly loves us, and desires that everyone come to know Him, the only true and holy God. But man is prevented from knowing God because of sin.

The Bible says that everyone has sinned, and that there is no one who is perfectly holy. God, however, requires holy and sinless people. Because of man's sin and God's holiness and love for us, Jesus Christ came to earth to die for our sins. Romans 5:8 says that because of our sin and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, that Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Jesus also said,"...I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

You can receive Jesus Christ as your Savior by faith. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." A way of expressing your faith is by praying a prayer such as the following:

"Lord Jesus, I need you. I know that I have done wrong in your sight. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I now place my faith and trust in you as my Savior and Lord for the forgiveness of my sins. Thank you for forgiving my sins and for giving me eternal life. Take control of me, and make me what you want me to be. Amen."

You can pray that prayer right now to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord.

If you did pray that prayer and want more information, ask the one who gave you this booklet, or write:

Ramabai Mukti Mission
P.O. Box 4912
Clinton, NJ 08809