The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-09-30
PUNDITA RAMABAI.


Puadisa Ramahai, the higts-caste
Hinioo widow, whose lectures have
attracted so much attention in Eng
land and America. Is expected TO
speak In Seattle. Tuesday. octobSr ?
she lectures in the interests Of her
own counfrywomen. for whose edu-
cation she is endeavoring TO establish
schools in Hindostan. II is greatly
desired that the people OF Seattle viii
respond generously 10 the call for help,
especially as her plans are thoroughly
practical
The father of Ramabai was q Mara
thi priest. In his youth, hearing his
preeeptor giving lessons in Sanskrit to
q princess. he determined to teach his
own wife. The bride had no desire to
be educated, and the elders of the
family demurred, so that the husband
was compelled to desist. After few
years the wife died, and he accepted
in marriage. Lakshmibai, nine years
of age. He again resolved on the ed
ucation of his wife. She was very
bright and glad TO learn, but his
! strange course excited so much COM
ment that he left his home and took
up his abode in a jungle Of the West
ern Ghauts. Here. in 1855. Rsinabai,
was born. She lived in entire seelu-
sion. but was taught. chiefly by her
mother. to repeat 20, GOO verses from
the poets and savings from the philoso-
pliers Her father became greatly in
vclyed in debt and half of his prop
erty was sold 10 discharge the debts,
and, the family. homsiess. set out on
pilgrimages. During those seven
, years OF wandering. the early lessons
were continued, and Rsmabai, deyel-
oping rare talent, became, under the
instruction of father and mother, a
prodigy OF erudition.
When is years of age her parents
died. After their death Ranlabai con-
tinued to travel With her brother. and,
as pilgrims, they were often in want
and distress When they reached Cali
eutta the young Sanskrit scholar and
I lecturer created sensation by her adj
vanced views and her scholarship. Che
was summoned before the pandits of
the city, and the distinguished title OF
+. Sarasvati was conferred upon her. In
/ Calcutta Ramabai married a Bengal
gentleman, a graduate OF the Calcutta
university, but after 10 happy months
he died. The widow, Ranlabai. with
her infant daughter. was now alone in
the world. She realized that she
needed personal training to enable her
II prosecute with sucGe q her eduea-
tional work among the women OF India.
She had also become conscious OF God 5
guidance, and her soul sought after
I 4 II l.. t.,.~ -
TO go TO England. and there she emf
braced the Christian religion.
Ramabai spent a year at Vantage.
England. in the study of the English
| language. which hitherto had been
unknow to her, and became professor
of Sanskrit in the ladies' college at
4 Cheltenham. She came 10 America
in February, iss6, and has become SO
much interested in the public eiuca-
tional system of America that her
stay has been prolonged in the hope
that she may introduce into India our
American methods.
Pundita sRamabai, the high-caste
: Brahmin woman, educated. refined.
rejoicing in the liberty of the gospel,
yet, by preference, retaining Hindoo's
care a. regards vegetable diet and
| the pecaliarities OF the dress OF a
Hindu widow. has solelnnly conse-
Grated herself TO the work of emanci-
pating the women of India. she
/ wishes to establish a school for the
education of Hindoo women, which
shalt be entirely undenominaiional
and Christian BY its influences and the
character and work OF its teachers
! ltamsbai Is not seek personal remun-
Grafton in appearing as a lecturer in
America.
4 public reception was rendered her
in California where she spoke before
the National Teachers Association,
and elsewhere. She received perfect
ovation in Portland. and her stay
there was prolonged quite beyond the
anticipations Of her friends In
Seat le the w. c. +. q. are interesting
themselves in the work OF the gifted
Indian lady, but are doing so not from
any pecuniary concern. desiring only
to assist her in her worthy and
wonanly undertaking.