Pandita Ramabai

Pandita Ramabai (23 April 1858 – 5 April 1922) was a social reformer and activist in India. She was born as Brahmin Hindu and being well learned in the languages and Hindu texts was conferred the title "Pandita' by the distinguished educators of Calcutta University in 1878. However she became disillusioned later, by the deception practiced by priests, superstition and plight of women depicted in the Hindu texts. It was at this point in time that Ramabai resolved to spend her life attempting to better the status of women in India. She later converted to Christianity, and served widows and helpless women of India.She started Arya Mahila Samaj,which is Sanskrit for "Noble Women's Society.

In 1889, Ramabai established the Mukti Mission in Pune, as a refuge and a Gospel witness for young widows deserted and abused by their families; she also established Krupa Sadan, a home for for "fallen” women, who had been cast out of society due to their moral failures. Ramabai also started SHARDA SADAN, which also provided housing, education, vocational training and medical services for many needy groups including widows, orphans and the blind. In Sanskrit and most Indian languages MUKTI means liberation.In her spotless widow's white, Ramabai most often arose before 4:00 A.M. and worked until half past eight at night. By 1900 there were 1,500 residents and over a hundred cattle in the Mukti mission and she was also involved in establishing a Church at Mukti. The Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission is still active today, providing housing, education, vocational training, and medical services, for many needy groups including widows, orphans, and the blind."Pandit" and "Saraswati" at Bengal (before going to Britain), recognising her skills in Sanskrit. Kaisar-i-Hind medal for community service in 1919, awarded by the British Government. She is honored with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA) on April 5.

Dhondo Keshav Karve

Dr. Dhondo Keshav Karve  (18 April 1858 - 9 November 1962), popularly known as Maharishi Karve, was a social reformer in India in the field of women's welfare. In honour of Karve, Queen's Road in Mumbai (Bombay) was renamed to Maharishi Karve Road
Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule are known as pioneers in promoting women's education. Inspired by Mahatma Phule's movement, Mr Karve decided to continue the work of promoting women's education in India. The Government of India awarded Dhondo Keshav Karve its highest civilian award,Bharat Ratna, in 1958, the year he turned 100 years old.
The appellation Maharshi, which the Indian public often assigned to Karve, means ”a great sage”. He was also sometimes affectionately called "Annā Karve"; in the Marāthi-speaking community to which Karve belonged, the appellation "Annā" is often used to address either one's father or an elder brother.

Wahabi movement

The Wahabi movement offered the most serious and well-planned challenge to British supremacy in India from 1830's to 1860's. Syed Ahmad of Rae Bareli, the leader of this movement in India was influenced by the teaching of Abdul Wahab of Arbia, but even more by the preaching of the Delhi saint Shah Waliullah. Syed Ahmed condemned all accretions to and innovations in Islam and advocated a return to the pure Islam and society of Arabia of the Prophet's times. The Wahabi movement was basically a revivalist movement.

 

For the achievement of the desired objectives, Syed Ahmad looked for (i) the right leader, (ii) a proper organisation and (iii) a safe territory wherefrom to launch his Jihad. Syed Ahmad was acclaimed as the desired leader, a country­wide organisation with an elaborate secret code for its working under four spiritual vice regents was set on foot and Sithana in the North-Westem tribal belt was at Patna though it had its missions in Hyderabad, Madras, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bombay.

Since Dar-ul-Harb was to be converted into Dar-ul-Islam & Jihad was declared against the Sikh kingdom of the Punjab. Peshawar was captured in 1830, but lost to the Sikhs the following year with Syed Ahmad losing his life in action.

After the overthrow of the Sikh ruler and incorporation of the Punjab into the East India Company's dominion in 1849 the sole target of the Wahabi's attack became the English dominion in India.

During the Revolt of 1857 the Wahabi's played a notable role in spreading anti- British sentiments, but their exact participation in anti-British military activities has not been identified so far.

The British rulers of India viewed the potential danger of the Wahabi's base of operations from Sithana in the background of a possible war between Great Britain getting involved in a war with Afghanistan or Russia. In the 1860's the Government launched a multi-pronged attack by organising a series of military operations on the Wahabi base of operations in Sithana while in India a number of court cases for sedition were registered against Wahabi's.

The movement lost its vitality though the Wahabi fanatics continued to help the frontier hill tribes in their encounters with the English in the 1880's and 1890's. The Wahabi movement was a movement of the Muslims, by the Muslims and for the Muslims and aimed at the establishment of Dar-ul-Islam in India. At no stage did it assume the character of a nationalist movement. Rather it left behind a legacy of isolationist and separatist tendencies among the Indian Muslims.