This is a story of Dr. Rakhmabai Raut. I read about her almost 10 yrs back in Marathi daily Loksatta and since then Dr Rakhmabai has made an impression in my mind. Today I thought of sharing this inspirational story on this blog.
As a matter of general knowledge Dr Rakhmabai Raut was the first Indian woman doctor who practiced medicine. (First Indian woman doctor was Dr Anandibai Joshi. But due to her untimely death she could never practice.) However the legacy of Dr Rakhmabai goes much beyond that. As one of the earliest voice against child marriage, as a proponent of woman emancipation and as a woman who repudiated her own child marriage she created a revolution in itself.
Born in 1864 Rakhmabai lost her father in early childhood. Her mother remarried as was allowed in their cast to a widower Dr Sakharam Arjun Raut, a medical practitioner and professor in Grant College, Mumbai. Owing to the pressure from her father and other elder family members Rakhmabai’s mother married off Rakhmabai at eleven years of age. But at the instance of the Dr Sakharam, it was decided that Rakhmabai would continue to live in her maternal home till she comes of age and her husband, Dadaji Bhikaji Thakur becomes capable of earning a living.
Dr Sakharam Arjun, a reformer himself nurtured his step daughter in a liberal atmosphere, giving her room to grow and develop into an independent thinking individual. Rakhmabai acquired education and grew up as liberal thinking, self confident woman who refused to lead her life based on unjust traditions and customs. Her husband Dadaji Thakur however slid into an indolent and irresponsible life. He could neither educate himself nor could secure an assuring source of income. Possibly because of this, initially Dadaji did not insist that Rakhmabai should join him in his household. Rakhmabai continued her education and her intellectual development. However as the years passed on Dadaji started pressurising Rakhmabai to join his household and attend to wifely duties. However by that time it became clear that Rakhmabai and Dadaji were incompatible in economic, social and cultural terms. Armed with confidence and courage that liberal nurturing and education had given her, Rakhmabai made a defying decision- she decided not to join Dadaji as his wife and sought the termination of marriage.
To intensify his pressure Dadaji moved to Bombay High Court in March 1884, for restitution of his marital rights. He alleged Rakhmabai’s mother and grandfather of having interest in the Rakhmabai’s property which she had inherited from her stepfather, because of which they persuaded Rakhmabai not to join him. Rakhmabai decided to defend herself in the court. She courageously refuted the charges and held that Dadaji’s waywardness was solely responsible of her decision of not joining him. She was not challenging the point that husband’s house should necessarily be the residence of a wife, but refused to join her husband because of the absence of her consent for the marriage. She argued that since the marriage had taken place in her childhood and without her consent she should be allowed to walk out from it. In today’s India we may not find this remarkable, but Rakhmabai argued this almost 127 years ago, it required an immense courage. And her courage shattered the orthodox and patriarch Indian society of the time.
Rakhmabai’s stand came under all out attack by orthodox Hindu leaders. It was considered as a breach of religious sanctity and an insult of the Indian culture. In fact she was criticised ferociously even by Lokmanya Tilak, who argued that support to Rakhmbai’s stand would wreck the discipline of Hindu marriage under which wives are supposed to pull on with their husbands even under cruel treatment. However first judgment of High Court went in favour of Rakhmabai with court observing that marriage is not maintainable in the absence of consent. This caused tremendous uproar as traditionalists viewing the judgment as an attempt by British to fiddle with Indian culture. Orthodox Hindu leaders encouraged Dadaji to go for an appeal. His appeal was upheld on the ground that British laws were not applicable to Hindu marriage. Court ordered Rakhmabai to join Dadaji as a wife or face an imprisonment for 6 months. Showing an outstanding courage Rakhmabai declared that she would accept imprisonment rather than accepting a forced marriage. She also wrote a letter in Times of India, under the name ‘A Hindu Lady’ criticizing the custom of child marriage and describing its ill effects on the physical and mental health of girls.
Impressed by her reformist and just stand Rakhmabai was supported by various social reformers notably Justice Ranade, Kamaruddin Tayabaji, and Carnelia Sorabji. Rakhmabai’s courage of accepting imprisonment generated widespread support for her and even some orthodox Hindu leaders appreciated her stand. Finally at the instance of both pro-reform and anti-reform leaders an out of court settlement was reached between Dadaji and Rakhmabai, with Rakhmabai paying a fine of Rs.2000/- a hefty sum in year 1888, to Dadaji in return of her freedom. However Rakhmabai never married again.
She went on to study medicine in Scotland. After returning to India she did serve in Madam Kama Hospital, Mumbai for some time and then moved to Princely Sate of Baroda. Wherever she served as a doctor her work was highly appreciated. During the plague epidemic at Surat she led from the front and for her dedicated service she was conferred upon a prestigious award by the then British Government. Dr. Rakhmabai breathed her last in 1955.
Hers was the struggle against patriarchy. Against the male establishment which had thus far taken women for granted. The courage, with which Dr Rakhmabai defied the customs, defended her right of consent and decided to go to jail, unnerved the orthodox anti- reformists. Rakhmabai’s case brought to the fore the issue of women’s consent in the marriage. The awareness that Rakhmabai’s struggle created ultimately led to the passing of Age of Consent bill. Remember she showed this remarkable defiance in 1884. During those days this case was on the front pages of news papers in England and USA as well. Because a woman demanding annulment of marriage for it was against her consent was something unheard of even in western world. The fight against patriarchy to earn the most basic right...the right to choose is a legacy of Dr Rakhmabai’s courageous struggle
130 yrs down the line we have totally forgotten her. Unfortunately our problems have almost remained the same. Child marriages remain a reality in most of the rural India. And even in urban areas it is hard to say that all women are really free to choose for themselves or their consent is considered in matters of marriage. Though things have tremendously improved over a century Indian society still remains notoriously patriarch and there remains indifference among many educated women as well, about their status or their right of making own choices in life. In fact the male dominant society continues to see women as everything else except human beings. The memories of struggles of Dr Rakhmabai will definitely enlighten our path towards still unaccomplished dream of fair and just society for women.
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A inspiring story indeed!!
ReplyDeletebravo! I salute Dr Rakhmabai - definitely she is inspirational even for todays Indian women.
ReplyDeleteI was also happy to learn that she was also ahead of the western world to think like that.
Dr. Anandibai Joshi did not complete her internship which was confirmed by her husband in a letter. It is doubtful whether she passed the exams. There is no such certificate or photograph of convocation. Her letter has been taken as proof that she has passed.
ReplyDeleteIt is well known that she was tremendously ill and was not in a position to write. Most of her letters were written by her husband in her name. Her husband Gopal Joshi was very shrewd and cunning. He has purposely mentioned Pandita Ramabai and his name to be present when the results were declared. It is surprising that if it was not a convocation why Pandita Ramabai was present and the lady her aunty with whom she stayed and who looked after her like mother was not present. Her husband forced her to accept the offer from Hospital in Kolhapur in spite of getting certificate and license to practice. As such she was psychologically very depressed besides her severe tuberculosis. Finally succumbed to death in Pune after arrival to India. The Husband was very ambitious of making her first Indian Lady Doctor which is very clear. As such he saw to it that her name is recorded as first lady doctor. Subsequently the community and Govt. promoted it since Pandita Ramabai's name was associated. In any case her medical contribution is zero.
This is not to undermine Anandibai. It is definitely extraordinary effort on her part against every odd to go for medical studies in States and achieve to this extent. But this was under tremendous mental pressure from her husband. She behaved as true hindu wife devoted to husband. She did not show any will to fight against. But being honest it was impossible for her to practice without license. Obviously she was caught in this dilemma.
Against this background Dr. Rakhmabai stands out as much courageous and her dedication and contribution to society is of great importance. Unfortunately she did not get genuine acknowledgement even from Indian Women. Hope someday somebody will bring it forward for future generations to know.