A game changer!
From quest for Education to Age Of Consent Act, 1891
From being stoned on roads for seeking divorce to ultimately contributing to the Age of Consent Act in 1891. From performing deliveries on goats to convince people to visit hospital to becoming first practicing woman and a revered doctor in India, Rukhmabai stood firm against all odds.
Born in 1864 to a Marathi family, she was married at age of 11 years to a man 8 years senior Dadaji Bhikaji, a cousin of her step-father.
Dadaji was indolent and averse to education. He insisted Rukhmabai to stay with him. Fortunately, Rukhmabai’s step-father delayed consummation of the marriage, so she could study further.
When old enough, Rukhmabai sought legal divorce. Her case drew criticisms from various sections of the society, including Balgangadhar Tilak, who wrote Rukhmabai’s defiance was the result of an English education and declared that Hinduism was in danger.
Rukhmabai in-turn wrote series of articles under pseudonym a Hindu Lady in Times of India causing stir of social debates across India on Hindu marriage law.
Court upheld that her case was against Hindu Law of the time and she was ordered by court to either stay with her husband or face 6 months of imprisonment.
Rukhmabai, appealed Queen Victoria, who overruled the court rule, however Rukhmabai was suppose to pay a fine to dissolve her marriage and never marry again.
Dadaji remarried, while Rukhmabai went to London School of Medicine. Upon her return she was ostracised by Indian society and stoned on road by Tillak Brigade.
She opened Hospital in Surat, but no one turned up because of prevalent belief that hospitals are where people go to die. She had to perform delivery on a goat to tell everyone that deliveries at hospital are safe.
Despite bias against her due to her education, marital status and gender, she kept her conviction strong to become first practicing woman Doctor in India and ultimately a widely revered feminist and medical practitioner. Her case ultimately contributed to the formulation of Age of Consent Act in 1891.
Reference:
https://www.thebetterindia.com/65696/india-first-practising-lady-doctor-rukhmabai/
