Page:Sketches of some distinguished Indian women.djvu/30

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
18
SOME DISTINGUISHED INDIAN WOMEN.

girls, has done very much for the cause of female progress, and its pupils have of late distinguished themselves in many ways.

Mrs. Kadambini Ganguli has taken both the B.A. and M.B. degrees in Calcutta, and is now in full and very successful medical practice in that city.

The sad story of Rakhmabai is well known, and has excited general sympathy and interest in England. She was married when she was eleven years old to a man nine years older than herself, but remained in her father's house till she was sixteen, being well and carefully educated by him. On his death her husband claimed her, but as he was idle, ignorant, and vicious, she refused to live with him, on the ground that the marriage having been arranged before she was of an age to have a voice in the matter, it could not be considered as legally binding upon her. The man then brought a suit against Rakhmabai, which was tried in the High Court in Bombay, and decided in her favour. This decision caused great anger and dismay throughout India, among the party opposed to all reform of the marriage law. They collected a sum of money, and, determined to make it a test case, they lodged an appeal, on the ground that the matter was one which ought to be settled purely on the grounds of Hindu law and custom, with which the Government was bound not to interfere. After a lapse of two years the case was