Question

Who founded the Arya Mahila Samaj and Sharada Sadan?
A. Ramabai Ranade
B. Pandita Ramabai
C. Tarabai Shinde
D. Savitribai Phule

Answer 1

Hint: The Arya Mahila Samaj and Sharada Sadan were founded in order to elevate the status of women in colonial India. The purposes of these societies were to educate women and prevent child marriages.

Complete answer:
The Arya Mahila Samaj and Sharada Sadan was founded by Pandita Ramabai. Pandita Ramabai was born to a Marathi Brahmin family. Her father was a Sanskrit teacher and she had learned from him.Soon her fame as a scholar reached all over and she was invited by Calcutta University to give a lecture. The university conferred her with the title of ‘Pandita’ because of her knowledge in Sanskrit. Ramabai married a Bengali lawyer Behari Medhvi and it was a big thing those days because it was an intercaste marriage. After the death of she husband, she established the Arya Mahila Samaj in Pune which would promote women’s education and stand to abolish child marriage.

Her efforts made the British government send a commission to look into the matter of education. Ramabai asked for medical colleges for women since women doctors would be needed to treat women. The news of her efforts reached everywhere and the Women’s Medical movement was established by Lady Dufferin. She went to the USA to attend the graduation ceremony of Anadibai Joshi who was the first Indian female doctor. After returning she founded the Sharada Sadan in 1889 to promote security and education for young Hindu widows which was another cause dear to her.

So. option B is correct.

Note: Pandita Ramabai was a great social reformer, women’s rights activists and a pioneer in women's education and emancipation of women. While answering the question do not get confused between Pandita Ramabai and Savitribai phule.phule established one of the first Indian girls’ schools in Pune.