<P> She was barely 11 years old when she was married to Mahadev Govind Ranade, who was a scholar, idealist and a revolutionary social activist . Ramabai was illiterate when she was married as she lived in a time when considered a sin for a girl to read or write . On the contrary, her husband, addressed as the "Prince of Graduates", was a graduate of Bombay University with first class honours . He not only worked as the Professor of English and Economics at the Elphinstone College in Bombay, but was also as an oriental translator and a social reformer . He worked rigorously against evils that existed in the society . He was against untouchability, child marriage and Sati . He took over the Sarvajanik Sabha and led a number of movements for social development . He had won the praise of the whole of Maharashtra by the time he was in his early thirties . His overarching thinking, dynamic vision, passionate and devoted social commitment strongly inspired Ramabai and illuminated her path for future social work . </P> <P> Ramabai made it a mission to educate herself, so that she could be an equal partner in the active life led by her husband . In her efforts she faced obstruction and hostility from other women in her extended family . Justice Ranade gave regular lessons to young Ramabai in writing and reading Marathi, History, Geography, Mathematics and English . He used to make her read all newspapers and discuss current affairs with him . She became his devoted disciple and slowly became his Secretary and his trusted friend . Ramabai's important literary contribution is her autobiography Amachya Ayushyatil Athavani in Marathi in which she gives a detailed account of her married life . She also published a collection of Justice Ranade's lectures on Religion . She was very fond of English literature . </P> <P> Ramabai made her first public appearance at Nasik High School as the Chief Guest . Justice Ranade wrote her maiden speech . She soon mastered the art of public speaking, both in English and Marathi . Her speeches were always simple and heart - touching . She began working for Prarthana Samaj in Bombay . She established a branch of Arya Mahila Samaj in the city . From 1893 to 1901 Ramabai was at the peak of her popularity in her social activities . She established the Hindu Ladies Social and Literary Club in Bombay and started a number of classes to train women in languages, general knowledge, tailoring and handwork . </P> <P> At the age of thirty - eight, upon the death of Justice Ranade in 1901, she left Bombay and came to Pune and stayed at their old ancestral house near Phule Market . For one year, she led an isolated life . Finally, she came out of her self - imposed isolation to organise the first Bharat Mahila Parishad in Bombay . Ramabai lived 24 years after her husband's death--a life full of activity for social awakening, redressal of grievances and established social institutions like Seva Sadan for rehabilitation of distressed women . Ramabai vigorously worked for the next 25 years for women's education, legal rights, equal status, and general awakening . She encouraged them to enter the nursing profession . At that time, this profession was not looked up on as service - oriented and was so considered forbidden for women . To encourage women to come forward, she always asserted, "Don't we nurse our father or brother when they fall ill? All male patients are our brothers and nursing them is our sacred duty . Thus more and more women came forward to learn nursing ." Ramabai's pioneering work in the field of nursing through Seva Sadan deserves special praise . The first Indian nurse was the product of Seva Sadan and Ramabai took great pain to win orthodox opinion in favour of nursing as a career for women and to encourage young girls and widows to join the nursing course in Seva Sadan . </P>

Who opened a widow home at pune and married a widow in 1893