A Voice for the Girls

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” — from Proverbs 31

Ramabai took baby Manorama to the city of Poona, where her father had studied long ago. Some kind, wise men there helped her. Soon Ramabai started a club for women. It met on Saturdays, and it worked to help girls go to school and to help widows.

In those days many girls in India were married when they were very young, and some became widows while they were still children. A child widow had a hard life. Her hair was cut off, she was given plain clothes, and people often treated her unkindly, as if she were to blame for her husband’s death.

In 1882 some important men from the British government came to Poona to find out about schools in India. Ramabai stood up in front of them and spoke for the women of India. She asked for women teachers to be trained, and for women doctors too, because many women were too shy to see a man doctor and so they never got help. Hardly any Indian woman had ever spoken like this before!

That same year, a little widow of about twelve was brought to Ramabai. She had been married at five, and her husband had died a few days after the wedding. Her mother-in-law blamed the little girl and would not even look at her. Ramabai took her home to live with her.

As Ramabai looked at that little girl, a plan began to grow. She would make a home for widows! But first she wanted to learn to be a doctor. So in 1883 she sailed for England with Manorama, who was two, and a friend. She later said she went “as Abraham, not knowing whither I went.”

Ramabai was brave enough to speak up for girls who had no voice. God wants us to speak up for people who are being hurt or left out. You can do that too, even at school or in your neighbourhood.

Dear God, help me to see people who are left out. Give me courage to speak up for them, and to be their friend. Amen.