The Home of Wisdom

“Learn to do good. Help those who are treated badly, and stand up for widows.” — from Isaiah 1

In 1886 Ramabai sailed to America. She stayed nearly three years. She wrote a book about the women of India, and it told the sad story of the child widows. She asked the Americans to help her start a school for widows in India. Many kind people in Boston promised to help. That night, Ramabai said, she was “crying for joy.”

On 11 March 1889, back in India, Ramabai opened her school. She called it Sharada Sadan, which means “the Home of Wisdom.” On the very first day there were only two pupils! But soon there were more. The young widows learned to read and write, and many trained to be teachers, so they could earn their own living.

In the evenings, all the girls came into Ramabai’s room to sing. Many people thought girls should not sing at all. But Ramabai and her girls sang happily together, and she said they were going to “turn the tide.”

Ramabai had promised that the school would not try to make the girls Christians. The girls could keep their own religion. But every morning Ramabai read the Bible and prayed with Manorama in her own room, and she left the door open.

At first some girls just peeped in. Then one by one they came a little closer. Soon many of them were sitting quietly, listening to the Bible, and kneeling to pray with her. “No girl is compelled to come in,” Ramabai said. They came because they wanted to.

Some of the Hindu men who advised the school were very unhappy about the open door. But Ramabai would not hide what she believed, and she would not push anyone either.

Ramabai did not force her faith on anyone, but she did not hide it either. You do not have to be pushy about Jesus. You can simply leave your door open, by being kind and honest about what you believe.

Dear God, help me to be a good friend to everyone. Help me not to hide that I love you, and to share your love kindly. Amen.