Ratanbai

Shevantibai M. Nikambe was an educationist, born in Poona in 1865, and educated in Bombay. She travelled to Europe and America to study Christian methods of educational and social work, and served as both headmistress and Inspectoress of schools in Bombay. She ran a special school for married ladies from 1912 to 1934. She assisted Pandita Ramabai in her work till Ramabai moved to Poona, and then continued on her own. Ratanbai advocates the cause of education for married women who, at the time, were often nine or ten years old.

The text of Ratanbai was obtained through the British Library in England. It is a useful addition to the republication of rare books, and will be of enormous interest to literary scholars in understanding the attitudes of the time to the education of women.

Eunice De Souza is a poet and novelist, and retired as Head of the English Department of St Xavier's College, Mumbai after more than thirty years of teaching. She has published four books of poems, three anthologies, and our books for children.