Born amidst the colonial architecture and buzzing streets of Bombay in 1864, Rukhmabai's life, from its very beginning, embodied the challenges many Indian women faced. The tragedy of her mother, married and widowed in her teens, foreshadowed Rukhmabai’s own early matrimonial binding at 11 years old to Dadaji Bhikaji. Such marriages, unfortunately, were not the exception but the norm in that epoch.
Luckily for Rukhmabai, her stepfather Sakharam Arjun, stood as a saving grace for her future. An esteemed physician and botanist, he became the wind beneath her wings, pushing her to pursue education — a luxury seldom afforded to women of her era. Under his mentorship, Rukhmabai's thirst for knowledge flourished.
Her growing awareness and self-confidence came to the fore when she defied societal expectations by rejecting marital consummation. This act of rebellion led to her husband Bhikaji taking her to court, suing her for "restoration of conjugal rights." The three-year-long court drama, highlighting Rukhmabai's stoic resolve against patriarchal norms, ended in a verdict that threatened her with imprisonment.
Facing the threat of imprisonment, Rukhmabai's story found a surprising ally in Queen Victoria. Overturning the court's ruling, the monarch's intervention was more than a personal victory for Rukhmabai — it catalysed the passage of the Age of Consent Act in 1891. This legislation marked a critical juncture in India’s fight against child marriages, even though it ruffled many feathers among the traditionalists.
The Age of Consent Act of 1891 was a significant legislation passed in British India that raised the age of consent for sexual intercourse for girls from ten to twelve years, irrespective of their marital status. This act was introduced in response to the growing social reform movements against child marriages and was particularly influenced by the Rukhmabai case. The legislation aimed to protect young girls from being forced into marital relations and potentially harmful pregnancies at an early age.
With the chains of her forced marriage broken, Rukhmabai embarked on a journey to England, quenching her academic thirst by studying medicine. On her return to India in 1894, she donned the dual hats of a pioneering physician and an activist. Dr. Rukhmabai served as the Chief Medical Officer in Surat for a long duration. For over three decades, she dedicated herself to healthcare while simultaneously wielding her pen against child marriage.
Her tireless efforts weren't just a personal fight but symbolized the larger struggle of Indian women against societal chains. In a nation on the cusp of change, Rukhmabai Raut shone as a beacon of hope, laying down a path for future generations. Her passing in 1955, at the age of 91, marked the end of an era, but her legacy, etched in Indian history, continues to inspire and empower.
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