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SUJATA MENON
SAMBODHI
presented a daring case of widow remarriage in her time in Gujarat. Born in 1850 at Gusa Parekh's Pole, Sankadi Sheri of Ahmedabad. Jadav became widow at the age of twelve. She was from Jain community. She stayed with her mother in law and studied there. In 1869, she was appointed as a teacher in Maganbhai Karamchand school for girls. The employment proved an opportunity for Jadav to get out the four walls of house.
Jadav came in contact with a young man of her own caste, Lallu Khushal, a cloth merchant. Both decided to marry and contacted punarvivah Uttejak Sabha an association for widow remarriage. Jadav's mother in law getting a wind of this move created a furors. As a result, the Jainas in the neighbourhood gathered and protested against the marriage. The workers of Punnarvivah Uttejak Sabha such as Mahipatram, Gopal Hari Deshmukh 'Lokhit Vadi', and Raghunath, lawfully asked for protection. With the help of a police constable they were successful in putting Jadav in buggy of Mahipatram and directing her to the compound of the bungalow of a rich man. In the presence of nearly 250 people consisting of social, reformers and Europeans, this 24 years old widow remarried on 28th Dec., 187420, This famous case of widow remarriage also indicates the forms of opposition evoked from the community, in the wake of defying traditional values.
The education and organisation associated with social reforms created an opportunity for women to participate activity in society. Many women became active participants in the reformist organisations. Their active participation in the society was gradually creating an ideological base for women's movement. One such woman, hailing from Jaina community who set an example of active participation and philanthropic work was Harkor Sethani (1820-1876) she was the first and foremost of women educationalist and social reformers of modern Gujarat. Harkor Settani was born in an ordinary working family at Ghogha. But she was able to raise high and perform social service, due to the power of her own mind and heart. Harkor had opened a school where widows studied. Miss Mary Carpenter - a famous educationalist social reformer and feminist leader from Britain, visited Harkors school on Oct 3rd 1886. She observed 80 girls between the age of 6 and 11 years getting their education. Among them were several widows21. With the help of Mahipatram Rupram, Harkor had begun normal classes' - to train pupils to become teachers. In 1856 Harkor had donated a sum of Rs. 5,000/ - to start the Gujarat Provincial college22. In addition at the time of famine in 1865, Harkor had set up fair price shops in the affected areas. In 1868 during the flood crisis in Ahmedabad, she spent Rs. 70,000/- in relief works. An important charity
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