An Indian educationalist, Abala Bose was one of those eminent personalities who campaigned very strongly for the spread of
education among women in India. She fought for the upliftment of women and helped to bring about an awareness of the need for and
the importance of educated women in society.
She was highly committed to the cause of spreading education amongst women all
over the country. Abala was the daughter of Mr. Durgamohan Das, founder of the Sadharan Brahma Samaj. In 1870, the family moved to
Calcutta because they were ostracised by the community for advocating the re-marriage of widows. Her father campaigned for the
higher education of girls and founded the Bethna Collegiate School for girls.
Abala and her sister Sarla attended the
school and were amongst the first women to be permitted entry into Calcutta University. Abala then went on to do her medical
studies in Chennai and married the renowned Physicist Jagdish Chandra Bose in 1887.
Abala toured Europe several times, with
the aim of improving the teaching methods employed in the various girls` schools. She visited many girls` schools and observed the
teaching methods used by them. On her return from Europe, she was elected the secretary of the Brahmo Balika Shikshalaya (School
for girls).
In 1919, Abala launched the Nari Shiksha Samiti. She also established a home for the widows in 1925 and started
a women`s Industrial Co-operative home ten years later. She attempted to provide girls with varied education including training in
the art of self-defence by the revolutionary leader Pulin Das. She also introduced the Maria Montessori system of education in
India. She was the founder of a fund called the Sister of Nivedita Adult Foundation Fund. She also set up the Sadhuna Ashram in
Calcutta, just prior to her death.
[1865 - 1951]
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