Chandabai
Encyclopedia
Pandita Brahmacharini Chandabai (पंडिता ब्रह्मचारिणी चन्दाबाई) (1880–1977) was a Jain scholar and a pioneer of women's education in India. She was the founder of the oldest women's publication in India that is still published Jain Mahiladarsh
Daughter of Narayandas Agrwal of Vrindavan
UP, a prominent citizen and a proponent of Indian's independence, she was married at age 11 to Dharmakumar, the 18 year old grandson of the famous zamindar and scholar Pandit Prabhudas Jain of Arrah
. This distinguished family had built a temple at Arrah in 1819, and later founded a prominent library and research institution. Dharmakumar died the next year. His older brother, Devkumar Jain, himself a Jain scholar, encourage Chandabai to study, which was uncommon in that period.
Chandabai studied the classical subjects including Sanskrit, Prakrit, dharmashastra, nyaya (logic), literature and grammar. She earned the title Pandita from Kashi. She was a good orator, she gave her first speech at Panipat
during a Panch-kalyanak Pratishtha
at the age of 17.
She established a school for girls in 1907, which came to be known as the Jain Balasharm in 1921. Dr. Nemichandra Jyotishacharya, who later emerged as a major Jain scholar, was appointed by her to be the director of the Balasharm in 1939. During the interview, she asked him questions on Sanskrit and Prakrit texts like Devagama Stotra, Atmanushasana, Gommatsar Jivakanda etc.
She often herself served sick students at the Balashrama. She nursed a girl sick with typhoid in 1943, who eventually got better and later earned the Nyayatirtha degree.
She started a magazine Jain Mahiladarsh in 1921 and edited it for many years. She wrote several books including Updesh Ratna Mala, Saubhagya Ratna Mala, Nibandh Ratna Mala, Adarsh Kahaniyan, Adarsh Nibandh, Nibandh Darpan.
Daughter of Narayandas Agrwal of Vrindavan
Vrindavan
Vrindavan also known as Vraj is a town in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India...
UP, a prominent citizen and a proponent of Indian's independence, she was married at age 11 to Dharmakumar, the 18 year old grandson of the famous zamindar and scholar Pandit Prabhudas Jain of Arrah
Arrah
Arrah is a city and a municipal corporation in Bhojpur district in the state of Bihar, India. The actual name of Arrah is Ara but it was misspelt by the British and now corrected to Ara but still known as Arrah in many records. It is the district headquarters of Bhojpur district, located near the...
. This distinguished family had built a temple at Arrah in 1819, and later founded a prominent library and research institution. Dharmakumar died the next year. His older brother, Devkumar Jain, himself a Jain scholar, encourage Chandabai to study, which was uncommon in that period.
Chandabai studied the classical subjects including Sanskrit, Prakrit, dharmashastra, nyaya (logic), literature and grammar. She earned the title Pandita from Kashi. She was a good orator, she gave her first speech at Panipat
Panipat
Panipat بَنِبَت is an ancient and historic city in Panipat district, Haryana state, India. It is 90 km north from Delhi and 169 km south of Chandigarh on NH-1. The three battles fought at the city were turning points in Indian history. The city is famous in India by the name of "City of...
during a Panch-kalyanak Pratishtha
Panch-kalyanak Pratishtha
Panch-kalyanak Pratishtha is a traditional Jain ceremony that consecrates one or more Jain Tirthankara pratimas.The five kalyanakas are the five major events associated with a tirthankara.# Garbh...
at the age of 17.
She established a school for girls in 1907, which came to be known as the Jain Balasharm in 1921. Dr. Nemichandra Jyotishacharya, who later emerged as a major Jain scholar, was appointed by her to be the director of the Balasharm in 1939. During the interview, she asked him questions on Sanskrit and Prakrit texts like Devagama Stotra, Atmanushasana, Gommatsar Jivakanda etc.
She often herself served sick students at the Balashrama. She nursed a girl sick with typhoid in 1943, who eventually got better and later earned the Nyayatirtha degree.
She started a magazine Jain Mahiladarsh in 1921 and edited it for many years. She wrote several books including Updesh Ratna Mala, Saubhagya Ratna Mala, Nibandh Ratna Mala, Adarsh Kahaniyan, Adarsh Nibandh, Nibandh Darpan.