DHNS 
 
Mangalore, Aug 28: Mangalore Diocesan Chair in Christianity and St Agnes College will organise a national seminar on Pandita Ramabai- A search for spirituality, emancipation of women and co-operation between religions at St Agnes College Hall on August 29 and 30.
 

Addressing a news conference on Wednesday, Mangalore University Chair in Christianity Head Dr John Fernandes said that the programme will be inaugurated by All India Congress Committee General Secretary Margaret Alva while Dr Nalini Aries from Bangalore will deliver the key-note address on Pandita Ramabai: A forerunner of woman’s concerns followed by Dr Surendra Rao on Pandita Ramabai: Socio-Cultural context, Dr Uday Kumar Irvathur and Dr N K Rajalakshmi on Pandita Ramabai Saraswati: making of a social entrepreneurship and Dr Valerian Rodrigues from JNU Delhi on a comparative study of Pandita Ramabai and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya.

Many other scholars too will present papers on Ramabai.

Dr Fernandes said that Pandita Ramabai had committed her entire life for the welfare of women to bring about social transformation. Born at Mala in Karkala, she was well versed in Sanskrit and this bagged her the title ‘Pandita’ when she moved to West Bengal. She later started Mukthi Mission in Pune through which she worked untiringly for the liberation of the marginalised widows, destitute women, orphans and victims of famine. St Agnes College Principal Dr Marie Prem D’Souza was present.