Rajkumari Banerji Biography 
Rajkumari Banerji was a social worker and a philanthropist from West Bengal, who lived in the pre-independent era. Her husband Sasipada Banerji was a social worker and leader of the Brahmo Samaj, best known for his fights for women’s rights. She was the first Indian woman to visit England in 1871, and same year she gave birth to Albion Rajkumar Banerjee, civil servant and administrator, during her stay at England. Albion has served as Diwan of two south Indian princely states and also Prime Minister of Kashmir in the late 1920s. Thus her family is related to Sir Krishna Govinda Gupta (her son’s in-law) and Atul Prasad Sen (her son’s sister-in-law’s husband.
Her maiden name is Rajkumari Devi. She was born in 1847. She married Sasipada Banerji at the age of 13 in 1860. She was illiterate. After marriage, her husband taught her to read and write. Later she made numerous contributions to the field of women's education of Bengal in British India. She lived in an Indian society in an era when most of the females were denied the basic right to study at schools and colleges. She was well supported by her husband, who taught her and later she advocated for female’s rights for education. Like her husband, she too earned the name of a social worker and a philanthropist as well. But she was short-lived and lived only 29 years.
She completed her basic education after marriage and later taught many kids. She was involved with the social reforms and women's education movement in her short life span. As a social worker, her career began only after marriage. Throughout her life time, she visited many places favouring education and also encouraging funding for this process. She passed away on March 8, 1876, just 5 years after her London visit.
Published: September 29, 2018
Updated: September 29, 2018
