When was Arya Mahila Samaj founded?

The Arya Mahila Samaj was founded on November 30, 1882. It was founded by Pandita Ramabai with the aim of ‘empowering and educating each woman to lead a dignified life’.

Pandita Ramabai was a women’s rights & education activist, a pioneer in the education and emancipation of women in India, and a social reformer. She fought for women’s education especially with regards to child and widow education. 

Society at the time was not in favour of educating women and socially boycotted widows as they were perceived to be harbingers of bad luck. She established shelters and founded a school for child widows in Pune called Sharada Sadan, which had the support of many Hindu reformers, including M.G. Ranade.

For further reading check the following articles:

• List of Socio-Religious Movements
• Lucknow Pact
• Indian Education System During British Rule