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The Story of India's First Divorce!

Born on November 22, 1864, Rukhmabai’s life was shaped by her mother, a child bride herself, and her stepfather, Dr. Sakharam Arjun Raut, who instilled in her a passion for education. At just 11, Rukhmabai was married to 19-year-old Dadaji Bhikaji. But instead of living with him, she stayed with her family to pursue her studies.

Nine years after their marriage, Dadaji demanded Rukhmabai live with him. She refused, triggering the famous 1885 case of Dadaji Bhikaji vs. Rukhmabai, where she argued she couldn’t be forced into a marriage she never consented to as a child.

When the court ruled in her husband’s favor in 1887, giving her the option of imprisonment or compliance, Rukhmabai chose jail over submission. The case shook colonial India, drawing attention from reformers, critics, and even Queen Victoria, who eventually dissolved the marriage.

Her legal battle led to two monumental changes in India’s history:

1️⃣ The Age of Consent Act, 1891, which raised the minimum age for marriage.

2️⃣ A larger movement questioning and ultimately ending child marriage as a customary law.

A Pioneer in Medicine

She studied at the London School of Medicine for Women, becoming one of India’s first female doctors practicing Western medicine. For 35 years, she served as the head of a women’s hospital in Surat, providing care while inspiring generations of women to pursue careers in STEM fields.

Feminist Trailblazer
Writing under the pseudonym “A Hindu Lady,” she openly criticized child marriage and patriarchal norms in publications like The Times of India.

"The brutal custom of child-marriage had deprived all happiness of my life. It is a stumbling block in the two things I regarded to be most important—my education and nurturing of my mind."


Rukhmabai’s victory wasn’t just a personal triumph; it was a turning point in India’s feminist movement. By challenging deeply rooted norms, she paved the way for legal reforms and brought international attention to Indian women’s struggles.