Google Doodle celebrates Rukhmabai on her 153rd birth anniversary

To honour Rukhmabai Raut on her 153rd birthday, Google has dedicated its doodle showing a lady with a stethoscope around her neck, surrounded by women patients and nurses in a hospital

Rukhmabai Raut was married to Dadaji Bhikaji without her consent as child marriage was a common practice at those times in the country.

Rukhmabai Raut was born in Mumbai, then Bombay, on November 22, 1864. She was a child bride, married off at the age of 11, to Dadaji Bhikaji, 19. Child marriage was a common practice among Indians then.

Rukhmabai's mother endured child marriage as well, having been married when she was 14, giving birth to Rukhmabai at 15 and then becoming a widow at just 17 years of age.

Rukhmabai did not live with her husband after her marriage though, but stayed in her parents' home and educated herself, following instructions laid down by her stepfather.

Rukhmabai, in contrast to her husband, found out that he was averse to her being educated. Rukhmabai soon took the bold decision that she did not want to remain married to Dadaji.

Apart from being a doctor, Rukhmabai also worked for social causes. She wrote boldly against child marriage and women’s seclusion (purdah). On September 25, 1991, at the age of 91, Rukhmabai breathed her last