In 19th-century India, Rukhmabai Raut challenged societal norms to become the first Hindu woman to secure a legal divorce. Born in 1864, she was married at just 11 years old to a 19-year-old man. Unlike many of her peers, she refused to accept a life dictated by child marriage, continuing her education with the support of her mother and stepfather.

When her husband demanded she join him, she boldly refused, leading him to file a legal case in 1884. The court controversially ruled that she either live with her husband or face six months in prison. Choosing imprisonment over submission, Rukhmabai captured national attention, inspiring debates on women’s rights and child marriage.

Her writings under the pseudonym “A Hindu Lady” reached Queen Victoria, who intervened and secured her divorce—an unprecedented victory for a Hindu woman. Rukhmabai went on to study medicine in London and returned to India as one of the first women doctors in Western medicine, serving for decades. Her life became a testament to courage, education, and perseverance, paving the way for future generations of women seeking autonomy and equality.