Mukti Prayer Bell

The word “mukti,” which means “liberty” or “freedom,” best describes Pandita Ramabai Dongre (1858-1922). She inaugurated her mission at Kedgaon in 1898 and named it “Mukti Mission.” The idea of “mukti” represents her life’s work and spiritual journey. It stands for freedom from social, cultural, and spiritual restrictions. This critical idea is also written on the “Mukti Prayer Bell” with a verse from Leviticus 25:10 in the Bible: “Proclaim liberty throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants therein.”
In late 1896, a famine hit India hard. Ramabai started a campaign to save people suffering from the famine. She talked about the terrible situation where parents had to sell their children to survive. Ramabai saved many children herself. She used bullock carts to bring them from jungles and villages to safety, protecting them from dangerous animals and human traffickers.
In Pune, a new problem started with an outbreak of the bubonic plague, adding to the already severe hardships faced by these individuals, who had been struggling to survive the effects of famine. The victims were dirty, wore rags, had sores, were infested with lice, and were weak from hunger. The physical difficulties were made worse by the emotional trauma and bad habits the victims had developed during the famine. They needed a lot of comforts and counselling to heal emotionally and get used to their new surroundings.
Ramabai followed the heart of God to “proclaim liberty throughout the land.”
It is a strong statement of God’s wish for freedom and salvation. This freedom is not just physical but also spiritual. It means that God wants to free us from all kinds of slavery and control.
To love all human beings created in the image of God. That was Jesus’ life mission as well. Jesus spoke about giving freedom to those trapped or oppressed (Luke 4:18). Jesus brings back what was lost and helps us reconnect with God and each other and work for common good.
Her Mukti Mission continues to thrive, embodying her enduring commitment to compassion, education, and the empowerment of the marginalized. Ramabai’s life is a testament to faith’s transformative power and relentless pursuit of justice.