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PanditaBrahmachariniChandabai (1880–1977) was aJain scholar and a pioneer of women's education in India.^[1] She was the founder of the oldest women's publication in India that is still published,Jain Mahiladarsh.^[2]

The daughter of Narayandas Agarwal ofVrindavan,Uttar Pradesh, a prominent citizen and a proponent of Indian's independence, she was married at the age of 11 to Dharmakumar, the 18-year-old grandson of thezamindar and scholar Prabhudas Jain ofArrah. Dharmakumar died the next year. His older brother, Devkumar Jain, himself a Jain scholar, encourage Chandabai to study, which was uncommon in that period.^[3]

Chandabai studied the classical subjects includingSanskrit,Prakrit,dharmaśāstra,nyāya (logic), literature and grammar. She earned the title "pandita" from Kashi. She was a good orator, she gave her first speech atPanipat during aPanch-kalyanak Pratishtha at the age of 17.

She established a school for girls in 1907, which came to be known as the Jain Balasharm in 1921. Dr. Nemichandra Jyotishacharya, who later emerged as a major Jain scholar, was appointed by her to be the director of the Balasharm in 1939. During the interview, she asked him questions on Sanskrit and Prakrit texts such asDevagama Stotra,Atmanushasana, andGommatsar Jivakanda.

She often herself served sick students at the Balashrama. She nursed a girl sick with typhoid in 1943, who eventually got better and later earned theNyayatirtha degree.

She started a magazine,Jain Mahiladarsh, in 1921 and edited it for many years. She wrote several books includingUpdesh Ratna Mala,Saubhagya Ratna Mala,Nibandh Ratna Mala,Adarsh Kahaniyan,Adarsh Nibandh, andNibandh Darpan.

• Jainism
• Digambar Jain Mahasabha
• Jainism in Uttar Pradesh

• Hindi-language Indian writers
• 1880 births
• 1977 deaths
• Scholars of Jainism
• 20th-century Indian Jains
• Indian religious writers
• 20th-century Indian women writers
• 20th-century Indian writers
• 19th-century Indian women writers
• 19th-century Indian writers
• 20th-century Indian educational theorists
• 20th-century Indian women scientists
• Women writers from Uttar Pradesh
• Women educators from Uttar Pradesh
• Educators from Uttar Pradesh
• 20th-century Indian women educational theorists

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