Rani Rashmoni

Rashmoni Das, popularly known as Lokamata Rani Rashmoni, also spelled as Rani Rasmani, (28 September 1793 – 19 February 1861), was an Indian businesswoman, entrepreneur, Zamindar, philanthropist and the founder of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata. She remained closely associated with Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa after she appointed him as the priest of the Dakshineswar temple. She was also one of the earliest social reformers in early nineteenth-century Bengal and was one of the forerunners of the Bengal Renaissance. Besides, she also led many of the resistances against the encroaching British administration and their presence in all walks of colonial society in the Bengal province. Her other construction works include the construction of a road from Subarnarekha River to Puri for the pilgrims, Babughat (also known as Babu Rajchandra Das Ghat), Ahiritola Ghat and Nimtala ghat for the everyday bathers at the Ganges. She also offered considerable charity to the Imperial Library (now the National Library of India), and the Hindu College (now Presidency University). Presently, the Lokmata Rani Rashmoni Mission is situated at Nimpith, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 743338, India. Biography Rashmoni was born on 28 September 1793 in a peasant family of Harekrishna Das, who lived at 'Kona' village, Kanchanpalli ( a bordering area of present-day North 24 Parganas and Nadia) . Her mother Rampriya devi died when she was just seven years old. She was married to Babu Rajachandra Das (Marh) of Janbazar, Kolkata, a member of a wealthy Mahishya zamindar family, when she was eleven years old. They had four daughters. After her husband's death in 1836, Rashmoni assumed responsibility of the zamindari and finances.