‘A Child Widow’s Story’: An Idealism of Woman

Abstract

Monica Felton, the biographer of Sister Subbalakshmi, had recounted Sister Subbalakshmi’s sterling idealism in A Child Widow’s Story (1966).  Her story is an account of sorrowfulness, determination, hard work and a remarkable social reform.  All her life, she courageously claimed the fundamental rights for women and the necessary improvement in the status of widows, particularly in the Madras Presidency under the rule of British India.  She had devoted a great deal of her time to find the employment for needy women and girls.  Most of women who, were taking shelter in the Sister Subbalakshmi’s care at that times, were virgin widows whose husbands had died while they were still strangers.  Many widows who had been left with young families and without the means to bring them up had been helped by Sister to place their children where they would be cared for their well-being in the society.