Yesterday, on the first day of the Elate Eight, Martha of Bethany left Photini high and dry 58% to 42% to become the first saint to reach the elusive and exclusive Faithful Four.
Today William Wilberforce meets Pandita Ramabai. To reach the Elate Eight, Wilberforce bested Agatha Lin Zhao and Richard Allen, while Ramabai defeated Damien of Molokai and Marguerite d'Youville. For all the previous rounds' highlights, click the Bracket tab.
William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce, as you will kindly recall, led the abolitionist movement in the British Empire, first ending the trading of enslaved people, and then holding people in slavery entirely before his death in 1833. You would expect, for such a one as the great WW, relics and swag would abound, and you would be correct—however, like the man himself, his kitsch is of a singular nature.
First off, I would be undeserving of my Celebrity Blogger title if I did not address the low-hanging fruit, and mention the movie about him—“Amazing Grace.” It appeared a number of years ago, and was greatly beloved by many, despite the fact that the hymn was not about him. (Details, details.)
However, we can do better! Did you know that Wilberforce actually has a city, nay—a country to his name? 
Wilberforce, along with his abolitionist compadres, founded the Sierra Leone Company in 1787, in order to establish the colony of Freetown, in Sierra Leone, and resettle the black poor of London there. His goal was to spread Christianity through Africa and in so doing, stop the slave trade.
It….was not the best-thought through plan, but to be fair, American abolitionists had similarly paternalistic schemes at the time (Hi, Monrovia, Liberia!). But, despite his decidedly naive views on things like colonialism, and the power of capitalism to exert positive moral change, Wilberforce did end up establishing a city that is still there and is awesome. So we can safely rank Freetown among Wilberforce’s achievements, despite some 19th century white-dude-obliviousness.
Moving on.
Perhaps you desire a poster of Wilberforce to hang on your wall? Etsy has a lovely poster of Wilberforce modeled after the famous Obama ’08 campaign poster!
Wilberforce also wrote a book himself, entitled “A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious State” (Spoiler: he thought it was bad!). You yourself can own a first edition of this tome by heading over to eBay. You also can purchase the multi-volume biography of Wilberforce that his children wrote following his death. (Fun fact! The biography so irritated folks like Thomas Clarkson, that Clarkson demanded a public apology from the sons.)
Finally, there is also one of the first viral images ever produced to support a political campaign. Josiah Wedgwood (dishes maker!) designed the image of a kneeling person in chains as the emblem of the abolitionist society, and it appeared on pins, china, pamphlets, etc. Like many of Wilberforce’s endeavors, we now are aware that this image also did some damage. By exclusively portraying enslaved people as begging for their freedom, the abolitionists played into the paternalistic idea that black people were incapable of self-determination and autonomy, when, in fact, slave rebellions and resistance were widespread throughout the Caribbean, West Indies, and the Americas.
On a serious note, I do not intend to throw our friend Wilberforce under the carriage, as it were. Indeed, calling attention to the problematic nature of some of his efforts is in line with his call to honestly examine one’s actions, to ensure they align with the Gospel to honor the dignity of all. Wilberforce was ahead of his time in some ways, and a product of it in others, as are we all, but he inspires us all to pay greater attention to the sufferings of others, even as our world appears to take such suffering for granted.
Pandita Ramabai
Currently, the New York Times is running obituaries for ground-breaking people, often people of color, whose lives were not honored in the paper at the time of their deaths. The feature is called Overlooked, and in November of last year, it focused on Pandita Ramabai. Indeed, essays and celebrations of her many contributions abound on the Internet these days.
Above, is the title page of her widely selling feminist tome, The High-Caste Hindu Woman.
This biography of Ramabai by Helen S. Dyer was published in 1928.
Also belatedly recognizing the contributions of Ramabai, in October of 1989, the Indian Government issued a stamp in her honor. Behind her is shown Sharada Sadan, the “Home for Learning” she built in Chowpatty, Mumbai for young widows to receive education in security.
Today, the resurgence and celebration of Ramabai’s story is so widespread that online social activists are asking “What would Pandita Ramabai say?” as some of us, in my youth, wore “What Would Jesus Do?” bracelets.
Although I am only an observer of Indian culture, I love the idea of this radical feminist Christian from the nineteenth century resurrected as a cultural critic of the twenty-first.
And in fact, her contributions still live, not only in the realm of ideas, but in the continuing and concrete work of the Mukti Mission, where women still come to seek shelter and learn skills to support themselves independently, without need of a male family member. See these inspiring “then and now” photos:
In this photo, we see the modest grave of Pandita Ramabai, feminist and goddess of learning, at the Mukti Mission. But her legacy is anything but modest.
Conveniently, if you too would like to celebrate Ramabai, you can order a framed print of her portrait from many online art outlets, shipped directly to your door.
Or perhaps, in Ramabai’s spirit of service and simplicity, instead remember her by following her example of speaking truth to power and creating opportunities for the powerless to lift themselves up and thrive. May her memory live on and inspire us!
[poll id="264"]
107 comments on “William Wilberforce vs. Pandita Ramabai”
With others, Wilberforce founded the world's first animal welfare organisation, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals so he has my vote.
It's a hard one today. I certainly support any assistance women receive in achieving their full potential. But, while I think there's no longer in the world the actual legal right to own another person, I think the actions of subjugating others is alive and well. The attitude that some people, women and men, are less in some way and can be treated accordingly, exists. Which makes me grateful to have to consider both how far we've come on slavery - and how far we have yet to go. William was not perfect by any means, but I shudder to think how our culture will be regarded in a hundred years. I think I'll go for William for his goal of destroying the idea that another person could be property.
Go Willy!
I would just like to point out, for clarification, that Pandita is not her first name. It’s a title, given to her because she was a Sanskrit scholar. Her name is Ramabai. She also took the name Mary when she became a Christian.
Pandita did so much and her foundations are still doing so much to lift people up. She gets my vote!
I voted for Pandita but was captivated by the clever, excellent and honest analysis of Wilberforce by Megan Castellan. Great job, Megan!!
How is it that the author of the Wilberforce write-up manage to douse the flame of this remarkable Christ follower’s achievement of ending the slave trade in the British Empire....with a single essay? Megan not only hurled Wilberforce under the carriage, she got the horse to back over him a couple times for good measure!
The first couple write ups inspired me to look deeper into this noble man and I’m on my second book about him. (Real Christianity, 1797, is available in paraphrase and modern language.) I cannot imagine a finer, more timely saint for Lent Madness faithfull in 2019.
Yet the write-up dismissed or minimized his achievements bringing about the end of the slave trade and ultimately the enslavement of people in the British Empire. Guys, guys! Wilberforce’s faithful walking feet lifted impacted literally millions of souls. That little Wedgwood coin that asked, “Am I not a man and your brother?” A depiction of the enslaved human did damage????? Of course Wilberforce was a product of his privileged class and culture; yet, he shows us that our faith has to have action to be real.
I know it’s a fun lil’ Lenten practice, but Megan’s write up was simply unfortunate.
Sheesh! I can’t believe I wasted my morning on this.... is it Saturday yet?
Good for you, Linda S.! Great endorsement - so eloquent and inspiring. You ought to have done today's write-up. Thank you.
I agree with the criticism written by Linda S; today's blurb on WW was very negative. If I hadn't greatly admired him already, I wouldn't have thought twice before voting for Pandita Ramabai. It'd be good if the Forces That Be would encourage an equally positive or critical tone in the writings about each pair of candidates. Today's were WAY out of balance.
And yes, I voted for WW.
Despite the negative write-up today, my vote is still for Wilberforce even though I have the feeling he will be swamped. Don't care - still thinks he deserves to advance to the final at least.
Wilberforce went against the culture of his day and became a rally cry for others in making a major change
Pandita's faith journey and the struggles she faced at home and in England make one appreciate the accolades that she deserves.Here is the link to an excellent article on Pandita: Multiple contestations: Pandita Ramabai's educational and missionary ...
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09612029800200171
by M Kosambi - 1998 - Cited by 10 - Related articles
Pandita Ramabai's educational and missionary activities in late nineteenth- century India and abroad. MEERA KOSAMBI. SNDT Women's University, Mumbai...
I wish to cancel the followup emails since I can view all the postings on the lent madness site.
There should be a link at the bottom of the emails to adjust settings.
I made that mistake of clicking that box one year.
In the late '40s there was a country-western music program called "Wilberforce". Its theme song was "Wilberforce, get off that horse, and bring him in for lunch." Lunch, of course, was the horse.
I call a foul on the commenters who find today's portrayal of Wilberforce to be overly negative/critical. There's strong appreciation for much of his work and practice. I felt that both presentations today were remarkable (as were their subjects).
So was that a vote for Wilberforce?
Yes! He’s a rock star!
Bummer! This was a match up that they are both winners, but I really wanted Pandita.
"fan interference"; ejection without hotdog or beer
St Celia, you just broke my heart.
NOOOO. I believe we are getting closer to the goal, and the passions are rising. People are committed. I would have been happy if Wilberforce had won the round. I notice that the examinations of the saints are getting more pointed and "open minded," shall I say. We are looking at them in their whole humanness, faults and all. I think that's not easy. I feel for the people who care about their saint so much that they don't want to see the dark side. Please stay with us all the way to Canterbury, sister in Christ.
This one was very tough. I live near Wilberforce University, but found the life of a 19th century Christian Indian feminist intriguing. So, I voted for Pandita.
When Pandita beat Damien of Molokai
I was disappointed, I will not lie.
But she WAS pretty awesome,
Helping women to blossom,
Can Ramabai make Willie say bye-bye?
That's good! You have a future in doggerel, dahlink.
Thanks! That just popped into my head over the weekend and I had to wait 3 days to post it!
I have just been out to the Forward Movement Facebook page and commented on the Lent Madness post (to win the Frances Perkins mug, of course). I realized that there is another pilgrimage going on there on the FB site. I have always thought this clunky WordPress site was the "real" pilgrimage for Lent Madness. I'm guessing far more people actually abide in Facebook. While FB seems to have the more compendious apparatus ("bells and whistles"), I hate it. I like the spavined nag of WordPress. I saw "like" buttons on FB. But of course. I realize now that WordPress might seem a bit of a hair shirt of a medium, but it's homey and comfortable. With or without the mug, this is home.
And I have yet to hear of WordPress giving our data to Cambridge Analytical or anyone else.
Ha ha, Julian Assange was just arrested. WordPress is safe for now.
Ms. Castellan's blog about William Wiberforce in the latest round of Lent Madness is the end of the madness for me. Go with God.4
Though the song "Amazing Grace" is not about Mr. Wilberforce, the movie is, and, it's one of my favorites - as is the song. But, I would like some clarification of the facts. Portrayed in the movie is a scene in which Wilberforce is encouraged to continue his work against slavery, by his childhood Pastor (John Newton?); this man was identified as the writer of the lyrics. Also, the song apparently inspired Wilberforce in his abolissionist endeavors. Was this relationship actual, and, the influence on Wilberforce relatively accurate?
Any verification and/or clarification would be appreciated. Blessings, y'all.
Hey Megan, hang in there. As a journalist and a teacher of budding journalists, we tell our students this: when part of your readership thinks you are anti your subject and you shouldn't be and another part thinks you are all for your subject and you shouldn't be, then you're where you should be--fair and in the middle. I just hope you haven't had to resort to vodka and pineapple juice. St. Celia you were kidding about that weren't you? Weren't you? Oh please.
Oh, I wasn't suggesting that Megan take to the bottle. That recipe was in the kitsch round two years ago for Constance and the Martyrs of Memphis. I think at this stage of the pilgrimage, people are starting to feel heightened passions. I note that some people are calling for the bright light to be shone on the saints' faults, whereas others want the saint to be exalted in the write-up for votes. There's a lot of pressure on the bloggers. We're all examining our assumptions about faithfulness. No, I don't think Megan should sit at the bar and weep into a cocktail. But I do think playful gestures of support are probably welcome.