Role played by wives in the life of our saints and Rishi-Muni’s.

 Radha Devi was born in a Dalit family in Village Dharmpur, Daulatabad in the district of Azamgarh. As per the social customs prevailing those days, she was married at the age of Two years to one Tulsi Ram from her community. She went to his husband’s home when she attained the age of twelve or fourteen years. Tulsi Ram was a bright student and had completed middle school education. After this his family decided to discontinue his further education so that he may help his parent by doing odd jobs here and there. But he was determined to study further. When Radha Devi came to live with him, he mentioned about his desire to study. However, finance was a major problem. Radha Devi was the adored daughter amongst six siblings of which five were sons of her parents. She talked about her husbands’ desire to study with her parents and brother’s. Her father, who himself was not very well off but gave One Hundred rupee for the further study of Tulsi Ram. He continued with his study. As he was a brilliant student after matric and intermediate, he joined Banaras Hindu University for higher studies. To ensure that Tulsi Ram accomplishes his desire to study, Radha Devi gave her all bridal jewelry for Tulsi Ram’s financial needs for studies. Further to ensure that Tulsi Ram’s bright future, Radha Devi’s family ensured uninterrupted supply of ration every month to Tulsi Ram ji. Radha Devi though was uneducated and faced many hurdles in her husband’s family as it happens, but never got distracted from her resolve for education of her husband. Tulsi Ram ji, joined JNU and proved his mettle as an academician and rose to become Professor, Centre for Russian, Central Asian and East European Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, the position which he held till his death in Feb 2015. He was a known figure in Dalit movement. Besides being very well grounded in Ambedkarite thought, he remained a Marxist till his last breath. Well! Radha Devi was never taken to Delhi by Prof Tulsi Ram, (who sacrificed everything for the studies of Tulsi Ram), still lives in her village in very difficult conditions. It is irony in our society, that many times we have failed to recognise the contribution of wives in the success of men of repute. Though few years back, famous Film industry producer Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi made a 52-episode TV serial “Upanishad Ganga” where he highlighted the role played by wives in the life of our saints and Rishi-Muni’s. Well, there is a need that life of strong women like Radha Devi must be known to societ