This is a short and accessible biography of Sarada Devi (1853–1920), the widow of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and a cultic leader in her own right. It is the work of a historian of modern Bengal and meant to serve as a corrective to the hagiographic slant that has hitherto permeated writings on the subject.

This book is a part of the series - Pioneers of Modern India. Other books in the series: a) Homi J. Bhabha, b) Heisnam Sabitri, c) RK Laxman d) Jamini Roy e) Rani Gaidinliu f) Charu Majumdar g) Muthulakshmi Reddy.

Amiya P Sen retired as Professor of Modern Indian history from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. That apart, he has served Delhi University and Visvabharati, Santiniketan. He has been Agatha Harrison Fellow at the University of Oxford, Zimmer Chair at Heidelberg and Fellow at the IIAS, Shimla, and the NMML, New Delhi. Currently, he is also Honorary Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Oxford.

Prof. Sen’s research interests lie primarily in the areas of intellectual and cultural history of modern Bengal. To date, he has authored and edited fifteen books and served as Guest Editor for the MDPI international online journal, Religion.