Born on September 28, 1793, in the small village of Kona, Rashmoni came from a humble fisherman community classified as Shudra in Bengal’s rigid caste hierarchy. Life might have confined her to obscurity, but her intelligence and determination changed the course of her destiny.

Her marriage to Raj Chandra Das, a progressive zamindar, opened doors that few women—let alone a Shudra woman—could access. Raj Chandra recognized Rashmoni’s sharp mind and involved her in managing his estate and businesses. Together, they used their wealth for public welfare, building reservoirs, soup kitchens, and two significant ghats, Babughat and Ahiritola Ghat. When Raj Chandra passed away in 1830, Rashmoni, a widow with four daughters, faced a society that dictated silence and submission for women like her. Instead of retreating, she stepped into her husband’s role, managing the vast estate and navigating power struggles with remarkable acumen. Her son-in-law, Mathura Nath Biswas, became her trusted ally, and together they solidified her position as a leader not just of her family but also of her community.

Rashmoni’s vision extended beyond governance; she sought to create a space for spiritual upliftment that welcomed everyone, regardless of caste or creed. Her most enduring contribution was the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, now a cornerstone of Bengal’s cultural and spiritual heritage.The temple's construction was not without controversy. Orthodox Brahmins opposed the idea of a Shudra woman building a temple, with many refusing to serve as priests. But Rashmoni was resolute. The temple not only overcame the resistance but went on to become the spiritual home of Ramakrishna Paramhansa, a mystic whose teachings have since inspired millions.

The 1840s brought a crisis to Bengal’s fisherfolk when the East India Company imposed a tax on fishing boats operating on the Hooghly River which is the famous distributary of the Ganga, on whose banks was nestled in the metropolis of Calcutta, the then capital of colonial India . For a community that depended on the river for survival, the tax was devastating. When the fisherfolk sought her help, Rashmoni responded with a bold plan that caught the British off guard.

Rashmoni leased a 10-kilometer stretch of the Hooghly River from the East India Company for ₹10,000 and blocked it with giant iron chains: in Metiabruz and Ghusuri, where the river arched like a bow and she invited the fisherfolk to cast their nets in the baricaded zone across the Ganga. This move stopped British steamships from navigating the river, forcing the Company to confront her. Standing firm and armed with knowledge of their own laws, Rashmoni refused to back down. Ultimately, the British abolished the tax,allowing the fisherfolk access to the Ganga, securing the fisherfolk’s livelihoods and cementing Rashmoni’s reputation as a fearless leader.