Savitribai Phule

Source: This post has been created based on the article “Savitribai Phule Jayanti 2024: Celebrating India’s first woman teacher ”published in “Business Standard” on 3rd January 2024.

Why in news?

January 3, 2024, marks the 193rd birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule.

Who is Savitribai Phule?

1) Savitribai Phule, a Dalit woman from the Mali community, was born on January 3, 1831, in the village of Naigaon in Maharashtra.

2) She was married to Jyotirao Phule (a social reformer) at a young age and he provided her education at home.

What are the Contributions of Savitribai Phule?

I. Education:

1) Savitribai, alongwith her husband Jyotirao Phule, pioneered India’s earliest girls’ school  in Bhidewada, Pune, in 1848, shattering patriarchal barriers.

2) She became India’s first woman teacher and first Indian headmistress. 

3) The couple opened more such schools for girls, Shudras, and Ati-Shudras (the backward castes and Dalits, respectively) in Pune.

4) Pune University bears the name of Savitribai Phule, serving as a tribute to this formidable woman who passionately advocated for women’s education in India.

II. Social Reform and Activism:

1) Along with Jyotirao, Savitribai started the Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha (‘Home for the Prevention of Infanticide’) as a care centre for children who were victims of rape, sati and those who escaped female infanticide.

2) Savitribai Phule also advocated inter-caste marriages, widow remarriage, and eradication of child marriage, sati and dowry systems, among other social issues.

3) In 1873, the Phules established the Satyashodhak Samaj, which translates to the ‘Truth-seekers’ Society.’ This platform welcomed individuals regardless of their caste, religion, or class hierarchies, with the primary goal of promoting social equity.

4) They also introduced the ‘Satyashodhak Marriage,’ which rejected Brahmanical rituals. In this ceremony, the marrying couple pledged to advocate for education and equality.

5) Savitribai became involved in relief work during the 1896 famine in Maharashtra and the 1897 Bubonic plague. 

III. Literary work:

1) Savitribai Phule published her first collection of poems, called Kavya Phule (‘Poetry’s Blossoms’) in 1854.

2) She also wrote the famous poem ‘Go Get Education’ to encourage the oppressed and backward classes to obtain an education.

Savitribai Phule’s life concluded on March 10, 1897, as she succumbed to an illness while endeavoring to protect a sick 10-year-old boy.