Everything You Need To Know About Savitribai Phule
Today is Savitribai Phule’s 191st birth anniversary. Every year on January 3, the whole nation pays a tribute to her. Savitribai Phule was a social reformer, and she defeated patriarchy by becoming India’s first female teacher. It was during the time when girls did not even have the right to be educated and could not attend schools, so you can imagine how difficult it would have been for her to not only attain education but make history. Phule has numerous achievements including improvising women’s rights, fighting against discrimination based on caste, race, & gender. Let’s recall some of her major achievements and facts in this article.
Who was Savitribai Phule?
A Poet, A Reformer, An Educator…
She was an Indian poet, reformer, and teacher who belonged to Maharashtra. At that time India was not fully independent. She was born in the small village of Naigaon, located in Maharashtra on 3rd January 1831. She was the eldest daughter of Khandoji and Lakshmi Nevase Patil. Savitribai Phule was also a poet and author, acknowledged for her work Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar and Kavya Phule in 1892. Phule also gained a lot of praise for her poem named “Go, Get Education” in which she intended to encourage women to break free from all the limitations and educated.
A Passionate Feminist & A Believer of Gender Equality
As Savitribai Phule was breaking the stereotypes, her own struggles inspired her to fight for others and become India’s first Feminist. She is also regarded as the Mother of Indian Feminism. She also established a community named Mahila Seva Mandal for raising awareness about women’s rights. She also demanded a place where all women can gather without facing discrimination based on their caste or gender. She also opened a shelter called ‘Home for the prevention of Infanticide’, dedicatedly for women. It was established so that Brahmin widows can freely deliver their children and give others the opportunity to experience motherhood by putting their child for adoption.
Who Contributed To The Sucess of Savitribai Phule?
When Savitribai Phule got married, she was uneducated and her husband Jyotirao Phule used to teach here at their home. After primary education, her husband asked for his friends’ help to help her attain higher education. Later Savitribai took admission to a teacher training program, after that she received the title of a first woman teacher, she also started teaching girls in Maharashtra after that.
Less Known Facts About Savitribai Phule
- Phule and her husband founded the first girl’s school in 1848, in Pune, Maharashtra.
- Savitribai Phule also played a vital role in the social reform movement, which took place in Maharashtra as she raised her voice against discrimination based on caste and gender.
- She also took part in motivating women to participate in the national movement, which was earlier dominated by men.
- Savitribai Phule was a teacher, social reformer, philanthropist, and also established Marathi writer.
- Just like Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Phule also became a renowned supporter of the people who belong to minorities.
