On Savitribai Phule’s 194th birth anniversary on January 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X paid tribute to India’s first woman teacher.
- Early Life and Education: Born on January 3, 1831, in Maharashtra’s Naigaon village, Savitribai was India’s first woman teacher and a fierce advocate for social justice. A Dalit woman from the Mali community, Savitribai was married at the age of 10 to Jyotirao Phule, who became her partner in challenging oppressive social norms.
- Pioneering Education and Social Reforms: In 1848, Savitribai and Jyotirao opened the first school for girls in India at Bhidewada, Pune. Defying caste and gender discrimination, they created spaces for education and equality. Together, they also established the Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha, a shelter for pregnant widows and victims of infanticide, and promoted widow remarriage, inter-caste marriages, and the abolition of practices like sati, dowry, and child marriage.
- Satyashodhak Samaj and Revolutionary Marriage Customs: In 1873, the Phules founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth-Seekers’ Society), advocating for social equity beyond caste, religion, or class. They also initiated Satyashodhak Marriages, rejecting Brahmanical rituals and promoting vows that emphasized education and equality.
- Advocacy and Literary Contributions: Savitribai’s poetry was a powerful medium for spreading awareness about women’s rights and social issues. Her first poetry collection, Kavya Phule (1854), and later Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar (1892), reflected her revolutionary ideas.
- Legacy and Sacrifice: During the 1896 famine and the 1897 bubonic plague, Savitribai worked tirelessly for relief efforts, succumbing to the plague while helping a sick child. She passed away on March 10, 1897, leaving behind a legacy of courage and change.
