SAVITRI BAI PHULE JAYANTI

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paid tributes to Savitribai Phule Ji on her birth anniversary on 3rd January. Shri Modi lauded her as a beacon of women’s empowerment and a pioneer in the field of education and social reform.

About Savitribai Phule

Early Life

  • Born on January 3, 1831, in a small village in Satara district of Maharashtra.
  • She trained at Ms. Farar’s Institution in Ahmednagar and Ms. Mitchell’s school in Pune to become the first female teacher in India.

Contributions to Education

  • In 1848, Savitribai Phule and her husband, Jyotirao Phule, opened India’s first school for women in Pune.
  • By 1851, she was running 18 schools for children of various castes, with an enrollment of 150 girls.
  • Established two educational trusts:
    • Native Female School, Pune
    • Society for Promoting the Education of Mahars, Mangs, and others from downtrodden castes.
  • Recognized by the British government in 1852 as the best teacher for her remarkable work in education.

Social Reform Initiatives

  • Actively participated in the women’s liberation movement.
  • Fought against caste-based discrimination along with her husband through institutions like Satyashodhak Samaj (1873).
  • Initiated the Mahila Seva Mandal in 1852 to raise awareness about women’s rights and challenge caste hierarchies.
  • Advocated for widows’ rights, including campaigning against widow deprivation and promoting widow remarriage.
  • Organized barbers’ strikes in Mumbai and Pune to protest the practice of shaving widows’ heads.
  • Opposed dowry and other oppressive social customs.

Humanitarian Efforts

  • In 1863, established Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha, India’s first home to prevent infanticide and support pregnant Brahmin widows and rape victims.

Literary Contributions

  • Wrote two poetry collections:
    • Kavya Phule (1854)
    • Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar (1892)
  • Authored the famous poem Go Get Education to inspire oppressed communities to pursue education.

Legacy

  • Her birth anniversary, celebrated as Savitribai Phule Jayanti, honors her remarkable contributions to education and social equality.

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