Savitribai Phule was the first female teacher in India and played a pivotal role in advancing women’s rights in the country. She was born on January 3, 1831, in the village of Naigaon, located in the Satara District of Maharashtra. In addition to her work as a teacher, she was a social reformer and poet, significantly contributing to the feminist movement in India. Savitribai Phule passed away on March 10, 1897.
On the 128th anniversary of her death, we reflect on her remarkable contributions to society. Below are details about her achievements and impact.
Who was Savitribai Phule?
Savitribai Phule was the first female teacher in India to be known for her work on women’s education and their rights in society. She also worked for women who belonged to the lower class of society. She married in 1841 to Jyotirao Phule, who was a writer and social activist from Maharashtra. At the time of her marriage, she was illiterate.
When she said that she wanted to be a teacher, Savitribai’s husband educated her and shared his knowledge with her. Once she completed her primary education under the guidance of Jyothi Rao, she continued her studies under the guidance of Jyotirao’s friends, Sakharam Yeshwant Paranjpe and Keshav Shivram Bhavalkar. It is believed that Savitribai and Jyotirao had no children of their own, and they adopted Yashawantro.
Savitribai Phule was an author and poet
Savitribai Phule was also an author and poet. She was very fond of poetry and wrote many poems in Marathi that advocated values like humanism, liberty, equality, and the importance of education.
Savitribai Phule Death
Savitribai Phule passed away on March 10, 1897, at 66 years old, after catching the third pandemic of bubonic plague from a 10-year-old boy she was attempting to rescue. The boy she attempted to rescue overcame the illness, but she was unable to recover from it.
