Savitribai Phule was a leading social reformer who fought for the upliftment of women’s status in the Indian society. Her birth anniversary, i.e. January 3, is celebrated as Balika Din in Maharashtra.
Savitribai Phule is widely respected as a woman teacher who campaigned to create awareness on the need for education for women.
Phule fought against patriarchy and casteism and faced countless hardships in the process.
Phule was married at the age of nine. She was an illiterate at the time. Phule fought against social evils like the practice of Sati and child marriage and played a vital role in improving women’s rights in the country.
She started India’s first girls’ school at Bhide wada, Pune in 1848. The girls who studied there were taught the western curriculum of mathematics, science, and social studies.
To promote children to attend school, Phule used to offer them stipends. She with her husband established a total of 18 schools. She opened up a well for the untouchables in her house in defiance of the caste system. She also started a care centre for pregnant rape victims called “Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha” where she helped them deliver their babies.
To raise awareness on the women’s rights, Phule set up a Mahila Seva Mandal, a gathering place for women to discuss important issues concerning their rights.
Savitribai was also a profound writer and poet. Some of her significanbt works include Kavya Phule, which was published in 1854 and Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar in 1892.
She died on March 10, 1897. Savitribai died of the plague after she carried an infected person on her back to the hospital.
