Savitribai Phule

Savitribai Phule was an Indian social reformer, educationist and poetess of Maharashtra. She is considered the first female teacher of India. Along with her husband, Jyotirao Phule, she played an important role in improving the rights of women in India. She is considered the mother of Indian feminism. Phule and her husband established the first Indian girls' school in Pune in 1848 at Bhide Wada. He played an important role in ending discrimination and unfair treatment of people on the basis of caste and gender. He is considered an important figure in the social reform movement in Maharashtra.

Savitribai Phule's birth anniversary is scheduled to happen on January 3 in 2021.

Savitribai Phule's personal life

Savitribai Phule was born on January 3, 1831, in the village of Nayagaon in Satara district, Maharashtra. His birthplace was five kilometers from Shirwal and about 50 kilometers from Pune. Savitribai Phule was the eldest daughter of Lakshmi and Khandoji Nevse Patil, both from the Mali community. Savitribai and Jotirao had no children of their own. It is said that he adopted a son Yashwantrao from a Brahmin widow. However, there is no original evidence for this.

Savitribai Phule's education and career

After Savitribai Phule completed her primary education with Jyotirao, further education was done with her friends, Sakharam Yashwant Paranjpe and Keshav Shivram Bhavalkar. He was also enrolled in two teacher training programs. The first was in an organization run by Cynthia Farrar, an American missionary in Ahmednagar. The second course was at a normal school in Pune. It is believed that Savitribai is the first Indian female teacher and headmistress.

After completing her teacher's education, Savitribai Phule started teaching girls in Maharawada, Pune. Savitribai, and Jyotirao Phule started their own school in Bhidevada long after they started teaching with Sagunabai. Bhide Wada was the home of Tatya Saheb Bhide. Bhide Wada's curriculum included mathematics, science and social studies courses. By the end of 1851, Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule were running three separate schools for girls in Pune. Combined, about one hundred and fifty students attended the three schools.

Savitribai Phule died on 10 March 1897 in Pune. In 2015, the University of Pune changed the name of the university to Savitribai Phule University of Pune in her honor. Also on 10 March 1998, a postage stamp was issued by the Indian Post in Phule's honor.