Some revolutions begin quietly, with a book in hand and courage in the heart. Savitribai Phule’s life was one such revolution. On Savitribai Phule Jayanti, India remembers not just the country’s first woman teacher, but a woman who dared to educate when education itself was denied to many, especially girls and the oppressed.
Savitribai’s Early Life
Born in 1831 in Maharashtra, Savitribai Phule grew up in a society where educating women was considered a crime, not a right. She was married at a young age to Jyotirao Phule, who became her strongest ally and partner in reform. At a time when girls were discouraged from even stepping outside their homes, Savitribai picked up a slate and walked to school every day, facing abuse, ridicule, and stones thrown at her. Yet she walked on, changing clothes when they were soiled, and returning to the classroom with unwavering resolve.
Savitribai: The first woman educator of India
In 1848, Savitribai Phule and Jyotirao Phule opened the first school for girls in Pune. This single act challenged centuries of caste and gender oppression. She did not stop there. She taught children from marginalised communities, fought untouchability, and spoke against social evils like child marriage and the ban on widow remarriage. For Savitribai, education was not about literacy alone, it was about dignity, equality, and freedom.
Savitribai: An All-Rounder
She was also a powerful poet and thinker. Through her writings, she urged people to question blind traditions and embrace reason and humanity. Her words were sharp, fearless, and deeply compassionate, reflecting a mind far ahead of its time.During the devastating plague epidemic of 1897, Savitribai once again showed what true leadership looked like. While others fled, she opened her home to the sick and personally cared for patients. She lost her life serving others, a final act that embodied the values she stood for all her life.
Savitri Bai Phule was not just India’s first woman educator. She was a symbol of resistance, courage, and hope. Her legacy lives on every time a girl goes to school, every time education breaks a barrier, and every time someone chooses equality over silence.On her Jayanti, remembering Savitribai Phule is not enough. Reading her, learning from her, and continuing her fight is the real tribute.