In celebration of International Women’s Day, we are thrilled to share a captivating tale of a woman who fearlessly challenged the conventions and shattered the stereotypes. Now, let’s delve into the story.
Clad in a gorgeous saree with white and crimson red hues, the 9-year-old Savitribai with a penchant for reading could not have imagined the social revolution she would bring about with her companion who was just 12 years old then. Little did she know then that her husband would transform her in ways she had never thought before and that she would blossom into an enlightened woman with thinking that was way ahead of her time. In between all the chaos of the wedding, I don’t think the innocent and nonchalant bride must have thought that she was going to work to eradicate the child marriage system(the convention then), Sati Pratha, and be a true proto-feminist of her era. Ah! I wish to go back in time to witness this amazing wedding, which single-handedly brought about significant societal transformation. I am sure you must be thinking the same, too. Not only did this union lead to her education, but also to a lot of other girls and Dalits who were denied the basic right to education. After all, it was in the 1840s, when women were considered subservient to men and the caste system prevailed as the divine order. Indian social reformer, educationist, and poet Savitribai Jyotirao Phule helped empower women in the nineteenth century as one of the few literate women of the era. Savitribai was born on 3 January 1831 in Naigoan village, Maharashtra, and was married away at the age of 9. It was under her husband’s guidance that Savitribai acquired education.
As Savitribai’s education progressed, so too did her passion for teaching. In 1848, she and Jyotirao laid the foundation for the first indigenous school for girls in Bhide Wada, Pune, paving the way for a revolution in women’s education. Despite facing ostracization from their family and community, the couple persevered. Like Ambedkar, Annabhau Sathe, she led Maharashtra’s social reform campaign. On her way to school, Savithribai often met with people who pelted stones, cow dung, and mud at her. They even passed lewd remarks to bring down her spirits. She would have to carry two saris, changing out the soiled sari once she reached school, which would again be soiled on her way back, and yet she continued her work with determination and without interruption. What would you do if you had met with a similar hatred, jealousy, and angst for an unconventional ambition you are trying to pursue? I hope we all draw some inspiration from her resilience and commitment. Their dedication did not go unnoticed, as the British government honored the Phule family, with Savitribai receiving accolades as the best teacher.
Savitribai’s commitment to education extended far beyond the confines of her school. Recognizing the plight of marginalized communities, she and Jyotirao established schools for children from the Mang and Mahar castes, challenging the entrenched system of untouchability. They opened three Phule schools by 1852. However, their efforts were not without obstacles. The closure of their schools in 1858 marked a setback, yet the Phules refused to be deterred. Undaunted by adversity, they continued their work, with Savitribai opening 18 schools over the years, teaching children from various castes and communities. She campaigned against child marriage and sati pratha, advocated for widow remarriage, and worked to empower marginalized women. In 1863, she and Jyotirao founded a care center to prevent infanticide and provided a haven for pregnant Brahmin widows and rape victims. Savitribai started providing students with stipends for attending school to reduce dropout rates. Young girls she tutored were inspired by her. She suggested writing and drawing.
Mukta Salve, a Savitribai student, became the face of Dalit feminism and literature with her autobiographical essay, which is considered a significant milestone in Marathi literature. Jyotirao and Savitribai founded the Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha, probably India’s first infanticide prohibition home, in 1863. It was created to help pregnant Brahmin widows and rape victims deliver their infants safely, eliminating widow killings and infanticide. Jyotirao and Savitribai, who were childless, adopted from a Brahmin widow named Kashibai in 1874. The adopted son, Yashavantrao became a doctor.
Savitribai also helped her husband abolish untouchability and gain equal rights for lower castes. The couple opened a well for untouchables in their home when their shadow was considered filthy and people were afraid to give them drink. Jyotirao formed the Pune-based social reform society Satyashodhak Samaj on September 24, 1873. The Samaj, which included Muslims, Non-Brahmans, Brahmans, and government officials, sought to liberate women, Shudra, Dalit, and other oppressed groups. The pair organized low-cost marriages without priests or dowries. Such marriages involved brides and grooms taking wedding vows. After her husband’s death on November 28, 1890, Savitribai became the Samaj’s chair. She led the Samaj until her death, continuing her husband’s efforts.
Starting in 1876, she and her husband braved the famines. Free food was supplied and 52 food hostels were opened in Maharashtra. Savitribai convinced the British government to start 1897 drought relief. Savitribai’s resilience and courage were evident during the bubonic plague pandemic of 1897, when she and her adopted son, Yashwantrao, opened a clinic to treat patients infected by the disease. Tragically, Savitribai contracted the illness herself and passed away on March 10, 1897, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and selflessness. Coming to her literary works, her poetry is collected in Kavya Phule (1934) and Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar (1982). This inspiring life led by Savitribai motivated Somerville University, UK to launch a scholarship in her name that exclusively encourages Dalit, Bahujan, and Adivasi communities to pursue higher education.
Born into a society plagued by caste-based discrimination and gender inequality, Savitribai defied the odds to pursue her passion for education. Despite facing immense opposition, she fearlessly forged ahead, becoming India’s first female teacher and establishing the country’s first school for girls. While we may not encounter the same level of adversity as Savitribai, her unwavering commitment to her ideals is a poignant lesson in perseverance and fortitude. Let us pledge to perpetuate her legacy by emulating her in our capacities.
P.S. A truly inspiring lady, right? Savitribai Phule came to our mind when we thought about a feisty feminist who contributed to both Education and the Dalit movement. Who is the one personality that comes to your mind this women’s day?
Some quick trivia:
- Jyotiba Phule educated his cousin Sagunabai Kshirsagar alongside Savitribai Phule, who later became a revolutionary feminist and Jyotiba’s mentor.
- Savitribai’s birth anniversary 3rd of January is celebrated as, ‘Baalika Din’ across all the schools in Maharashtra.
- Savitribai was the inspiration behind the movement started by Narayan Meghaji Lokhande, the editor of Deenabandhu, to end the tonsure of Brahmin widows by organizing a barbers strike.