Savitribai Phule: Teacher, Activist And Mother Of Indian Feminism

Savitribai Phule is often hailed as the mother of Indian feminism and is widely regarded as modern India's first feminist. She is celebrated for pioneering contributions to women’s education in India, including establishing the country’s first school for women. Alongside her husband, Jyotirao Phule, she dedicated her life to empowering women and challenging societal norms. Here’s what you need to know about this remarkable activist, educator, and feminist

Why We Should Know Her

Savitribai Phule is remembered today for her extraordinary contributions to social reform in India. As a social activist, she worked tirelessly to address gender inequality and combat caste-based discrimination. Coming from a lower-caste background, she endured significant prejudice but chose to fight against these injustices.

Her groundbreaking efforts in women’s education were transformative, paving the way for future generations of women to pursue knowledge and achieve the economic independence that education provides. In 1848, she opened the first school for girls in India, located in Pune, and is also celebrated as the country’s first female teacher.

She also established schools and a care centre called Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha for pregnant rape suvivors.

What Makes Her Badass

Together with her husband, Savitribai Phule established at least 18 schools across India, taking the unprecedented step of educating children from all castes. Her fight against caste discrimination was as pivotal as her efforts toward women’s empowerment. In addition to founding schools, she established a care centre called Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha to support pregnant rape survivors. She also opened a clinic in 1897 to treat victims of the global pandemic of the bubonic plague.

For a time, the Phules lived with Jyotirao’s friend, Usman. It was during this period that Savitribai met Fatima Begum Sheikh. The two women graduated together, and Fatima went on to become India’s first Muslim woman teacher. In 1849, they jointly opened a school, exemplifying the collaborative spirit of intersectional feminism long before the term existed.

Biggest Battles She Fought

Savitribai Phule often travelled to her school carrying an extra sari because she would be assailed by her conservative opposition with stones, dung, and verbal abuse.

Savitribai did not have an easy life. Her efforts towards building a just society were met with criticism and abuse. She was a victim of child marriage. Married off to a thirteen-year-old at the age of nine, she was not educated. As a woman belonging to a lower caste, education was not considered suited for her. However, she rose above adversity. When she and her husband began to educate girls, people did not look upon them favourably. They had to deal with a lot of resistance from people who had conservative views. They even faced abuse from the very marginalised community to which they belonged. Savitribai Phule often travelled to her school carrying an extra sari because she would be assailed by her conservative opposition with stones, dung, and verbal abuse.

The couple was ultimately asked to leave the house by Savitribai's father-in-law because he considered their work to be a sin and against the Brahmanical code of conduct.

Life Lessons We Can Learn From Her

Savitribai Phule spent her whole life voicing protests against caste and gender discrimination. She fought for everyone's right to education. Phule also condemned caste-based killings, which we see even today. Savitribai always talked about how important education is. She wanted every man and woman to educate and liberate. Despite opposition from society, she knew that education was the only way to achieve independence. Savitribai Phule's most notable ideas were about caste equality. She was progressive and beyond her times. When she saw a pregnant woman about to commit suicide, she decided to adopt the child and raise him as her own. Even in the 1800s, she was a woman with determination, courage and inspiring qualities.

Her struggles inspire us all to work towards a better, more equal society. Especially in today's time, many urban millennials seem to have forgotten that casteism is not obsolete in this country. Many of such seemingly outdated issues continue to prevail in India, which Savitribai Phule fought and wanted to eliminate. It is our duty to carry on with her fights until we are all free from these social inequalities. The world will forever remember her contributions to social reform.

She died on March 10, 1897. She was trying to save a 10-year-old boy from the plague by carrying him to the hospital. That's when she contracted the disease and died.

Also Read: Seven Inspiring Educators That Fought Tirelessly For Women's Education

Picture Credit: Kirthi Jayakumar

In this special series done in partnership with activist and doodler Kirthi Jayakumar, we celebrate women from Indian history whose stories need to be told as often as possible. Prapti is an intern with SheThePeople.TV. The doodles for this series have been provided by Kirthi Jayakumar.