Savitri Bai Phule: India's first Feminist social reformer
By: Dharmendra Yadav
Date: 18 May, 2020
Date: 18 May, 2020
Savitri Bai Phule: Early life and education
She was born on January 3, 1831, in a Mali family whose hereditary profession was gardening and serve people of Upper caste. She was among the first women in India who demanded education for women and their equal rights to men. She was a social reformer, educationalist and a powerful poet regarded as a mother of Indian feminism. Throughout her life, she fought to end discrimination based on caste and gender, emphasised of reforming some of the orthodox practices of Hindu religion especially in the context of women and their suppression.
She got education after getting married to Mahatma Phule, who was a staunch social reformer and dedicated his entire life in the upliftment of women, shudra and destitute people. She got education under him till primary and later under Sakharam Yehswant Paranjpe and Keshav shiv ram Bhavalkar. They were thrown out of their home for talking about women education under American missionary in Ahmadnagar. She was the first Indian women teacher and mistress. Savitri Phule and Mahatma Phule were much active in improving women’s right and their condition under British period; they established the first school for girls at Bhide Wada (Pune city) in 1848.
Savitri Bai Phule's Bust in Pune [By: By Chawla.nishant - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
Savitri Bai Phule on education for women
According to Savitri Bai Phule, education is the most important tool which could lead to the liberation of depressed women and if upper-caste women, empowered them ultimately they can be equal with the rest of the society. Because oh her role for women education also known to be the ‘crusaders of gender justice’.
The Couple also founded the ‘Satyasodhak samaj’ (seeking truth) that organised marriage without any Brahmins presence (priest) and dowry. She campaigned against the Sati and propagated the idea of inter-caste marriages, which could bring an end to untouchability and discrimination.
They established ‘Balhatya pratibandhak Griha’ an accessible centre for children of rape victims, tortured women and widows were taken care without paying any fees.
According to her, Indian society was monotheism and full of religious dogmatism, which does not allow women to go out of the home they are kept under surveillance of either husband or son. They are treated as second class citizens if not as equal to slaves. The primary objective to her was every child is born equal and all are different from each other which needs indiscriminate and unbiased treatment for the future. Indian society considered women to an unholy gift which led to female infanticide and child marriage at a very early age. Educating women of all castes can stabilise the idea of nation-building where all individual respected equally despite their background.
According to her, Indian society was monotheism and full of religious dogmatism, which does not allow women to go out of the home they are kept under surveillance of either husband or son. They are treated as second class citizens if not as equal to slaves. The primary objective to her was every child is born equal and all are different from each other which needs indiscriminate and unbiased treatment for the future. Indian society considered women to an unholy gift which led to female infanticide and child marriage at a very early age. Educating women of all castes can stabilise the idea of nation-building where all individual respected equally despite their background.
The Couple had to face worse harassment from orthodox and conservative Brahmins as they found women education is bad and it will lead them to liberation and bring a challenge to patriarchy. Savitri Bai Phule always used to carry one extra saree with her because conservative and orthodox people threw stones, mud and dung on her while going to school.
Savitri Bai Phule: A million worth for society
Savitri Bai Phule started teaching female student of the Maharwada in Pune after finishing her teaching’s education. The trio Savitri Bai Phule, Mahatma Phule and Sagunabai Phule started teaching in their school at Bhide Wada. The curriculum included traditional Western curriculum of mathematics, science and social studies, later they opened two more schools in Pune. Author Divya kandukeri believes that the Phule method was regarded as the superior and effective to those run by the government rules. As a result of these girls receiving education at the Phule’s school outnumbered boys enrolled in government schools.
Savitri Bai Phule and her legacy
Savitri Bai Phule was a dynamic personality who always worked, and dedicated her full life for the betterment of women and improving their status and conditions in the society. She worked with her colleague Fatima Sheikh; they always advocated the values such as humanitarian, liberty, equality, rationalism and importance of education for women.
She influenced women of every caste In India to liberate from the chains of patriarchy, male domination, torture etc. In contemporary India, Savitri Bai Phule emerged as a figure as an inspiration for women. She led the foundation of gender justice, mutual respect and recognition of all as a human being.
She influenced women of every caste In India to liberate from the chains of patriarchy, male domination, torture etc. In contemporary India, Savitri Bai Phule emerged as a figure as an inspiration for women. She led the foundation of gender justice, mutual respect and recognition of all as a human being.
Fatima Sheikh was among India’s first Muslim feminist. She was inspired by Savitri Bai Phule and worked with her. Fatima sheikh firstly wanted radical changes to be brought in Islam especially in the context of Rights to women. They fought together when education was just limited to upper-caste men. They together set up a school called ‘indigenous library’ in their own house and it was an open challenge to Brahmins and Muslim orthodoxy. But Fatima sheikh has to face a tremendous challenge from Hindu and Muslim both. She vociferously protested against ‘veil’ practice within the Islam and status of women as a mere slave and secondary citizen.
Savitri Bai Phule: Poetry and other achievements
Savitri Bai Phule was a dynamic author who shook the Brahminical and patriarchal base of the Hindu society; she attracted the masses through her writings. She wrote kavya Phule in 1854 and Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar in 1892, and a poem by the name “Go, get, education” as follows -
Be self-reliant, be industrious
Work, gather wisdom and riches,
All gets lost without knowledge
We become animal without wisdom,
Sit idle no more, go, get an education
End misery of the oppressed and forsaken,
You’ve got a golden chance to learn
So learn and break the chains of caste.
Throw away the Brahman’s scriptures fast,
Work, gather wisdom and riches,
All gets lost without knowledge
We become animal without wisdom,
Sit idle no more, go, get an education
End misery of the oppressed and forsaken,
You’ve got a golden chance to learn
So learn and break the chains of caste.
Throw away the Brahman’s scriptures fast,
In which she asked deprived and downtrodden to liberate themselves through education.
She opened Mahila Sewa Mandal to aware people about the rights of women their capability and importance of education in their life, simultaneously how to break the notion of patriarchy and domination of men from home to outside. This organisation had to face many challenges by orthodox Brahmins because in their organisation woman can join despite their caste, which was undigested by the Brahmins. She was an anti-infanticide activist and opened a shelter for women called Home of prevention of infanticide, where especially Brahmin widows can deliver their baby.
She opened Mahila Sewa Mandal to aware people about the rights of women their capability and importance of education in their life, simultaneously how to break the notion of patriarchy and domination of men from home to outside. This organisation had to face many challenges by orthodox Brahmins because in their organisation woman can join despite their caste, which was undigested by the Brahmins. She was an anti-infanticide activist and opened a shelter for women called Home of prevention of infanticide, where especially Brahmin widows can deliver their baby.
The Couple adopted a son by name Yashwant, Savitri Bai Phule with her son opened a clinic to treat a patient suffering from a pandemic Bubonic plague at Nalasopara in 1897. She died with the same plague on 10th March 1897.
She influenced many people like BR Ambedkar and Sharmila Rege who continued her legacy and work by interpreting issues due to change in time. But a big question is have we (Indian) forgot about her contribution made by her for the uplifting of women, justice to them, self-respect and their rights.
