Savitribai Phule

Why in News?

Every year on January 3, people celebrate Savitribai Phule Jayanti.

Background – A Dalit woman from the Mali community from Naigaon village in Maharashtra.
Education – She is the 1^st Indian woman teacher.
She and her husband Jyotirao Phule open a school for girls in Pune, in 1848 and this became the country’s 1^st girls’ school.
During her tenure, she established 17 schools across the nation.
Social reforms – She advocated inter-caste marriages, widow remarriage, and eradication of child marriage, sati and dowry systems, among other social issues.
Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha – A childcare centre for the protection of pregnant widows and rape victims.
Satyashodhak Samaj (‘Truth-seekers’ society’) – It was setup in 1873 by both of them.
It is a platform open to all, irrespective of their caste, religion or class hierarchies, with the sole aim of bringing social equity.
Literary works – She published her 1^st collection of poems, called Kavya Phule (‘Poetry’s Blossoms’), at the age of 23 in 1854.
She published Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar (‘The Ocean of Pure Gems’), in 1892.
Matushri Savitribai Phlenchi Bhashane va Gaani (S’avitribai Phule’s speeches and songs’), and her letters to her husband have also been published.
Her Marathi poetry promoted ideals such as equality, liberty, humanism, and the significance of education.
Recognition – In honour of her great work towards women's education, January 3 is observed as Women's Education Day.

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