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Savitribai Phule
Savitribai Phule
Savitribai Phule
Also, these helpless women, with no way to refuse this treatment, were
easy prey for sexual exploitation, including rape, often by male members
of the extended family. Widows who became pregnant would resort to
suicide or killing the newborn for fear of being ostracized by the society.
[citation needed] Once, Jyotirao stopped a pregnant lady from committing
suicide, promising her to give her child his name after it was born.
Savitribai accepted the lady in her house and helped her deliver the child.
Savitribai and Jyotirao later adopted this child and named him
Yashavantrao. He grew up to become a doctor. Savitribai and her husband
established a center for caring for pregnant rape victims and delivering
their children. The care center was called "Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha " (
Infanticide prohibition house). Savitri ran the home and considered all the
children born in the home her own.[citation needed]