Biography Report

World Famous Philosophers,

Saint/Sages and Great Kings

BIOGRAPHY CHOSEN: SAVITRIBAI PHULE

NAME OF THE STUDENT: PRAGYA KUMARI

ROLL CALL OF THE STUDENT: 03

Submitted to Faculty member: Amruta Kulkarni

History:
 Savitribai was born as the eldest daughter of Khandoji Neveshe Patil and Lakshmi on January 3, 1831,
in Naigaon (now in Satara district)
 In 1840, Savitribai was nine years old when she married Jyotirao Phule, who was twelve.
 Her husband taught her to read and write after noticing her desire to learn and educate herself.
 She passed her third and fourth year exams at a regular school and became interested in teaching.
 She received her education at MS Farar's Institution in Ahmednagar. Jyotirao supported Savitribai in all
of her charitable endeavors.
 Savitribai Phule was an Indian social reformer, educationalist, and poet from Maharashtra.

His/her works:
 Savitri rose to become the first woman from Maharashtra to contribute to the transformation of
mediaeval thinking. Her life and work had many facets, and she continues to inspire generations of
women, as well as dispossessed people of all castes and communities, more than a century after her
death.
 Jotirao Phule was persuaded to teach Savitribai as well. She was the first to be educated. She
was trained to teach in schools and assigned to teach in the untouchables' school. Societies focus
then shifted to women's education. They founded this school in 1848 in 'Bhide Wada,' a Brahmin's
mansion in Pune's Brahmin citadel.
 From 1848 to 1852, Phules established sixteen schools for girls and lower caste children in and
around Pune. To assist such unfortunate women, Savitribai and Jotirao established a ‘House for
Shelter against Infanticide' on January 28, 1853.
 On 28 January 1853 Savitribai started a shelter for such women – infanticide prohibition home – the
first of its kind in India. In this shelter widows could give birth to their children and leave them
there. This adopted child was named Yashwant Rao who later became a doctor.

Accomplishments:

 Role as a social reformer :

• She founded the India’s first school for girls called Bhide Wada in Pune in 1948.
• The Savitribai Phule started the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society for Truth-Seeking), through which
they wanted to initiate the practice of Satyashodhak marriage, in which no dowry was taken.

 Literary contributions:
• Savitribai is one of the first published women in modern India.
• She developed a voice and agency of her own, at a time when women were suppressed and lived a “sub-
human existence”.
• Savitribai works were written in Marathi.
• She advocated values such as humanism, liberty, equality, brotherhood, rationalism and the importance
of education among others through her works.
• Her books of poems “Kavya Phule” and “Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar” were published in 1934
and 1982.

Contributions to Mankind/society:

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  1. A) In 1873, she founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj (Society for Truth-Seeking), with the goal of
establishing the practice of Satya Shodhak marriage, in which no dowry was required.
 B) To educate the lower castes, scheduled castes, and scheduled tribes, and to make them aware
of society's exploiting tradition.

 2) In 1852, she founded the Mahila Seva Mandal, which worked to raise women's awareness of their
human rights, the dignity of life, and other social issues.
 3) In 1853, she founded India's first infanticide prohibition home.
 4) She advocated for widow remarriage while opposing child marriage.

Learnings from the character chosen:

 1) It is never too late to learn:

I learned from Savitribai Phule that there is no age limit to learning or educating ourselves. If a
person decides to do something, no one can stop him or her from achieving the goal.

 2) Practice what you preach:

Savitribai Phule taught me to practice what I preach, which means I should act in a way that motivates
others to achieve their goals as well.

 3) Be the change you want to see:

As we can see around us, everyone is complaining about other people's behavior and attitudes. Savitribai
Phule taught us to change ourselves rather than expecting others to change. Even after being critized by
others, she was adamant about doing what she wanted and bringing about change in herself.

 4) Hard work can move mountains:

Savitribai Phule taught me that no matter how difficult the situation, one should never give up. Success
may be difficult or time consuming to achieve, but once achieved, it is the best feeling one can ever
have.

 5)Always give more than what you get:

Savitribai Phule taught me that one should always have a giving nature rather than a demanding nature.
One should never hesitate to assist others or solve their problems.

Summary:

 Savitribai Phule was the first reformer to advocate for the education of girls and women. Through her
writings, she promoted values such as humanism, liberty, equality, brotherhood, rationalism, and the
importance of education, among others. Even after being chastised, accused, and assaulted by Brahmins,
she remained determined to achieve her goal and did so with flying colors. She is an inspiration to many
women and men alike, and she is lauded for pioneering women's education and empowerment.

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