The woman who helped set up the first school for girls in India

Savitribai Phule 

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Born on January 3, 1831, Savitribai Phule (née Patil) is one of India’s foremost social reformers.

Birth Anniversary 

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She became the first female teacher in India (1848) and opened a school for girls with her husband, Jyotirao Phule.

1st Female teacher 

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Savitribai went on to set up a shelter for child brides, widows and other women shunned by their families in 1864

Helped women 

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She played a crucial role in grooming Jyotirao Phule’s pioneering institution, Satyashodhak Samaj, (1873) that fought for equality of all classes

Equality for all

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Her life is heralded as a beacon of women’s rights in India. She is often referred to as the mother of Indian feminism

Mother of Indian Feminism

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She and her husband were thrown out of their house by her father-in-law for opening the girls’ school. Savitribai opened 17 more schools with Jyotiba

Disowned by family

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Jyotirao and Savitribai dug a well in their own backyard for the oppressed classes to drink water from. This move caused a furore in 1868.

Supporting the oppressed

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Savitribai set up a centre for pregnant rape victims called Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha where she helped them deliver and protect their children

Stood for rape victims

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On March 10, 1897, Savitribai died after contracting the disease of plague from a 10-year-old boy she was trying to save

Served others till last breath

Source : News18