Savitribai Phule

Savitribai Phule (pronunciation; 3 January 1831 – 10 March 1897) was an Indian educator, social reformer, and poet, widely regarded as the first Indian female teacher. Along with her husband, Jyotiba Phule, she took a pivotal role in advancing women's rights and education in Maharashtra, leaving a legacy that continues to influence social reform movements across India. She is also considered a front runner of India's feminist movement. She worked to abolish discrimination and the unfair treatment of people based on caste and gender. Savitribai Phule and her husband were trailblazers in women's education in India. In 1848, they established their first school for girls at the residence of Tatyasaheb Bhide, known as Bhide Wada in Pune. Later, she co-founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (lit. 'Society of Truth Seekers') in 1873 and led its women's wing.

She was born and brought up in the Mali community, Savitribai was married to Jyotirao Phule when she was young and was initially illiterated. Her education was started by her husband through studies at home and later under the mentorship of Sakharam Yeshwant Paranjpe and Keshav Shivram Bhavalkar. She got teacher training in Pune and Ahilyanagar, becoming India's first professionally trained female headmistress and teacher. In 1848, together with Jyotirao and Sagunabai Kshirsagar, she opened the nation's first girls' school at Bhidewada in Pune on a progressive syllabus of mathematics, science, and social studies, in spite of strong opposition from society.