Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule

Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, also known as Mahatma Jyotirao Phule was a social worker, activist, teacher, and writer, regarded as one of our country’s most important anti-caste figures. Along with his wife, Savitribai Phule, he is most well-known for his contributions towards the education of women and oppressed castes. This article aims to provide an overview of his ideas and beliefs, his contributions towards social welfare and the legacy he left behind. He was born on the 11th of April, 1827, in Pune, Maharashtra, into a family that belonged to the Mali caste, which was classified as Shudra within the varna system.

Savitribai Phule (3 January 1831 – 10 March 1897) was an Indian social reformer, educationalist, and poet from Maharashtra. She is regarded as the first female teacher of India. Along with her husband, Jyotirao Phule, she played an important and vital role in improving women's rights in India. She is regarded as the mother of Indian feminism. Phule and her husband founded one of the first Indian girls' school in Pune, at Bhide wada in 1848. Savitribai Phule was born on 3 January 1831 in the village of Naigaon in Satara District, Maharashtra. At the time of her marriage Savitribai was an illiterate. Jyotirao educated Savitribai at their home.

It can be said that Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule embodied intersectional feminism well before the term was coined – as they recognised the different ways in which oppressions intersect in society and thus strove for the upliftment of all, and opened their school to girls of all castes and religions and socioeconomic statuses. Jyotirao and Savitribai were ostracised for their actions, and often targeted by the upper caste elements who felt threatened by their actions; however, they did not give up.

The contribution of Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule is unforgettable and we are very much influenced by their work, so we decided that we should contribute to society by making an online platform for society. We are aiming to provide a strong platform for the youth of society to make their perfect match like Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule.