Savitribai Phule, a great personality who played a pivotal role in establishing gender equality in India. Savitribai Phule was born on January 3, 1831 in Naigoan, Maharashtra in British India. Girls were getting married very early those days. Savitribai Phule got married to Jyotiba Phule when she was only 9 years old and Jyotiba Phule was 12 years old. Savitribai started taking education after her marriage with the help of her husband. Jyotiba Phule taught Savitribai to read and write at home and which made Savitribai develop an interest in learning. And from that, Savitribai developed an interest in the field of teaching. At the time when Savitribai was studying, education for women was not allowed in society, because Manusmriti was imposed. To understand the gender discrimination in the Indian context one needs to read and understand the Manusmriti and the laws stated in it. Manusmriti is a document or Dharmashastra in Hinduism based on which the society has been formed. According to this document women did not have the right to be independent in society. Women always lived their lives under the supervision of men from their family and from the society. Women’s lives are under controlled by patriarchal nature of the Indian society. In such a social system women were denied the rights of education. Women are always given the responsibility of taking care of the family and children. They were not even allowed to make their own decisions in life. As a result, women’s lives depended entirely on the men in the family. In such a situation, Savitribai Phule came up and introduced women’s education with the help a social reformer like Jyotiba Phule. After the emergence of women’s education in society, a ray of hope and a sense for gender equality came up. Therefore, Savitribai Phule played a very important role in women’s education and the fight for women education in India.
Although we all know that India is also named as the ‘Mother of India’, but when it comes to the question of women’s rights, women’s education, women’s participation in the political arena, and the issue of women’s careers is left out of the discussion session. Savitribai Phule was a prominent social reformer and an educationist in India.
Importance of Education in the Gender Perspective
Education plays a very important role in the society. Every individual needs education. But when we talk about gender and education, we see that education for women was always denied. Education was not offered to women, whereas only men had rights to education. There was a perception in the society that education is for men only. Therefore, women were excluded from education. But Savitribai Phule and many such social reformers started fighting for women’s education and for women’s empowerment. If women are educated, they will be able to live independently. And the concept of gender equality was ingrained in society. Education made women visible in the public sphere. Not only that but it also created an understanding among women to choose the field of education they wanted to pursue and make a career in. Thus, such changes happened in the society and the importance of education was realised among women. Education builds confidence in a person as well as it gives confidence to live an independent life. Therefore, through education women gained confidence and developed a sense of gender equality and started fighting for their own rights. All this happened because of Savitribai Phule who fought for women’s rights for education.
Contribution
Savitribai Phule’s contribution in the field of women education has left a remarkable impact in Indian history. Whenever women’s issues are discussed Savitribai Phule’s revolution is noticed. Her struggle for women’s rights and the question of gender equality is always remembered. We see that caste, class, religion-based inequality is already established in the society. In such a society there is a great struggle to establish gender equality. In such a society, when Savitribai Phule started going to school, she had to face many problems. While going to school, people who were against women’s education started harassing Savitribai. People used to throw stones at her as she passed, not only that, people used to throw mud and dung at her. But Savitribai endured such violence and ignited the flame of equality in the society. And took steps against such persuasive thinking. Savitribai Phule is known as a crusader for women’s empowerment. Savitribai Phule emphasized the importance of education for women and people in disadvantaged communities. Education is the only medium through which women and underprivileged people will break free from socially constructed discriminated practices. When Savitribai Phule started teaching girls, a new hope was born in women, and the ratio of girls’ education began to increase. So, we can say that this was the biggest revolution in Indian history.
Every year, on the day of Savitribai Phule’ birth anniversary, people of India, cherish her contribution to society. On this day the 3rd of January, Savitribai Phule’ movement on women’s education is reminded and promoted for the future generations.
*दलित टाइम्स उन करोड़ो लोगो की आवाज़ है जिन्हें हाशिए पर रखा गया है। *
महिला, दलित और आदिवासियों के मुद्दों पर केंद्रित पत्रकारिता करने और मुख्यधारा की मीडिया में इनका प्रतिनिधित्व करने के लिए हमें आर्थिक सहयोग करें।
