Savitribai Phule (1831–1897) was a pioneering Indian social reformer, educator, and poet, widely regarded as the first female teacher of modern India. She is a key figure in Indian history, particularly for her work in women's rights and anti-caste movements in 19th-century Maharashtra.
Born on January 3, 1831, in Naigaon, Bombay Presidency, she was married to social reformer Jyotirao Phule at a young age. The problem she sought to solve was the denial of education and rights to women and marginalized communities, which was deeply entrenched in the caste system. In 1848, she and her husband established the first indigenously-run school for girls at Bhide Wada in Pune, with Savitribai becoming its first teacher. Despite facing intense hostility, including having stones and dung thrown at her, she carried a spare sari and continued her work.
Her mechanism for social change centered on education and institutional reform. By 1851, the Phules managed three girls' schools in Pune. She co-founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Truth Seekers) in 1873 with her husband, which aimed to promote social equality and uplift Shudras and other lower-caste people. She also established the Mahila Seva Mandal in 1852 to raise awareness about women's rights and the Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha (Infanticide Prevention Home) in 1863 to provide a safe space for pregnant widows. Her work connects directly to the broader Dalit-Bahujan and feminist movements in India. Her literary contributions include the poetry collections Kavya Phule (1854) and Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar (1892). Her legacy remains unchanged as a foundational figure in Indian social reform, with the University of Pune being renamed Savitribai Phule Pune University in her honor in 2015.