(This story was first published on 3 January 2020 and is being reposted from The Quint’s archives to mark Savitribai Phule’s death anniversary.)
“Awake, arise and educate
Smash traditions – liberate
We’ll come together and learn
Policy-righteousness-religion.
Slumber not but blow the trumpet
O Brahman, dare not you upset.
Give a war cry, rise fast
Rise, to learn and act.”
As India celebrates the 189th birth anniversary of its first woman teacher, Savitribai Phule’s words from her poem ‘Awake, Arise and Educate’ ring loud.
Born on 3 January 1831 in Naigaon, Maharashtra, Savitribai was born into a family of the Mali community, now an Other Backward Caste (OBC). When she was nine, she was married to 13-year-old Jyotirao Phule.
Hailing from an oppressed caste and being a woman, she was denied any education before her marriage. Even her husband, Jyotirao, who also belonged to the Mali community, was forced to leave school by Brahmins. He later received his education from a Scottish…