Savitribai Phule's Contribution to Woman Liberation

 

Savitribai Phule was one of the crusaders of gender justice. Although she was at first illiterate, she began getting education after matrimony. She Passed fourth and third season examination from a school in 1846-47. Savitribai's passion for female education started by beginning a school with Sagunabai found Maharwada in 1847. Later, on 1st January 1848, Country's very first school for females was started for Bhide's wada in Savitribai and Pune was nominated as the very first head mistress of the school. She was appointed as a professor, at the moment when training of females was meant to be an unholy, unheard of thing, furthermore an affront too conventional honour.

Savitribai was a first Indian woman who fought against oppression of women, dalits and religious minorities. She strongly believed that education can liberate women from the oppressive patriarchal structures. To make the people aware about her devoted work towards society Mountain Peak Publishers published a book in 2008 by the name ‘Forgotten Liberator — The Life and Struggle of Savitribai Phule’. She is one of the much devoted person who fought against the totalitarianism of caste and social evils in India. She declared the war against casteism and Brahminic castes culture. Initially she was uneducated but Jyotiba Phule encouraged her to study. Later on she became first lady teacher of India. She had gone through lot of struggle. Orthodox people troubled her a lot but she faced it courageously and peacefully. She had adopted the child of Brahmin widow as her child whose name was Yashwant. Against the tradition of shaving the heads of widows she organized a strike of barbers.

Both Savitribai and Jyotirao carried out the struggle of theirs for gender equality as well as battle against caste system in spite of huge mal exercise by the Brahminic and Manuwadi forces. In spite of strong opposition as well as hurdles Jyotiba was solid on teaching females with assistance of the wife Savitribai of his. The firmness of his on teaching females might be noticed in the interview of his to DYANANODAYA on 15th September 1853. He states It did happen to me that the improvement which comes about in a kid because of the mom is really important as well as good. So those that are actually worried about the well-being as well as welfare of this nation should take note of the state of females and make every attempt to impart knowledge to them in case they would like the nation to improvement. With this particular idea, I began the school for females initially. But the caste brethren of mine didn't like I was training females and the own dad of mine threw us from the building. No one was prepared to provide room for the school nor did we've cash to make it. Most people weren't prepared to send the kids of theirs to school but Lahuji Ragh, Raut Mang and Ranba Mahar convinced the caste brethren of theirs regarding the positive aspects of getting educated.

In 1863, Jyotirao and Savitribai also started a care center called ‘Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha,’ possibly the first ever infanticide prohibition home founded in India. It was set up so that pregnant Brahmin widows and rape victims can deliver their children in a safe and secure place thus preventing the killing of widows as well as reducing the rate of infanticide. In 1874, Jyotirao and Savitribai, who were otherwise issueless, went on to adopt a child from a Brahmin widow called Kashibai thus sending a strong message to the progressive people of the society. The adopted son, Yashavantrao, grew up to become a doctor.

Accurate information about the Home for the Prevention of Infanticide started by Savitribai-Jotirao in 1863 has become available only recently. What is significant is that this home had been started only for Brahman widows and Savitribai had taken the initiative for it. All the information regarding this has been recorded in a letter written by Jotirao Phule on 4 December 1884 to the Under Secretary, Government of Mumbai.

A young Brahman widow named Kashibai used to work as a cook at the home of Jotirao’s Brahman friend, Govande. Kashibai was a poor, young, beautiful, honourable Brahman widow from a good family. A scheming Shastri from the neighbourhood took advantage of this illiterate widow and as a result, she became pregnant. When all efforts at abortion failed, she gave birth to a beautiful baby. Since the shastri refused to take up any responsibility, Kashibai was in a quandary. Fearing that society will not let her live, she killed the innocent baby by slitting its throat. She threw the body in the well in Govande’s compound, where it was later discovered. The Police filed a case against Kashibai and she was sentenced for life imprisonment in the Andamans. The incident took place in 1863. It was the first time a woman had been sentenced to such severe punishment.

Savitribai and Jotirao were very upset and saddened by this trial and the turn of events. During that time, their own income was very limited. They were having trouble surviving but their heart was full of compassion and generosity. They immediately started a shelter home for such Brahman widows in their own house at 395, Ganj Peth, Pune. Others merely kept discussing this trial, which resonated throughout the country but Jotirao and Savitribai actually started work for these exploited widows.

This brings out the difference between them and others of their times. They put up advertisements all over the city and at places of pilgrimage announcing it as a way to avoid kalepani (life imprisonment in the Andamans) and thus, the information about the shelter home spread. By 1884, 35 Brahman widows had come to them from different places. Savitribai would herself help in the delivery of their children and take care of them.

In 1874, another exploited Kashibai came to them and they adopted her son. They brought up this child and educated him to become a doctor. Later, he grew up to continue the work started by them. On 10 July 1887, Jotirao made his will and got it registered at the office of the Upanibandhak (Deputy Registrar). In that, he notes with pride that Savitribai would take care of all these women as if they were her own daughters.

Savitribai was the inspiration behind the movement started by Narayan Meghaji Lokhande, the editor of Deenbandhu and the leader of the working classes, to put an end to the tonsure of Brahman widows by organising barbers and bringing about their strike. The report of this historic strike by barbers was published by The Times on 9 April 1890. Women from England even sent a congratulatory letter to them for the effort.

While Jyotirao advocated widow remarriage, Savitribai worked tirelessly against social evils like child marriage and sati pratha, two of the most sensitive social issues that were gradually weakening the very existence of women. She also made effort in bringing the child widows into mainstream by educating and empowering them and advocated for their re-marriage. Such pursuits also met with strong resistance from the conservative upper caste society.