Savitribai Phule’s Literary Contribution

Savitribai Phule was also a prolific author and poet. More than 200 books have been written on Jotirao and Savitribai in Marathi. Along with books in Marathi, books have also been published in Hindi, English, Telugu, Kannada, Punjabi, Urdu, Sindhi and Gujarati. About 40 of these books have been written on Savitribai. She published Kavya Phule in 1854 and Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar in 1892, and also a poem entitled “Go, Get Education” in which she encouraged those who are oppressed to free themselves by obtaining an education.

If we are to look at non-literary, academic books among these, the Savitriabai Jotirao Phule yanche Alpacharitra written by Shantabai Raghunath Bankar in 1939 and Krantidevata Sadhvi Savitribai Phule written by Phulwantabai Zodage in 1966 are especially important. Following in their footsteps, Dr M.G. Mali wrote the biographical book ’Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule’ in 1980 and Dr K. P. Deshpande wrote Agniphule in 1982, based on Savitribai’s life and literature. The books that were published following these are mostly based on the above and do not contain new information. But it is sad to note that not even, a single critical biography has ever been written on Savitribai yet.

As a result of her experience and work, she became an ardent feminist. She established the Mahila Seva Mandal to raise awareness for issues concerning women’s rights. She also called for a gathering place for women that was free of caste discrimination or differentiation of any kind. Symbolic of this was that all the women that attended were to sit on the same mat. Savitribai was also an anti-infanticide activist. She opened a women’s shelter called the Home for the Prevention of Infanticide, where Brahmin widows could safely deliver their children and leave them there to be adopted if they so desired. She also campaigned against child marriage and was a advocate of widow remarriage.

In a letter to Jotirao, Saviribai told a story about a boy about to be lynched by his fellow villagers for having relations with a woman of lower caste when Savitribai intervened. She wrote, “I came to know about their murderous plan. I rushed to the spot and scared them away, pointing out the grave consequences of killing the lovers under the British law. They changed their mind after listening to me”.