Wednesday, January 4, 2012



KRANTIJYOTI SAVITRIMAI FULE




KRANTIJYOTI SAVITRIMAI FULE yanchi kaal 3 jan laa 181 vya Jayanti nimitt Tyancha Karyala Koti Koti Pranam !!




भारत की पहिली स्त्री शिक्षिका क्रांतिज्योती सावित्रीबाई फुले इनके जन्मदिन पर उनके राष्ट्रद्धारक विचारोको क्रांतिकारी वंदन !!

ये माता तेरे ही क्रांतिसे से आज
बेहन मायावती देश के मुख्यमंत्री बनी
महामहिम प्रतिभाजी राष्ट्रपति बनी
जयललिता, बेनर्जी, दीक्षित मुख्यमंत्री बनी
किरण बेदी आय पि एस बनी
सोनिया देश की नेता बनी
सुषमा विपक्ष की नेता बनी
बेटी पायलट, वैज्ञानिक बनी
अफसर हुक्मरान बनी
तुम्ही हो देश की भारतमाता
तुम्ही हो महिलाओ की विधाता !!



From WikiPedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savitribai_Phule

Early life

SavitriBai was born in Naigaon village in Satara district to mother LaxmiBai and father Khandoji Navse Patil, who was the village chief. SavitriBai at a tender age of just nine years was married to JyotiRao Phule (age thirteen) in the year 1840, according to hindu calender the tithi (tithi = date)of their marriage was Falgun Vadhya panchami, Shakey 1765. SavitriBai’s father-in-law, Govindrao Phule, was basically from Phursungi with the last name Khirsagar But the Peshwa gifted him a horticultural land in Pune, because of which he migrated to Pune and started a horticultural business. This was why he acquired the last name Phule (Phul = flower. Many last names in India are acquired due to the family business). SavitriBai’s husband JyotiRao lost his mother at a very young age. His maternal cousin sister Saguna (lovingly called SagunaAau by JyotiRao, Aau=mother) nurtured him. SagunaAau worked as a nanny of a British officer’s son. She therefore understood and was even able to converse in English. She used this knowledge to inspire JyotiRao. JyotiRao was thus attracted towards education. SavitriBai had been given a book by a Christian missionary before her marriage which she brought with her to her in-laws house. This shows the attraction she had for words and books despite being uneducated. SavitriBai setup a school for SagunaAau on 1st May 1847 in a backward community. This was their first school. SagunaAau started teaching there happily and enthusiastically. A year later when a school was started in Bhide Wada in Pune, SagunaAau was called there to teach. The first school had stopped working abruptly due to lack of acceptability for education for lower caste people in those days.

[edit]Women education and social reformer

Mahatma Jyotiba is regarded as one of the most important figures in social reform movement in Maharashtra and India. He is most known for his efforts to educate women and the lower castes. Jyotirao, then called as Jyotiba was Savitribai’s mentor and supporter. Under his influence Savitribai had taken women’s education and their liberation from the cultural patterns of the male-dominated society as mission of her life. She worked towards tackling some of the then major social problems including women’s liberation, widow remarriages and removal of untouchability.

[edit]Women’s education

However, apart from all these oppositions, Savitribai yet continued to teach the girls. Whenever Savitribai went out of her house, groups of orthodox men would follow her and abuse her in obscene language. They would throw rotten eggs, cow dung, tomatoes and stones at her. She would walk meekly and arrive at her school. Fed up with the treatment meted out to her, she even decided to give up. But it was because of her husband that she continued with her efforts. He told Savitribai Jyotiba who was working for women's education had started the first girl’s school and required women teachers to assist him. Jyotiba educated and trained Savitribai, his first and ideal candidate for this job of a teacher. Savitribai and Jyotiba faced fierce resistance from the orthodox elements of society for this. Jyotiba sent her to a training school from where she passed out with flying colours along with a Muslim lady Fatima Sheikh.[3] When Savitribai completed her studies, she, along with her husband, started a school for girls on 1st January 1848 in a place called Bhide Wada, Narayan Peth, Pune. Nine girls, belonging to different castes enrolled themselves as students.
Slowly and steadily, she established herself. Jyotiba and Savitribai managed to open 5 more schools in the year 1848 itself. She was ultimately honoured by the British for her educational work. In 1852 Jyotiba and Savitribai were felicitated and presented with a shawl each by the government for their commendable efforts in Vishrambag Wada.

[edit]Widow Remarriage

The next step was equally revolutionary. During those days marriages were arranged between young girls and old men. Men used to die of old age or some sickness and the girls they had married were left widows. Thus, widows were not expected to use cosmetics or to look beautiful. Their heads were shaved and the widows were compelled by society to lead an ascetic life.
Savitribai and Jyotiba were moved by the plight of such widows and castigated the barbers. They organized a strike of barbers and persuaded them not to shave the heads of widows. This was the first strike of its kind. They also fought against all forms of social prejudices. They were moved to see the untouchables who were refused drinking water meant for the upper caste. Both Jyotiba and Savitribai opened up their reservoir of water to the untouchables in the precincts of their house.

[edit]Social reforms

Savitribai was not only involved in educational activities of Jyotirao but also in every social struggle that he launched. Once Jyotiba stopped a pregnant lady from committing suicide, promising her to give her child his name after it was born. Savitribai readily accepted the lady in her house and willingly assured to help her deliver the child. Savitribai and Jyotiba later on adopted this child who then grew up to become a doctor and after Jyotiba's death, lit his pyre and completed his duties as a rightful son. This incident opened new horizons for the couple. They thought of the plight of widows in Hindu society. Many women were driven to commit suicide by men who had exploited them to satisfy their lust and then deserted them. Therefore, Savitribai and Jyotiba put boards on streets about the "Delivery Home" for women on whom pregnancy had been forced. The delivery home was called "Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha".
Jyotiba and Savitribai were also opposed to idolatry and championed the cause of peasants and workers. They faced social isolation and vicious attacks from people whom they questioned. After his demise, Savitribai took over the responsibility of Satya Shodhak Samaj, founded by Jyotiba. She presided over meetings and guided workers.
In 1868 she welcomed untouchables to take water from her well.

[edit]Death

She worked relentlessly for the victims of plague, where she organized camps for poor children. It is said that she used to feed two thousand children every day during the epidemic. She herself was struck by the disease while nursing a sick child and died on 10 March 1897.

[edit]Legacy

Savitribai's poems and other writings are still an inspiration to others. Two books of her poems were published, Kavya Phule in 1934 and Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar in 1982. Recently theMaharashtra government started an award in her name for Women Who Work Social Causes.
Jotiba and Savitribai opposed idolatry and championed the cause of peasants and workers. Both faced social isolation and vicious attacks from the people whom they questioned. Savitribai's letters give us a good idea about the experiences of women during this social movement. On her death anniversary, a postage stamp was released by the Department of Post and Telegraph.
On March 10, 1998 a stamp was released by Indian post to honour Savitribai's contribution.
Savitribai was a "Vidya Jyoti" for all those who want to do something in the field of education.

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