Savitribai Phule Savitribai Phule (1831–1897) was a pioneering educator, social reformer, and poet, and one of India's first female teachers. Alongside her husband, Jyotirao Phule, she championed women's rights and social equality, playing a foundational role in India's feminist movement. Together, they established the first school for girls in Pune in 1848 at the home of Tatyasaheb Bhide, known as Bhidewada. Early Life and Education Born on January 3, 1831, in Naigaon, Satara District, Maharashtra, Savitribai belonged to the Mali community. She married Jyotirao at a young age and was initially illiterate. Encouraged by her husband, she pursued education and later underwent teacher training in Ahmednagar and Pune, becoming one of the first Indian women to be formally trained as a teacher. Career and Social Work Savitribai and Jyotirao founded several schools focused on educating girls and marginalized communities. By 1851, they ran three schools in Pune with over 150 stude...