A Light in the Darkness: Remembering Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, the Father of Female Education in India

A Light in the Darkness: Remembering Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, the Father of Female Education in India

Yesterday did not begin with the usual rhythm of routine. It began with a moment of deep reverence and reflection. It was the birth anniversary of Krantijyoti Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, a visionary whose courage and conviction laid the foundation for female education in India. My team and I gathered to honour his memory. I garlanded his photograph with quiet hands and a heart filled with gratitude. Later, under the gentle morning sun at the New Maharashtra Sadan, we offered floral tributes at his statue, a symbolic gesture to his wonderful glory.
As our Manager read aloud a brief account of his life, I was reminded once again of the sheer magnitude of his contributions. If not for his extraordinary foresight, Maharashtra’s journey toward gender equality and inclusive education would have never have taken off.
Born in 1827, at a time when society was deeply shackled by caste and gender-based oppression,Mahatma  Jyotirao Phule envisioned an India where education was not a privilege reserved for a few, but a fundamental right for all. He did not wait for approval or recognition. He began at home, by educating his wife, Savitribai Phule. With his support, she went on to become India’s first female teacher, a milestone that redefined the possibilities for women in our country.
In 1848, they opened the first school for girls in Pune. It was a quiet revolution. Their courage was met with fierce resistance, social boycott, verbal abuse, even stones hurled as they walked to school yet, they carried on in their mission with unwavering faith.
In an era engulfed in orthodoxy, superstition, and injustice, Mahatma Phule lit the flame of reform. He believed that knowledge is the ultimate form of liberation, and that without the education of women, society could never claim to be free.
He expanded his efforts beyond gender and opened schools for Dalits and widows. In 1873, founded the Satyashodhak Samaj,  a Society of Truth Seekers to challenge caste hierarchies, fight social evils, and promote equality. His vision was not merely about resisting oppression; it was about building a just and inclusive India.
Today, when young girls access digital classrooms, when women confidently walk into universities and boardrooms, they are treading the path he carved. Every girl who learns to read, every woman who finds her voice, every daughter who dares to dream is part of the story Mahatma Phule began.
Maharashtra now stands tall as a leader in literacy and gender equality. The female literacy rate of 75%  here surpasses the national average of about 70 %.
Digital education under Samagra Shiksha are reaching even the most remote villages. These achievements are the fruits of the seeds Mahatma Phule planted nearly two centuries ago.
Government initiatives, awareness campaigns, and innovative public-private partnerships in education continue to echo his ideals. The state’s progressive approach to inclusive schooling reflects the enduring power of his philosophy.
As we mark his birth anniversary, let it not be a mere ritual. Let it be a moment of renewal. Let us honour his memory not just with flowers, but with action by educating the next generation, by empowering women in our homes and communities, and by remembering that one courageous soul truly can awaken a nation.
At a time when history silenced women, Phule not only dared to educate his wife but inspired her to teach others. Today, the most meaningful tribute we can offer him is to emulate that spirit by ensuring that no child, especially no girl, is denied education, and by actively supporting the careers and aspirations of women in our families.

R. Vimala, IAS
Compassionate Bureaucrat & PhD Scholar, IIT Bombay