CONTRIBUTION OF SAVITRIBAI
What we must remember :
Savitribai, along with Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, fought for the rights of women, peasants, Dalits and backward castes. Both of them bravely faced the abuses hurled at them by reactionary and casteist dominant forces. They carried on their struggle for gender equality and fight against caste system in spite of tremendous maltreatment by the Manuwadi and Brahminic forces.
Savitribai fought against the totalitarianism of the caste system and other social evils till her last moments. She was a strong voice for gender equality. It is because of the strength and vigour she had that at a time when people from certain sections of the society were seen as untouchables, she gave them shelter in her home and took care of them. She challenged the Brahmin hegemony and fractured their dominance through her enduring and heroic struggle for women's and marginalised people's rights. She overcame and survived everyday harassment and oppression and dared to learn and teach other women.
Our academia and nation both have done great disservice to her contribution and struggles for the upliftment of the disregarded by erasing her life-story from our history books, nationalist mainstream discourse and our memory. The total erasure of her struggle against the caste system, Brahminism, patriarchy and discrimination and exclusion of the untouchables is a testimony of nothing but our nation's brutality and a stain on the upper caste Brahmin- dominated knowledge production system of India.
Her Writing and Valuable Contribution :
Savitribai Phule's poems and other writings continue to be an inspiration for many and remain pioneering in the struggle against India's caste system. She has put together some very valuable writing.
Kavyaphule Collection of poems, 1854 Jyotirao's - Speeches, Edited by Savitribai Phule, 25 December 1856 Savitribai's Letters to JyotiraoSpeeches of Matoshree Savitribai, 1892 Bavankashi Subodh Ratnakar, 1892.
These works have been collected together in a 194-page volume 'The Complete Works of Savitribai Phule' edited by Dr M. G. Mali. The volume has an introduction by the famous thinker and philosopher Dr Surendra Barlinge. 'Kavyaphule', published in 1854, was the first anthology of Savitribai's poems. It has a total of 41 poems on the themes such as nature, social issues, instructive poems and historical poems. 'Jyotirao's Speeches' is a volume edited by Savitribai and the transcription has been done by Charles Joshi. This book was published in 1856 and contains four speeches by Jyotirao. 'Savitribai's Letters to Jyotirao' has a total of three letters written from Otur and Naigaon. 'Speeches of Matoshree Savitribai' contains Savitribai's speeches on varied topics such as enterprise, imparting education, good conduct, addictions and loans, among others. They have been edited by Shastri Naro Babaji Mahadhat Pansare Patil and were published by Vatsal Press, Baroda in 1892. 'Bavankashi Subodh Ratnakar' is collection of poems that narrates the history of India, including Jyotirao's work in prose. It has 52 compositions. This poetry was composed in 1891 after Jyotirao's death and published as a book in 1892.
The support, cooperation and companionship that Savitribai gave Jyotirao throughout his life is extraordinary. The ideal of equality between men and women and peaceful companionship that they have set, transcends the limits of time and space. The path-breaking work that they did in the fields of education, social justice, eradication of caste and the eradication of priestly power illuminates not only the past but also the present. It is a contribution without parallels even in the present times. This legacy of Savitribai will continue to enrich our lives forever.
Teacher's Day :
Since 1962, 5th September in India is observed as Teachers day in India. The significance of this day, as we all have been taught in schools, is that it is the birth anniversary of independent India's first vice president and second president, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1988-1975). In our popular knowledge, the stereotypical understanding of educators, teachers and gurus is restricted and limited to upper caste Brahmin men like Radhakrishnan, Dronacharya, and Manu - to name a few. These and many other 'meritorious' men have shaped our history, which not only excludes the lower castes and bahujans from its discourse, but also reinforces that the right to education and especially the right to teach remains within the ambit of the 'born meritorious' upper castes.
To counter to this, a section of people have been raising their voice against this mainstream culture of commemoration by challenging and rejecting the celebration of Teachers' Day on this day. They instead, are celebrating January 3rd, the birth day of Savitribai Phule, as Education Day/National Teachers Day.
Compiler : GIRISH DARUNTE, MANMAD
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