Crusader of Woman Education Nominated for Bharat Ratna

On Aug 7, 2018

NP NEWS NETWORK

The Maharashtra government has appealed to the Central Government to nominate Mahatma Jyotiba Phule for posthumously Bharat Ratna Award. The date for applying for the award has just ended and Center has received more than 11,000 applications. These awards are going to be announced on the eve of the Republic Day.

The state government has recommended the Bharat Ratna Award which is India’s highest civilian award to the great social reformer Mahatma Phule and revolutionary lady Savitribai Phule.

recently, the OBC Maha Sangh’s grand convention was held at Worli. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the name of Maharashtra’s education crusader will be recommended for Bharat Ratna Awards. The Chief Minister has demanded that Mahatma Phule should be honoured with this award on the occasion of 125th Birth Anniversary.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had also said that in 2015, he was trying to get Bharat Ratna for Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule. Supriya Sule had made this demand in the Lok Sabha in 2018. Apart from this, many OBC organizations had also demanded Bharat Ratna several times.

Jyotirao ‘Jyotiba’ Govindrao Phule was a prominent social reformer and thinker of the nineteenth century India. He led the movement against the prevailing caste-restrictions in India. He revolted against the domination of the Brahmins and struggled for the rights of peasants and other low-caste people. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule was also a pioneer for women education in India and fought for the education of girls throughout his life. He is believed to be the first Hindu to start an orphanage for the unfortunate children.

Savitribai Phule, with her husband, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule played an important role in improving women’s rights in India during the British Rule. Savitribai was the first female teacher of the first women’s school in India and also considered as the pioneer of modern Marathi poetry. In 1852 she opened a school for Untouchable girls.

Parliamentary affairs minister Girish Bapat had said that a grand memorial will also be set up in the name of Savitribai Phule in Bhidewada in Pune, where the first girls’ school of the country had started. He has given the instructions to complete the work of this memorial on priority to Municipal Corporation. Also, the tourism and cultural work department of the Government has been instructed to complete this work as soon as possible.