PMC seeks Bharat Ratna honour for Savitribai, Jyotirao Phule

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has passed a resolution urging the union government to declare posthumous Bharat Ratna, highest civilian award, to social reformer couple Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule for being pioneers of women education in the country.

Congress leader Ulhas Bagul had tabled the resolution to urge the union government to declare Bharat Ratna to the social reformer couple in the general body meeting and was unanimously passed with support of all the political parties. The resolution of request would now be forwarded to the state and union government.

“The PMC is the first civic body in the country to pass a resolution demanding Bharat Ratna to social reformers Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule,” said Ulhas alias Abba Bagul, leader of Congress in PMC, who tabled the resolution in the general body.

The citizens of PMC have an emotional connection with the social work of Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule. Their house is conserved as a national monument. The PMC has also built a memorial of Jyotirao Phule in the premises of civic headquarters and memorials of the couple have been built in various places across the country.

The Satyashodhak Samaj, society of Truth seekers, was formed under Jyotirao’s leadership to ensure equal rights for people from exploited castes and upliftment of the oppressed class. They also started the first girls school in 1848 in Pune at Bhidewada.