Celebrating India's first Woman Educators

January 03, 2026, (Saturday:) in the Sah Sahagaddi Masjid Slum under Ward No. 09, the birth anniversary of India's first female teacher and social reformer poetess Savitribai Phule Ji was celebrated by the women of our focus community with great enthusiasm as "Savitri Bai- Fatima Sheikh Jayanti.

The birth anniversary ceremony was presided over by ML leader and former Grand Alliance candidate from the Digha Assembly, Prof. Divya Gautam, and conducted by ML leader and social worker Jitendra Kumar.

Prof Divya Gautam (centre) and others

While presiding over the birth anniversary ceremony, Mrs. Divya Gautam said that the most revered Savitribai Phule lit the light of education across the entire India. In 1848, she established India's first girls' school in Pune and became the first principal herself. She was aided by her companion Fatima Sheikh. Both the women faced several difficulties as they struggled to bring the light of reading and writing to female children.

Dilip Kumar addressing the gathering

Savitribai raised her voice against widow remarriage, child marriage, and untouchability. She ran shelters for orphans and widows. Under the banner of the organization named Satya Shodhak Samaj, she emphasized social equality. Her life is still a source of inspiration for education and equality today.

Everyone should follow the path shown by Savitribai Phule for women's empowerment with their true heart, soul, and spirit.

Further, Divya Gautam said that in this bitterly cold weather, the bulldozer policy being run by the government is inhumane, and she called upon all slum dwellers to remain united to claim their rights. The entire arrangement of the birth anniversary ceremony was handled by Ashray Abhiyan local community leader Rukmini Devi, and Ashray Abhiyan members Dilip Kumar alias Dilip Patel, and Saraswati Devi.

The birth anniversary ceremony was addressed by Ward No. 09 Councilor Ashish Kumar Shankar, Dilip Patel, Rukmini Devi, Saraswati Devi, Ranju Devi, Ratan Devi, Maksudhan Paswan, Shatrudhan Prasad, Ballu Paswan, along with many others.