Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Savitribai Phule and Rani Velu Nachiyar on their birth anniversary.

 Key Points

• With her selflessness and dedication, Savitribai Phule led the way in women's upliftment and social reforms.
• In the field of education she strongly advocated the rights of women and marginalised people.
• She paved the way for the education and empowerment of millions of girls by opposing all the conservative social norms.

 Early life of Savitribai Phule

• Born on January 3, 1831, in the Satara district of Maharashtra to Lakshmi and Khandoji Nevase Patil, Savitribai Phule married social activist Jyotirao Phule at the age of nine.
• Despite social opposition, her husband Jyotirao Phule taught her to read and write and helped her enrol in a teacher training institute.

 India's first female teacher

• After completing her primary education, Savitribai enrolled in teacher training programs in Ahmednagar and Pune.
• After her training she started teaching girls in Maharwada, Pune with the help of her husband's guru, Sagunabai.
• In 1848, the Phule couple opened the country's first girls' school in Bhide Wada, Pune.
• He then opened a total of 18 schools, providing education to children of different castes, which was a great achievement for that time.
• She advocated against child marriage and the practice of Sati, due to which Savitribai Phule had to face sharp criticism.
• She founded Mahila Seva Mandal to promote women's education rights and widow remarriage.

 Savitribai Jyoti Rao Phule Fellowship

• Keeping in mind the immense contribution of Savitribai Phule in the field of education, the University Grants Commission (UGC) offers 'Savitribai Jyoti Rao Phule Fellowship' for single girls.
• The objective of this fellowship is to encourage single girls to promote research work by providing fellowship to them during the five year period of PhD degree.

  Rani Velu Nachiyar

• Rani Velu Nachiyar was an 18th century queen of Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu.
• Velu Nachiyar was born on 3 January 1730.
• At the age of 16, Velu Nachiyar was married to Muthu Vaduganathperiya, the king of Sivagangai.
• In the year 1772, the British army and the Nawab of Arcot together attacked Sivagangai.
• During this war, King Muthu Vaduganathperiya was killed fighting for his kingdom but Queen 'Velu Nachiyar' somehow managed to save herself.
• After this he formed an alliance with various kings of the surrounding areas and started a war against British rule to take back his kingdom.
• After the war, Queen Velu Nachiyar regained her kingdom.
• It is noteworthy that she was the first queen to fight against colonial power.
• The queen died on December 25, 1796, but the Tamil people never forgot her courage and bravery.
• On December 31, 2008, the Government of India issued a postage stamp in honour of Rani Velu Nachiyar