THE Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, in a statement issued on December 20 has called upon its units to observe Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule’s birth anniversary on January 3 as Women’s Education Day.

Savitribai was born on January 3, 1831 and as was the custom of that period, married to Jyotiba Phule at a young age of nine years. Jyotiba too was a child, aged only thirteen. Encouraged by Jyotiba, Savitribai went to school and got trained as a teacher. She became the first Indian woman teacher, headmistress and later an educator who ran many schools, especially for the girls and the mahars and mangs. For daring to educate girls and dalits, she had to face extreme harassment from the upper castes. Undeterred by all these threats and harassment, she continued with her objective. Savitribai was very courageous and committed to her work for spreading education.

DSMM will organise seminars, cultural programmes, round table meetings etc., commemorating the birth anniversary of Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule on January 3. It will also organise service activities on that day. DSMM has appealed all the people to participate in these programmes and make them a grand success.