Savitribhai Phule (1831-1897)

Savitribhai Phule is known as the first female teacher in India. Alongside her husband Jyotirao Phule, opened the first school for girls in Pune in 1848. Her relentless fight for education for women and marginalized communities was revolutionary in a time when education for girls was largely forbidden. She went on to establish a shelter (1864) for destitute women and played a crucial role in grooming Jyotirao Phule’s pioneering institution, Satyashodhak Samaj, (1873) that fought for equality of all classes. Her life is heralded as a beacon of women’s rights in India. She is often referred to as the mother of Indian feminism. Her life and work is a testament to social reform and female empowerment in Indian society. She remains an inspiration for many women rights’ activists in modern times.

Fathima Sheikh (1831-1900)

Fathima Sheikh was a trailblazing educator and one of India’s first Muslim women teachers. She collaborated with the Phules to teach at their school, challenging societal norms by actively promoting education for the marginalized, including Dalit and Muslim communities. Alongside Savitribai Phule, Sheikh established two schools for girls during a time when women’s rights were not even considered a thing. She was born into a Muslim family and faced numerous challenges due to societal norms and restrictions on women’s education at the time. However, as she grew, she challenged the societal norms that restricted women. Her commitment to spreading knowledge and breaking gender barriers made her a significant figure in the fight for inclusive education.

Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1880-1932)

A pioneering feminist and educationist from Bengal, Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain established the Sakhawat Memorial Girls' School in 1911, specifically for Muslim girls, encouraging them to receive a formal education. Her main goal was the emancipation of women. She believed that education, if delivered effectively, would empower women and free them from the constraints of rigid patriarchal and sexist standards. Her devotion was to expand female education in the Bengali Muslim society. Her bold advocacy for women’s rights and her work in education led to a greater acceptance of schooling for girls in Bengal, and she remains a powerful symbol for women’s education in India

Sarala Devi Chaudhurani (1872-1945)

Sarala Devi Chaudhurani was a prominent feminist and social reformer who believed in women's empowerment through education and self-reliance. She is the founder of the Bharat Stree Mahamandal, which was the first national-level women's organization in India. One of the primary goals of the organization was to promote female education. The organization believed in the advancement of women by bringing together women of every race, class and party in India. She promoted women’s education, particularly vocational training, so that women could become economically independent. Her efforts contributed to the early feminist movement in India and encouraged generations of women to seek education as a means of empowerment.

Pandita Ramabhai (1852-1922)

Pandita Ramabai was a Sanskrit scholar and a strong advocate for women’s rights, especially the education of widows. She founded the Mukti Mission in Pune, a refuge and school for widows and orphans, providing them with vocational training and a chance at independence. In 1882, Ramabai founded the Arya Mahila Samaj in Pune. The Arya Mahila Samaj was instrumental in organizing efforts to uplift women, advocating for education, and challenging regressive practices like child marriage. It encouraged women to learn, engage in public life, and seek independence. In 1889, Pandita Ramabai established the Sharada Sadan, which was a residential school for child widows. This institution offered not only academic education but also vocational training, enabling women to gain economic independence. Before the English Education Commission, she begged for changes to the curriculum for Indian women's education. This led to the establishment of Lady Dufferin College as the first institution for Indian women to get medical education.

Her commitment to educating women in need challenged societal norms and laid the groundwork for future social reform for women’s education.