Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule.

Why in news?

• A controversy erupted after Maharashtra governor’s remarks on Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule.
• Their contributions:
• They stand out as an extraordinary couple in the social and educational history of India.
• Started a school for girls, Shudras and Ati-Shudras in Poona (1848)
• Opened a care centre for pregnant widows (1853) to have safe deliveries and to end the practice of infanticide owing to social norms.
• The Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha was started in their own house in Pune.
• Established Satyashodhak Samaj (The Truth-Seeker’s Society) in 1873,that advocated for social changes that went against prevalent traditions like inter-caste marriages, eradication of child marriages, and widow remarriage etc.