Savitribai Phule, a pioneer of women's education in modern India, was born in Naigaon, Satara district, Maharashtra, to Khandoji Nevase Patil and Laxmibai. After her marriage to Jotirao Phule, she came to Pune. Jyotirao had established schools for girls and students from communities regarded as Shudra and Atishudra; however, trained women teachers were not available to teach girls. Savitribai underwent teacher training at a missionary school and began teaching at the girls' school established by Jotirao and his associates.

For a woman to receive modern education and teach other girls was a major challenge to the orthodox social order of the time. Savitribai endured stones, cow-dung and verbal abuse on her way to school; nevertheless, the Phule couple established eighteen schools and night schools in Pune. These schools had teachers and students from diverse castes and religions. At the Infanticide Prevention Home established by Mahatma Phule, Savitribai cared compassionately for women and children. They adopted Yashwant, who was born there, and supported his education; he later became a doctor. As a founding member of the Satyashodhak Samaj, she managed community kitchens during famines and secured foodgrains from the administration.

Savitribai stood by Jyotirao in all his endeavours. At his funeral, she defied social conventions and took the lead, and later guided the Satyashodhak Samaj. She preserved Jotirao's writings and oversaw the publication of 'Sarvajanik Satyadharma'. In 1897, while nursing plague patients in Pune, she contracted the disease and succumbed to it. Through her work for education, women's emancipation, social equality and humanitarian service, Savitribai made an unparalleled contribution to the making of modern India.