Savitribai Phule’s legacy as a pioneering educator and social reformer places her as a trailblazer in India's fight for gender equality and social justice. Breaking through the deep-seated social divides of her time, she became India’s first female educator and played a foundational role in the establishment of the country’s first school for girls. At a time when women, especially from marginalized communities, were denied basic education, Savitribai and her husband, Jyotirao Phule, took bold steps to defy tradition and create educational opportunities for girls. In 1848, they started the first school for girls in Pune, setting a precedent for women’s education in India and challenging the deeply ingrained patriarchy and caste-based discrimination.

Savitribai Phule’s work was not just limited to education but also extended to her broader vision of social reform. She was an advocate for the rights of women and marginalized communities, striving to break the cycle of illiteracy and oppression that held back the most vulnerable in society. She fought fiercely against child marriage, widow discrimination, and the practice of infanticide, advocating for the upliftment of women and children from all castes and backgrounds.

Despite facing public ridicule, abuse, and even physical threats, she continued her work of educating girls and marginalised communities. Her work at the Phule family-run schools helped thousands of girls access an education that was previously denied to them. The creation of educational trusts in the 1850s further expanded her reach, and by the end of her life, she had helped establish 18 schools, a significant contribution to the expansion of education for women and lower-caste communities in India.

Her dedication to education was not limited to the classroom. Savitribai Phule was a prolific writer and poet, using her pen to call for social reform and advocate for women’s rights. Through her poetry, she encouraged oppressed communities to rise above their circumstances through education. Her courage, vision, and relentless pursuit of social change make her an iconic figure in India's history of social reform. She remains a symbol of empowerment, resilience, and the fight for equality.