Debunking the False Narratives Around Savitribai Phule
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At the Granth Dindi of the Rural Christian Sahitya Sammelan 2025 held in Ahilyanagar recently, many pupils had dressed as various historical figures. However, what raised eyebrows was a girl student portraying Cynthia Farrar — a name now being linked to the mentor of Savitribai Phule, a legendary social reformer who transformed society through her revolutionary contributions to education.
Who is Cynthia Farrar? Was Farrar truly Savitribai’s teacher, or is this just another name inserted into history without basis, much like Fatima Sheikh? This incident raises a crucial question: Is this yet another attempt by leftists / Islamists / Christians to fabricate history, mislead the public, and distort the legacy of India’s true pioneers? We try to look into this matter on 128th death anniversary of Savitribai Phule
Savitribai Phule was a pioneer, a revolutionary, and a relentless crusader for women's rights and social reform in British India. She is widely celebrated as the first female teacher of modern India, a title she earned through her unwavering commitment to education and equality. She, along with her husband Jyotirao Phule, laid the foundation for female education by establishing one of India's first schools for girls in Pune, at Bhide Wada, in 1848. Her tireless efforts in abolishing caste-based oppression and advocating for women’s empowerment have etched her name in history as one of India’s greatest social reformers.
However, Savitribai’s journey towards becoming a revolutionary was not one she walked alone. Behind her rise was the unflinching support of her husband, Jyotirao Phule, who himself was a visionary social reformer. In an era when women's education was deemed taboo, Jyotirao recognised that true change had to begin at home. Savitribai was married to him at the tender age of nine. But Jyotirao refused to let societal norms dictate her fate.
Believing that education was the key, he took it upon himself to teach his wife how to read and write. He became her first teacher, patiently guiding her towards literacy and knowledge. However, this act of defiance was met with severe resistance. When Jyotirao’s father discovered that his son was educating his wife, he issued a stern ultimatum — either abandon this radical idea or leave the house. But for the young couple, the pursuit of education was non-negotiable.
Once Savitribai had mastered the basics of reading and writing, Jyotirao entrusted her advanced education to his friends, Sakharam Yeshwant Paranjpe and Keshav Shivram Bhavalkar. With their support, she continued to study, eventually evolving into a formidable educator and reformer herself.
Historical manipulation: A systematic pattern
However, the ecosystem has long been notorious for hijacking historical narratives, twisting facts, and hammering propaganda into public consciousness until their lies start to sound like the truth. They have done the same in the case of Savitribai Phule. The relentless distortion of history seeks to diminish her and Jyotirao Phule’s immense contributions to education and social reform by falsely crediting external figures like Fatima Sheikh and Cynthia Farrar. This is not just an innocent reinterpretation of history — it is a calculated attack to erase the true identity of India’s reformers and replace it with a leftist-friendly narrative.
Fatima Sheikh has been dubbed as the driving force behind Savitribai’s work. Recently, the historian and intellectual Dilip Mandal admitted that he created the fictional character of Fatima Sheikh. He portrayed her as the first Muslim woman educator in India, an active reformer alongside Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule. This claim gained credibility and her birth anniversary was celebrated, Wikipedia carried an entry on her, and Google honored her with a Doodle.
Notably, the first mention of Fatima Sheikh appeared only around 2019–2020. Before that, there were no historical records or even online sources that referenced her. Mandal’s articles introduced her name, and soon, the secular ecosystem worked collectively to make this fictional persona seem real, complete with a fabricated portrait. Several media houses and leftist, Islamist leaders continue to laud Sheikh as India’s first woman Muslim teacher.
Similar efforts are being put forth by some of the leftists, Christians and Islamists who are trying to claim that an American missionary, Cynthia Farrar, was Savitribai’s “guru”. They have gone a step ahead saying that “Cynthia Farrar was the American Missionary, who trained Savitribai Phule to become a social reformer, and become recognised as the first female teacher in India”.
There are references to Savitribai Phule enrolling in a teaching programme at an American Missionary School in Ahmednagar, run by Cynthia Farrar, a missionary. However, no research paper, article, or other source published before 2010 provides evidence of Phule being trained by Farrar.
Moreover, they are also attempting to portray Cynthia Farrar as the true pioneer of women’s education in India, crediting her with the establishment of women’s schools. What narrative are they trying to construct here? Are they subtly erasing the monumental efforts of Savitribai Phule and Jyotirao Phule, diminishing their role as one of the true architects of women's education in India? And, in doing so, are they deliberately undermining the stature of Savitribai Phule? Isn’t this a gross insult to the legacy of Phule and countless others who fought for education in India?
This ecosystem has also tried to claim that Jyotirao Phule drew inspiration from the Holy Bible. However, there is no substantial evidence to support this.
Is the attempt to forcefully inject a missionary figure into the narrative yet another desperate effort to portray Indian reformers as dependent on Western ‘guidance,’?
By continuously pushing these fabricated narratives, the goal seems clear: to strip away the identity of India’s true leaders and replace them with a version that suits their ideological propaganda.
Savitribai Phule and her husband were self-made revolutionaries who did not need external crutches. Yet, a well-organized system of ideological influencers continues to insert fictional figures into history, misleading the public and distorting India’s social reform movements.
But no matter how many times they hammer their lies, the truth will always prevail. The need of the hour is to call out these fabrications, uphold historical accuracy, and ensure that India’s true reformers receive the recognition they rightfully deserve.
Who is Cynthia Farrar? Was Farrar truly Savitribai’s teacher, or is this just another name inserted into history without basis, much like Fatima Sheikh? This incident raises a crucial question: Is this yet another attempt by leftists / Islamists / Christians to fabricate history, mislead the public, and distort the legacy of India’s true pioneers? We try to look into this matter on 128th death anniversary of Savitribai Phule
Savitribai Phule was a pioneer, a revolutionary, and a relentless crusader for women's rights and social reform in British India. She is widely celebrated as the first female teacher of modern India, a title she earned through her unwavering commitment to education and equality. She, along with her husband Jyotirao Phule, laid the foundation for female education by establishing one of India's first schools for girls in Pune, at Bhide Wada, in 1848. Her tireless efforts in abolishing caste-based oppression and advocating for women’s empowerment have etched her name in history as one of India’s greatest social reformers.
However, Savitribai’s journey towards becoming a revolutionary was not one she walked alone. Behind her rise was the unflinching support of her husband, Jyotirao Phule, who himself was a visionary social reformer. In an era when women's education was deemed taboo, Jyotirao recognised that true change had to begin at home. Savitribai was married to him at the tender age of nine. But Jyotirao refused to let societal norms dictate her fate.
Believing that education was the key, he took it upon himself to teach his wife how to read and write. He became her first teacher, patiently guiding her towards literacy and knowledge. However, this act of defiance was met with severe resistance. When Jyotirao’s father discovered that his son was educating his wife, he issued a stern ultimatum — either abandon this radical idea or leave the house. But for the young couple, the pursuit of education was non-negotiable.
Once Savitribai had mastered the basics of reading and writing, Jyotirao entrusted her advanced education to his friends, Sakharam Yeshwant Paranjpe and Keshav Shivram Bhavalkar. With their support, she continued to study, eventually evolving into a formidable educator and reformer herself.
Historical manipulation: A systematic pattern
However, the ecosystem has long been notorious for hijacking historical narratives, twisting facts, and hammering propaganda into public consciousness until their lies start to sound like the truth. They have done the same in the case of Savitribai Phule. The relentless distortion of history seeks to diminish her and Jyotirao Phule’s immense contributions to education and social reform by falsely crediting external figures like Fatima Sheikh and Cynthia Farrar. This is not just an innocent reinterpretation of history — it is a calculated attack to erase the true identity of India’s reformers and replace it with a leftist-friendly narrative.
Fatima Sheikh has been dubbed as the driving force behind Savitribai’s work. Recently, the historian and intellectual Dilip Mandal admitted that he created the fictional character of Fatima Sheikh. He portrayed her as the first Muslim woman educator in India, an active reformer alongside Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule. This claim gained credibility and her birth anniversary was celebrated, Wikipedia carried an entry on her, and Google honored her with a Doodle.
Notably, the first mention of Fatima Sheikh appeared only around 2019–2020. Before that, there were no historical records or even online sources that referenced her. Mandal’s articles introduced her name, and soon, the secular ecosystem worked collectively to make this fictional persona seem real, complete with a fabricated portrait. Several media houses and leftist, Islamist leaders continue to laud Sheikh as India’s first woman Muslim teacher.
Similar efforts are being put forth by some of the leftists, Christians and Islamists who are trying to claim that an American missionary, Cynthia Farrar, was Savitribai’s “guru”. They have gone a step ahead saying that “Cynthia Farrar was the American Missionary, who trained Savitribai Phule to become a social reformer, and become recognised as the first female teacher in India”.
There are references to Savitribai Phule enrolling in a teaching programme at an American Missionary School in Ahmednagar, run by Cynthia Farrar, a missionary. However, no research paper, article, or other source published before 2010 provides evidence of Phule being trained by Farrar.
Moreover, they are also attempting to portray Cynthia Farrar as the true pioneer of women’s education in India, crediting her with the establishment of women’s schools. What narrative are they trying to construct here? Are they subtly erasing the monumental efforts of Savitribai Phule and Jyotirao Phule, diminishing their role as one of the true architects of women's education in India? And, in doing so, are they deliberately undermining the stature of Savitribai Phule? Isn’t this a gross insult to the legacy of Phule and countless others who fought for education in India?
This ecosystem has also tried to claim that Jyotirao Phule drew inspiration from the Holy Bible. However, there is no substantial evidence to support this.
Is the attempt to forcefully inject a missionary figure into the narrative yet another desperate effort to portray Indian reformers as dependent on Western ‘guidance,’?
By continuously pushing these fabricated narratives, the goal seems clear: to strip away the identity of India’s true leaders and replace them with a version that suits their ideological propaganda.
Savitribai Phule and her husband were self-made revolutionaries who did not need external crutches. Yet, a well-organized system of ideological influencers continues to insert fictional figures into history, misleading the public and distorting India’s social reform movements.
But no matter how many times they hammer their lies, the truth will always prevail. The need of the hour is to call out these fabrications, uphold historical accuracy, and ensure that India’s true reformers receive the recognition they rightfully deserve.
Bharati Web
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